Why is volunteering at the Pride Booth important?

This year was Silicon Valley Pride’s 50th anniversary celebration. I have attended for at least 10 years. It has only been the last eight years that I have volunteered in our booth. Let me start by saying that I am a Christian and queer. I did not realize that I was queer until my son pointed it out a few years ago. After thinking about what he said, I agreed, Wow, you’re right,  honey. 

The First Booth

So eight years ago, several folks got together in a small classroom at Christ the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. We talked about how important it is for folks who are queer to know that God loves them, regardless of who or whom they love. Personally, I have attended faith communities that were not welcoming. That’s when they find out you are queer, they very politely turn their backs on you. That was why it was vital for me to share that God loves all Her children.

In Mark 12, verses 30-31, of the New International Bible, the verse reads,  “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.  The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.”  I did not hear God putting stipulations on who we loved. 

So, in the little room, we came together, several different faith-based organizations, mostly made up of Lutherans, Presbyterians, Unitarians, and Jewish faiths. Planning on making a booth to share with folks that not all faith communities are unfriendly to us.

I remember that first booth. It was a single booth with four sections, and it featured a massive map with all the welcoming faith communities. We had a section for kids, as San Jose Pride is proud to be a family-centered event. We also had a listening area where you could sit on a comfy couch and just talk about what faith means to you or how your faith has shaped or shamed you. We are also invited to write what makes us feel welcome in our faith-based organization.

A Moment with Amy

I only volunteered for one shift this year, a beautiful Sunday. I sat at the front desk, offering fans and a welcoming smile. A woman walked up. She was proudly wearing her colors, and she stopped to talk with me. I’ll call her Amy.

Amy asked if there really were welcoming faith communities in the area. She explained that her family was very conservative, belonging to either the Southern Baptist or AME Zion Methodist denomination. That being queer was considered one of the deadly sins in her environment. I explained that we have over 75 faith communities on our map that are both welcoming and affirming of LGBTQ+ individuals.

She told me a horrible story about attending a camp in her youth, that when they found out she was dating a woman, they “turned her in.” She was shunned and sent home. I invited her in to come and talk with someone who would listen and hear her. Amy ended up speaking with my pastor, and they talked for over 30 minutes. The volunteer I sat next to said, “That young lady is why this booth is here.” I agreed and added that if we don’t get another person visiting this booth, we would have accomplished our mission. Just then, someone else walked up and said, ‘We had three people come into the booth the night prior with the same question.

When Amy left, she looked like she felt lighter. That is a blessing.

A Beacon of Love

This booth serves as a beacon. Some faith communities truly understand. I wish that all of them get it, but alas.  It lets folks know that God loves all of Her children, without question.

I encourage you to volunteer. This is a blessing that we can share with our entire community.

If you are interested in volunteering, please reach out at info@newcreationchurch-sj.org. If you are interested in seeing the map of welcoming and affirming faith communities, here is the link:  https://sites.google.com/view/affirming-faith-communities-sv/home.

Peace,
NCLC Council President
Melva Mack