Dear Friends,
Much like the history of many pivotal social movements, Pride started as a protest, not a celebration.
The first Pride marches happened in June 1970, one year after the Stonewall Uprising. Among the first Pride march organizers were two ministers, Rev. Troy D. Perry and Rev. Bob Humphries, whose presence challenged the perceived divide between religion and the Queer community. Their participation underscores the role faith leaders continue to play in dismantling stereotypes that pit religion and the LGBTQ+ movement in opposition. 55 years later, Pride Month has evolved into a global movement uniting people of all ethnicities, races, ages, gender expressions, and religions to celebrate and advocate for the Queer community.
Our friends across faiths prove year after year that advancing religious freedom and diversity is intertwined with uplifting historically marginalized groups, like the LGBTQ+ community. Just this past April, we joined eleven religious and civil-rights organizations in signing an amicus brief in response to Mahmoud v. Taylor. We argue that parents should not be permitted to opt-their children out of materials they believe conflict with their religion, including books with LGBTQ+ themes. We believe it’s critical that students develop the ability to respectfully explore and learn about the diverse identities that make up our classrooms and our world.
Even as we face setbacks in diversity, equity, and inclusion programming and barriers to anti-discrimination policies, we continue to see people mobilize, organize, and push for LGBTQ+ rights. Below are a few events and resources that show Pride always matters.
Pride Month is both a celebration and a reminder of the work that remains to secure safety, dignity, and equity for LGBTQ+ communities at school, in health care settings, and at work.
Building respect for differences, including religious differences, requires allyship. We invite you to get involved this Pride Month and beyond.
In unity,
Rev. Mark Fowler, CEO, Tanenbaum
Act
- Submit a Testimonial: Faith and Pride Series Tanenbaum
- Recommit to Pride Pledge Interfaith Alliance
Listen
- Celebration and Resistance: Let’s Talk About Pride Month Queer Theology
- The Pride Month Vibes Are Off, But There’s Still Hope NPR
Read
- Faith-Based Health Care and the LGBT Community: Opportunities and Barriers to Equitable Care Tanenbaum
- Pride Gets a Medieval Twist at NYC’s St. John Cathedral Hyperallergic
Watch
- Faith and Pride Series Tanenbaum
- June Liberation Baithak – Celebrating Queerness in Hindu Thought and Practice Hindus for Human Rights