There are many people who for many years now have been applauding June as Pride Month, a time that’s been set apart specifically to acknowledge the lifestyles of people who are known by the letters LGBT. These letters mean Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and sometimes also with the letters QIA+, referring to Queer, Intersex, and Asexual.  

These letters represent behavior which one or two generations ago were considered by society as aberrant and shameful. Most who practised this kind of living did so in total privacy, very fearful of the backlash against them if their secret were found out. Because of the rejection, hatred, and violence shown toward them when others learned of their lifestyle, they went underground where they met as a private community, usually at bars, where they then could give each other support.

But then something happened to cause their aberrant behavior to gain much more attention and which ultimately influenced the society around them to consider them as a movement. This event enabled them to win the support of much of the general population, not so much because of their abnormal behavior, but because of their claim and obvious evidence of having been terribly mistreated and persecuted.

I learned through my research on the internet of a person’s summary of this event.

On a hot summer’s night in New York on June 28, 1969, police raided the Stonewall Inn, a gay club in Greenwich Village, which resulted in bar patrons, staff, and neighborhood residents rioting onto Christopher Street.

We love to identify with and even give monetary support to those who have been victimized, especially if we perceive they were targeted by the police. I know there are agencies which draw in donors simply through their appeal to their emotions, to get them to sympathize with these victims. The greater the sense of injustice, the greater is the likelihood of people rallying to assist them in their recovery.

Among the many leaders of the riots was a black, trans, bisexual woman, Marsha P. Johnson, leading the movement to continue over six days with protests and clashes. The message was clear — protestors demanded the establishment of places where LGBT+ people could go and be open about their sexual orientation without fear of arrest.

And one of the ways of a movement winning support for their cause is through staging major protests. When they protested their terribly bad treatment, it gained momentum and drew the attention of the citizens around them to draw in their compassion. This was the beginning of what finally led to what is now known as Pride Month and the celebration of LGBT+ lifestyles.

Pride Month is largely credited as being started by bisexual activist Brenda Howard. Known as ‘The Mother of Pride,’ Brenda organized Gay Pride Week and the Christopher Street Liberation Day Parade a year after the Stonewall Riots. This eventually morphed into what we now know as the New York City Pride March and was the catalyst for the formation of similar parades and marches across the world. Bill Clinton was the first U.S. President to officially recognize Pride Month in 1999 and 2000. Then, from 2009 to 2016, Barack Obama declared June LGBT Pride Month.

Organizers of Pride Month are continually encouraging others to show their support.

Harvey Milk asked a designer friend, Gilbert Baker, to design an all-encompassing symbol to take to San Francisco’s Pride March in 1978. Pride Month is for everyone to embrace who they are and let the world know – in style! The rainbow aptly signifies the colorful activities and flavors of this month-long celebration. These include massive rallies, pride parades, parties, workshops, concerts, and countless more LGBTQ+ events to attract participants from all over. The Pride community takes huge pride in their movement, going all out for the festivities with elaborate costumes, makeup, and, of course, glitter – for the whole world to see! Grab a rainbow or any other flag of your preference and wave it with pride! Don’t have a flag? Then wear your colors on a T-shirt, or on the laces in your shoes. Be as creative as you like.

Obviously, since so many segments of society are now supporting this movement, the plan of the LGBT+ community to infiltrate society was remarkably successful. But a better summation of what happened since 1969 is the success of the LGBT+ community to so infiltrate the minds of the masses with their agenda that the light that previously had shone to dispel all darkness is now almost totally obscured.

Though there are sources of light pointing to the right way, revealing the truth on how to escape, the efforts of the LGBT+ people through the powers of darkness appear to have overwhelmed this light with counterfeit lights. Most of our society are now so numb and indifferent to the true light because of these counterfeits that it seems they can’t get off this road leading to destruction.

This darkness and the many counterfeit lights being promoted by the LGBT+ community are so effective, people don’t seem to know what they must do to get themselves off this road. They are oblivious to the hundreds of off ramps along the way that would have provided a way of escape.

