Pride Month

HAPPY PRIDE!

In June we celebrate LGBTQ+ Pride Month as we recognize the trailblazers of the gay rights movement and the benefits of the LGBTQ+ community to society and we remember above all that love is love. June is Pride Month because it was in this month that the revolutionary Stonewall Riots occurred. In June, Catholics honor the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the symbol of God's love. As June is Pride Month and the month of the Sacred Heart, both celebrations of love these two themes are intimately united. This will be my first Pride as a married man, and I'm super excited to be able to celebrate Marriage equality in a special way this year, I created a blog post here, all about marriage. We take extra time this month in recognizing the great strides made towards LGBTQ+ equality and to strive to support intersectional allyship for all the marginalized, realizing there would be no pride without individuals like Marsha P. Johnson, a trans black woman. 

A Catholic Look at Pride Month

Ways to Celebrate Pride

Pride and Radical Joy

Pride Month for Parents

Glossary of LGBTQ+ Terms

Pride Month Presidential Proclamation  

Pride History 

History of Gay Rights

LGBTQ+ History 

 Icons of Gay History

Dr Hirschfeld

 LGBTQ+ Films

LGBTQ+ Horror Films 

LGBTQ+ Shows

LGBTQ+ Flags *

LGBTQ+ Symbols

Buffalo Pride Week

Pride Playlist 

Mural Honoring the Victims of the Pulse Shooting

*While most people identify with the rainbow flag as the universal symbol for the lgbtq community and the trans pride flag for trans inclusion and rights, there are a vast amount of varying flags and identities. While some people may decide to embrace more "specific" and less broad identities, there's a debate about micro labeling, some embrace them and others do not which should be respected as a personal decision.  

For Christians experiencing self doubt:


  1. Ask Jesus with simplicity and sincerity to show you the truth.
  2. Seek refuge in the hearts of Jesus, Mary and Joseph.
  3. Invoke Saints Michael, Joseph, your patron saint and guardian angel. 
  4. Invoke Jesus’ name incessantly and pray the Jesus prayer.  
Embracing Your LGBTQ Child
 
 A Summary of Gay Theology

1. Science and Faith: Being gay is not a choice, but biological as you are made this way by God. God wouldn't make us this way if it was wrong. With all the science and proof in the world, some of the most basic truths are still debated by some, being gay is no different, therefore pay no mind to dubious arguments. Natural Law refers to the scripture saying law is written on the heart referring to love of God and neighbor. Homosexuality is natural and good because it fosters human love. Sex is about more than procreation as noted by various Pontiffs and Church fathers. Arguments for the safety revolving around sexuality neglects the fact that not every couple and not only gay couples exercise the “concerning” acts. Also if “safety” is the real concern here (which is really is homophobic disgust), note then that the stereotype lesbian couple would be the safest of all. LGBT parents aren’t infertile by nature but raise children and nurture them so they can carry on the family as well as straight parents who raise LGBT kids. Homosexual couples are emotionally complimentary.
 

 
2. Scripture and tradition have been falsely mistranslated and the Church Fathers themselves say the respective scriptures are reflective of cults or sexual abuse (and doesn't reflect healthy same sex relationships).The command to increase and multiply is referring in our day to evangelization.  These issues are effected greatly by culture, not revelation and spirituality. Ancient cultures revered LGBTQIA+ people. Patristic Morality was to ask what Jesus would do. Jesus Himself “contradicted” divine law with divorce (Jesus not speaking on gay issues is sometimes claimed because the Jewish people new that teaching and Jesus wanted to maintain it, but that is not Jesus' way to not mention something the Jewish people "knew". Not to mention either that homosexuality was prevalent in Christ’s day.) An anonymous quote is relatable “Do not think I have come to abolish the laws,” Jesus says in [the] Gospel. “I have come to fulfill it.” Jesus doesn’t mean that he’s come among us to issue a new set of rules. He means that his whole existence—his life, death and resurrection—are the fulfillment of the law.”)  "Love One Another" (John 15:12) is more important than any ethical code.

Think also of St. Henry Newman who is quoted as saying “To be deep in history is to cease to be Protestant.” This leads to the reflection of Catholicism’s historicity and this same Saint an example of gay holiness as there are some debates about the Saints sexuality. 


3. Sin and Conscience A sin is a denial of love, being gay is an embracing of love.  Taking up your cross is to accept who you are despite the hate of others, and your personal pain sometime not to  deny your authentic self. "The voice of God always invites us to live beyond all fear, even as it inspires holy fear. The voice of God is always heard wherever there is genuine enjoyment and gratitude, even as it asks us to deny ourselves, die to ourselves, and freely relativize all the things of this world." -r Have recourse to your own conscience and the advice of your spiritual director, not any non affirming sources. Especially when they tow the party line, You're not responsible for everything you read.To hear God's voice is to recognize gay is who you are and how you were made and not the voice of anxiety. The anxiety is the suffering not your sexuality. The Catechism also notes mitigating factors in regards to sin an the scrupulous are given note also to fear nothing as long as it isn’t done to offend God.

"Over the pope as the expression of the binding claim of ecclesiastical authority there still stands one's own conscience, which must be obeyed before all else, if necessary even against the requirement of ecclesiastical authority. Conscience confronts [the individual] with a supreme and ultimate tribunal, and one which in the last resort is beyond the claim of external social groups, even of the official church." -Cardinal Ratzinger (Pope Benedict XVI)

Note to the history of the Church in consulting the “Sensus Fidelium” which is the belief of the faithful. Most Catholics support gay marriage and although some Catholics are poorly Catechized in other issues, teaching on sexuality is nearly inescapable. Consider German Catholic theologians prepared to bless gay couples, they aren’t ignorant of Dogma.

