Quotable...

"I hope that as we participate in Pride Month, you too are empowered and emboldened to proudly be a witness to those in our LGBTQIA+ community who may not realize they are all also

beloved children of God."

Michael Seewer

Cathedral Sacristan & Head Verger at Saint Mark’s

Convener of Saint Mark’s Queer in Christ ministry

Episcopal Pride Around Western Washington

Seattle Pride-in-the-Park – Capitol Hill, Seattle

Last Saturday, June 1. Episcopal booth coordinated by Saint Mark’s Cathedral Queer in Christ Ministry with the Office of the Bishop, at Volunteer Park. Many thanks to Rose Hazard, Adrienne Elliott, and Katie Sue Eichner for their leadership. Adrienne reports:

"This was the first time we had a booth at Pride in the Park. While many folks were interested in the Pride flags and wristband giveaways, we also had some meaningful conversations with folks about their spiritual life. We're grateful to have been a loving, faith-based presence!"

Lewis County Pride, Centralia, Lewis County

Last Saturday, June 1. St. Timothy Episcopal Church, Chehalis was there in full force (see picture, above)! The Rev. Kay Flores reports:

"I was so pleased with our booth. We hit the vibe we were looking for. We started with the sign that says “for the hurt caused by the church, we are sorry…”. We had free water, free sunscreen, free prayers plus some books and a bunch of stickers. We set up a station with “icons” and prayer candles. So many people stopped by to talk. And 23 people from our small congregation showed up."

San Juan County Pride Fest, Friday Harbor, San Juan Island

June 15, 2024, 4:00 – 7:30 PM

Join Saint David’s Episcopal Church in Friday Harbor at their booth for this celebration of LGBTQIA culture! Church Contact: Richard at saintdavid@rockisland.com

Have a Pride event that you would like to add to the Diocesan website?...

Q: How did you find the Episcopal Church? 

A: After a two-year period of identifying as bigender, "my egg cracked" on Transgender Day of Visibility on March 31, 2021. The day your egg cracks is the day you realize you are transgender.

In light of such a transformative experience, I desired to find an accepting place to celebrate Easter. This was doubly hard to do in person at the time, due to the pandemic. After some Googling, I found out that Saint Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral in Seattle was having an outdoor sunrise service. I was terrified, but so excited, to spend my first Easter as my true self. Everyone was so kind and welcoming, and Canon Jennifer King Daugherty sealed my interest in Saint Mark's when she made a point to make sure I knew I was welcome there.

I have since formed so many beautiful relationships in my parish, and I know someone will always be there for me if I need support. The women in the Episcopal church were so quick to claim me as one of them, and that was so important to me during the early parts of my transition, especially after feeling so isolated during the pandemic.

Q: Why is Queer ministry important to you in a church/denomination that is already accepting and inclusive?

A: Queer ministry is so important to me because it creates spaces where queer parishioners can freely talk about their gender and sexual identities with other Christ followers. When you are at a Eucharist, you don't want to assume someone else is queer without first knowing them, and conversations are generally more vague and less personal. Queer ministry allows us to meet other queer congregants and to really encourage each other and get to know each other. There is a lot of anti-religious sentiment in the queer community, so it's very nice to be there for each other and know we aren't alone. It also signals to newcomers to our churches that we are unequivocally accepting of everyone and our language of inclusivity has action and meaning. A cause that is close to my heart is to show transgender people that they too can belong to a church and be fully accepted without judgment or expectations to change their identity. 

Q: How does your sexual orientation/gender identity intersect with your faith as a Christian and Episcopalian?

A: I was raised in an Evangelical faith tradition that taught homosexuality and being transgender is a sin. From a young age, I felt like I should have been born a girl, but I had no idea I had any options other than having another side of me exist in the deepest secrecy.

I met someone who completely opened up my mind and heart to the queer community, and this eventually allowed me to explore myself fully. When I realized that I am a trans woman, I knew I couldn't live any other way from that point forward but I was afraid that I would have to practice my faith by myself since I wouldn't be accepted in church.

Being unconditionally accepted by Saint Mark's and the Episcopal Church has meant the absolute world to me, and has helped me to foster a much stronger faith of hope and love, instead of fear and guilt. This acceptance has helped me to thrive in all facets of my life and has caused me to have the desire to give back through service. I have a particular yearning to serve the queer community and to show other trans and queer people that they too can have a spiritual home.

Offered by the Reverend Kay Flores

St. Timothy, Chehalis

Be present!

Your booth is an opportunity to share God’s love to your community, but your presence is the biggest part of that message. Your booth doesn’t have to be the biggest or fanciest at the event. Forgot to reserve a booth? No time or resources? See Tip #5.  

Be personal!

Introduce yourself by name to those who stop by. Ask them their name. People who have been hurt by the church are sometimes reluctant to approach you, so be ready to invite them in for something specific. Once we offered “a bag for your swag.” This year we’re offering water and sunscreen. You might wear t-shirts that identify you as a Christian who believes that God loves us all – no exceptions, or you might wear name tags with your first name and pronouns.  

Be creative!

Some creative members of our congregation make handmade Tiny Art – painted gourd gnomes and bees, painted rocks, knitted or crocheted critters, tiny hand sewn felt hearts– with notes reminding people they are loved. We also design our own stickers and keep a pile on hand for Pride and other events that come up. (Pro tip: StickerMule.com regularly offers deals on their merchandise. It’s fun and easy to design your own stickers that will work on their specially priced items. We stock up on them all year.)

Be comforting!

Many people in our world have been hurt by the words and actions of churches, and they are not always sure they want to connect. Our message is that God loves them. We don’t require a response from them. In 2023, our sign saying “For the hurt caused by the church, we are sorry. Love, The Episcopal Church” was our biggest conversation starter. We’re using that sign again, and offering free water, free sunscreen, and free prayers in an effort to offer a healing and comforting presence.

(And once again...) Be present!

Be present by taking turns wandering the event. This works even if you don’t have a booth. I staple church business cards to diocese flyers and and put them in a crossbody bag with an assortment of stickers. I introduce myself to everyone sitting at a booth or walking. I accept their swag, and leave a flyer, business card, and some stickers.