Proud of what?

Another Pride season has passed, and as the glitter settles, I find myself pondering a simple yet profound question: What are we truly proud of?

Parades burst with colour, vibrancy, and joy. Drag queens brought their unique magic, after-parties buzzed, and the queer world filled with new memories—along with, I suspect, a few "what was I thinking?" moments. "Happy Pride!" was a common greeting, and indeed, it largely was. Yet, this year, a subtle undercurrent made it feel different. 

The world is a lot right now, for people in general and for members of the LGBTQIA+ community in particular. Our trans siblings are under constant attack and, as predicted, in the USA, Europe and even in the UK, certain people are now turning their attention to other members of our community. Questions about the validity of same sex marriages and statements about removing the right to marry altogether are being voiced in a way we wouldn’t have thought possible just a couple of years ago. When one part of our community is attacked, it's not just a theoretical threat; it becomes a very real danger for all of us.

It isn’t just in the queer community though. Daily we are bombarded by news of unimaginable suffering in Gaza and Ukraine. We see powerful and influential people talking about and treating migrants as if they are somehow less than human. We see laws being passed which are damaging to our fellow human beings and we see greed and corruption at the highest levels of worldwide business and politics.

The faith sector offers no respite. The conservative elements of so many churches are doubling down on the bigotry and hate. Either directly so or even worse pretending to be accepting and welcoming while dithering and maintaining exclusionary and homophobic policies and procedures.

So, I ask again – proud of what?

Proud that despite this onslaught, the queer community showed up once again. We protested, we partied, and we refused to be silenced or disappear. The powerful Pride event in Hungary stands as a defiant example.

We are proud of the countless individuals who have bravely voiced their support for the trans community, standing firm against the hateful rhetoric aimed at them.

We are proud of those who tirelessly challenge faith communities from within, pushing for genuine, systemic change, and equally proud of those who, for their own well-being, have recognized their limits and stepped away, setting crucial boundaries.

We are proud of the quiet heroes who simply get on with living authentically and kindly, navigating life amidst so much negativity.

And we are profoundly proud of those who bravely face their own battles: healing old scars, navigating complex relationships, or living with chronic mental or physical health challenges.

Despite everything, our pride remains. It is an unshakeable truth, illuminated by the words of Romans 8:37-39 (NRSV):

"No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Peter Leonard, Patron