4. Fervor and devotion: The Scapular and Rosary hold great promises for the devoted and even of being gay were a sin, our devotion to our Heavenly Mother will preserve us. Those who are “lost” are those who die in the state of unrepentant mortal sin. To die in this state is to 1. Assume being actively gay is a sin albeit a mortal sin (which if you’re scrupulous means it’s done to intentionally offend God.) 2. You die without the chance to repent. These reasons seem illogical because God doesn’t minimize one’s life to just their sexuality and if so there’s many promises attached to devotions that souls will not die without the sacraments. Also those who live with such concern are living proof that God will preserve them with the chance to repent before death although they won’t need to repent of being in a faithful relationship in my humble opinion. But all repentance takes is true contrition which means to repent because you’re sorry for offending God.

The Multiple Fruits of Sexuality:The Significant values of sexuality:

1. Self-liberating 2.Other enriching 3.Honest 4.Faithful 5. Socially responsible 6.Life serving- creative and integrative, dedication applies to celibate and married and isn’t narrowly interpreted as simply procreative. 7.Joyous- appreciate the gift of life and mystery of love not mere passive submission to duty or heartless conformity.
 

This is a note for LGBTQ+ people, their allies and scrupulous devotees of Our Lady of Fatima: 

Our Lady loves ALL of Her Children. The first and foremost element of Fatima that as a private revelation just like feasts days of devotions and apparitions it’s not honoring simply a supernatural event that Catholics aren’t bound to believe but instead but instead those elements that are rooted in Catholic Tradition. This includes the Immaculate Heart, Mary’s intercession, penance, prayer and interceding for others, as an expression of the commandment of love. This here is the key, being in a committed gay relationship is not a sin because it is not a rejection of God or His love but an embracing of who we are created to be, messengers of love. Just as we have our own educated interpretation on Church teaching about sexuality we do the same for private (and approved) revelations. A visionary is not infallible and private revelations are still able to be politically influenced if even the Bible has been. It is the trust in Mary and the assistance She shows us in this apparition that inspires us. It is not the visionaries beliefs or interpretations that matter, visionaries are not flawless, infinite sources of wisdom or absolute facts nor are they fortune tellers that can interpret the messages they are given with perfect clarity and free from bias. Those devotees of Fatima that are gay shouldn't fear loving Our Lady as Mother since being gay is not a sin and nothing will change that authentic love is never sinful. Sister Lucia also remarks how hell is for those who chose it and being gay is not a choice not to mention hell in the Fatima story is for those who offend Our Lady by those 5 ways for which she commands reparation by means of the Five First Saturdays. The existence of hell doesn't also negate the possibility for all to be saved, especially as we remember the "O my Jesus" prayer, as notes a popular modern theologian. The visionaries comments about marriage are personal  opinions as well as not coming from her but ascribed to her. References to prophecies about marriage and sins of the flesh could mean many things, rooted in hate and selfishness as all sin is and not the loving marriage of gay couples. Also comments of sins of the flesh and purity are from a time in the church when those were the premier focus of the Church as expressions of control and they also have a broad interpretation. In a similar way there are revelations regarding Vatican II that can be interpreted as traditionalist but proper interpretation makes them reconcilable with acceptance of Vatican II. Even Our Lady of Good Success which has uncertain approval mentions that which can be concerning for gay Catholics with scrupulosity. But the interpretation also vague can be reflective of heterosexual couples and not homosexual. La Salette is also evidence of an approved apparition that holds its own controversyand is proof of the need fordeciphering fact vs fiction in an apparition event . Also I think it’s clear that because of alienation from the Church it’s easy to see a differentiation between sexual immorality, faithful gay Catholics and people who are gay and open minded. Just as parts of Scripture are translated to be homophobic and treat gay couples (very much in love and reflective of God’s love) as sinners, the same will happen with private revelation but to paraphrase scripture, “Mary did not come to condemn the world, but through Her Son, to save it.   Finally, Fatima has many conspiracy theories and controversies attached to it which are means of detracting from the importance of the basic simplicity of the message meant to reiterate the Gospel not replace it or phrase it in a political light. It takes work at not being consumed by guilt or obsession of interpretations at odds with our faith and relationship with our Mother Mary but we must know that apparition that fills the heart with fear and alienates us from trusting Jesus and Mary isn’t of God. See even the story of Pope Francis while at Fatima even noted that “This is the Mother’s house and a mother always has an open heart for all of her children, for everyone, everyone, everyone without exclusion.” In a similar vain I came across a personal story of a gay Catholic man who was told “God loves you” by Lorraine Warren a Catholic woman known for her supernatural abilities. While not considered in the realm of mysticism at this time Lorraine and her husband Ed, did work with the Church in Spiritual combat. 

Our Lady and Feminism 

Our Lady and Queer Joy

Prayer to Mary Queer Liberator 

Mary and Liberation Theology




LGBTQ+ Links: 

Further Resources

Note: The following resources are either non Catholic or Traditionalist and while we may differ on varying things these resources help answer some of our questions regarding LGBTQ+ equality. 

The Bible and Homosexuality

Topical Index of Issues


“Love, and do what you will," namely, possess love and charity and then do what you will. It is as if he had said: Charity is not able to sin. -St. Angela Merici 



“May today there be peace within. May you trust that you are exactly where yiu are meant to be. May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith in yourself and others. May you use the gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you. May you be content with yourself just the way you are. Let this knowledge settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love. It is there for each and every one of us." -ST. THÉRÈSE




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