Dear Friends,
I’m writing this week’s “Dear Friends” as an ally and a parent.
I arrived in New York City in the late summer of 1977 to begin seminary – eight short years after Stonewall. The campus of the General Theological Seminary is located in a neighborhood known as Chelsea. If you were to visit now, you’d find upscale restaurants and stores, cutting-edge theaters and performance spaces, and over 200 trendy visual-arts galleries – an enormous transformation of the neighborhood has taken place during the last 45 years.
Six blocks south of the seminary is the West Village where many of us would go for an evening out or just to walk through the more than 50 city blocks that comprise an historic district established by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Committee. The southern boundary of the West Village neighborhood is Christopher Street.
The Stonewall Inn, located at 53 Christopher Street, is the site of a series of demonstrations against a police raid that took place in the early morning hours of June 28, 1969. The Stonewall riots became the defining event that started the gay rights movement in the United States and around the world. The timing of the police raid – in June – is the reason why Pride month begins tomorrow, June 1.
In affirmation and celebration of The Episcopal Church’s LGBTQIA+ members, the church’s Office of Communication unveiled a new Pride shield on May 16. The woman who designed the new shield, Melissa Walker, Senior Graphic Designer on the Presiding Bishop’s staff, had this to say about the shield, “As a longtime ally of LGBTQ+ people, I was so excited to work on this Pride shield for The Episcopal Church. I hope many more people feel seen and included by this new graphic as we enter Pride month.”
When you look at the shield that accompanies this letter, you will see elements of the traditional Pride flag as well as the Progress Pride flag and Philadelphia Pride flag – each flag representing a step toward greater inclusion.
Did you know that The Episcopal Church has been working for 50 years toward a greater understanding and radical inclusion of all God’s children? Resolutions from General Convention (the church’s governing body) in 1976 recognized LGBTQ+ people as children of God with an equal claim to the pastoral care of the church and equal protection under the law.
In 1994, General Convention amended the church’s canons to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation, providing equal access to the rites and worship of the church, including ordination.
In 2015, General Convention voted to amend the canons that regulate marriage, permitting any couple the rite of holy matrimony.
I report these facts to make it clear that the Episcopal Church has sought to create a world and a society where all are loved, where justice is done, and where the God-given equality of us all, especially the LGBTQIA+ community, is honored in our relationships, in our social arrangements, and in law.
Trinity has long been a church where LGBTQIA+ persons are welcome and wanted. Our worship this Sunday will underscore the parish’s continued commitment to be an open and affirming congregation. In addition to joining in worship this week, please mark your calendar for two dates:
Tuesday, June 11, 6:30 pm for Big Love: an evening of music and activism with Equality Toledo’s Community Action group on Trinty’s Plaza.
Friday, August 23 – Sunday, August 25 – Celebrating Toledo’s Pride – a Trinity tradition.
There’s been an enormous transformation since Stonewall in 1969 and much to celebrate. But there are still prayers to be said and work to be done. Happy beginning of Pride month!
Blessings,
Stephen Applegate