On the internet I discovered an article by Michael Coren, a priest, originally published in the Toronto Star on June 21st, 2021, which in his title, asked, “What would Jesus do during Pride?” He explains why he believes Jesus would, indeed, celebrate Pride!

Jesus stood with the oppressed, the rejected and the marginalized. He criticized those who twisted holiness into hatred. He preached a shining new message — one of love, justice, tolerance and change. Pride should remind Christians of that.

Not so long ago, the letters WWJD seemed to be emblazoned everywhere — on the backs of cars, at sports events, on flags and T-shirts. They stood for “What Would Jesus Do?” Not really my style, but during Pride month it’s worth asking the question. What would Jesus Christ do? Simple. He’d wave the rainbow flag and march in the parade.

If we study it, the theology is entirely clear, which may surprise some people. Jesus doesn’t refer to what we now define as homosexuality. When St. Paul writes on the subject, he condemns straight men using boys for sex — usually in pagan initiation rituals — and not people of the same gender having loving relationships.

As for the story of Sodom and Gomorrah, it wasn’t linked to homosexuality until the medieval period. If you doubt me, read the Bible. Ezekiel: “This was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had pride, excess of food, and prosperous ease, but did not aid the poor and needy. They were haughty, and did abominable things before me; therefore I removed them when I saw it.”

Jesus is approached by a centurion; the Roman explains that his slave, whom he loves dearly, is dying. Would Jesus heal him? He does so, and praises the man’s devotion. Based on the specific Greek words used, and the mocking attitude 1st-century Jews had toward their oppressors regarding their sexuality, it’s highly likely that those who witnessed this, and those who read about it in the early church, would have assumed that the two men were in a same-sex relationship.

In his three references to biblical stories, Mr. Coren produces evidence to help him reach the conclusion that even in the Bible there is no condemnation of same-sex relationships: that the sin of Sodom had nothing to do with sexual perversion, but rather with their neglect of caring for the needy; that Paul’s condemnation of a certain perversion in Romans chapter one wasn’t that of same-sex relationships but rather of men ritualistically using boys for sex; that the centurion for having shown care for his sick servant indicating a sexual relationship, and Jesus, after healing him and praising the centurion for his devotion, is supposedly witness of approval.

After presenting these arguments without making any references to other scriptures that would shed even more light on the context of these passages, Mr. Coren says,

Isn’t it interesting what happens when we understand the context and history of scripture, and read it without preconceptions and prejudice?

He implies that what he has shared is sufficient to reach a proper understanding about what the Bible says concerning same-sex relationships. It is not prejudice when we resist interpretations that ignore scriptural research. It is a mind that is already bent on the preconception that same-sex relationships are acceptable with God that would conclude Jesus was approving of this kind of lifestyle simply because he had granted this centurion’s request for the healing of his servant.

Even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. 2 Peter 3:15-16

Because they are unstable concerning the true message of the gospel, these people, in trying to interpret the scriptures, will go so far as to “wrest,” that is, to strain and twist, to make God’s Word say what they want it to say.

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. 2 Timothy 4:3-4

Mr. Coren makes other statements allegedly proving Jesus would celebrate Pride.

Jesus would be with those celebrating Pride, and not those opposing and protesting. He stood with the oppressed, the rejected and the marginalized, He criticized the legalists, the judgmental and the pedants who twisted holiness into hatred. He preached a shining new message of love, justice, tolerance and change.

The time will come when organized Christianity will look back to its homophobia with shame, just as it looks to racism as a filthy stain and sometimes an open wound. Many churches have already moved on, apologized, and now work to repair the damage they caused. But, tragically, not enough of them.

It matters because so many people have suffered for too long, and still face horrendous persecution and violence in large parts of the world. This outrageous obsession shames Christianity… there are many in the church who believe that people can be “converted” as if there is something wrong about them.

In my next article, I will share more about the sins of Sodom, explaining the attitude that Jesus wants us to have toward the LGBT+ community, and that our love for them is demonstrated when we point them to the light that will dispel their darkness.

(Quotes that are not identified as from the Bible are from articles I discovered on the internet.)