Pride Parade Reflection

Resurrection South Austin Episcopal Church represents at the Austin Pride Parade

by Christa Gregg

My reflections on marching in the Pride Parade as part of a group of about a dozen Episcopal churches:

It boils down to this: it’s much easier to show up, be present, and bear witness than to try to gatekeep who gets to be where and do what. I considered sharing how I arrived at a place of being affirming—the journey and moving beyond the clobber verses to marching in a Pride Parade—and honestly, that might be helpful to some. Still, the truth is, I’ve learned it’s simply easier to err on the side of opening the gates of love and letting God be the one to work on people’s hearts and minds as needed. My job is relatively simple: love God and love my neighbors. If we are commanded to love one another as Jesus loved us, I want to strive to do that daily. Loving one another last Saturday meant showing up in a space that isn’t necessarily designed for me. I chose to observe the Pride around me, witness the joy and resistance, and show up and walk in a way that acts out, fights back, and speaks up. If anyone wants to hear my journey, I can share it over a table. And it is my journey. You must go on your own journey and may arrive at a different place. That’s fine, and I have to trust that you are listening to the Holy Spirit just as, if you disagree with my position, you must trust that the same Holy Spirit is working in and speaking to me.  If just one person who took a Queerly Beloved fan from me ends up in a church space and learns of God’s love for them…it is enough.  AND even if they don’t.  If someone just observed a church presence and began to consider that maybe God actually does love them…again, it is enough.