Categories: sexuality
Date: 23 July 2012 13:41:03
Middle Ground has a facinating article entitled Proud of Pride? This blog which is a new face on the blogosphere is written by somebody who is part of a MCC congregation and engages with the relationship between faith and LGBTQ issues from a practitioner perspective primarily. However, she is also an academic and was one of the contributors to the GLAD conference on sexuality, gender identity and faith I attended in June and blogged about in this post. Within the Proud of Pride? post a number of issues are raised including ones relating to culturally appropriate mission, the purpose and nature of Pride, the invisibility of Christians in the LGBTQ, the conflicts which can occur between sexual orientation and religion in terms of working out what is our core identity and the occasional feelings of dissonance which can still surface even when we are settled within affirming congregations. She explains how Northern Pride is the biggest outreach event of the year for the congregation she is part of and in that context MCC is pretty much the only church visibly engaging with the LGBT Q community. They are able to engage in this mission in the way they do because they are familiar with the community and are reaching out to share God's love in a sensitive and culturally appropriate way. There is I think much to be learnt from that congregation in this respect about targeting resources into outreach and making sensitive judgements about what to do and how to do it. In terms of the purpose, nature and funding of Pride events I think this is an interesting debate. Does there need to be a political dimension or are they now just a specific form of festival/ community celebration? This is a three sided debate I think. Firstly, it raises questions about whether Pride events are local events or whether they are celebrating and acting to raise awareness of the wider LGBTQ community around the world? In the UK if they are contextually local then focusing on celebration is appropriate. However, if they are celebrating the wider LGBTQ community then there probably does need to be some recognition of the conflicts, prejudice and problems that still exist. (Yes, I know there are elements of discrimination that do exist in the UK but it is not the same as in other countries where others are being regularly beaten or killed as a result of their sexual or gender identity). Secondly, the question is raised of how we engage with the heritage of the LGBTQ community and whether these events are purely about the here and now or whether they are also a remembrance of the past? If they are about the here and now then I think it is appropriate they are celebrations but if they are to be events which engage with our heritage in a deeper way then there does need to be an acknowledgement of struggle. Finally, and this is a big one, to what extent should issues of funding and organisation dictate what form Pride events take? This is a big question which cannot be under estimated. Pride events take alot of money and organisation to put on......and this does mean engaging with commercial sponsors as well as taking a more community based approach. Tied in to this final report is a question around who is Pride for - just the LGBTQ community, or is it about seeking to promote integration and inclusion? MK Pride which is using a similar model to the Northern Pride event is taking this latter approach of promoting non-judgemental integration and inclusion through celebration and this is the approach I personally feel more comfortable. My own view is that if organisations like Amnesty International were encouraged to be stallholders at the event then the rights abuses elsewhere and the wider LGBTQ community can be remembered but our own positive local and historically specific context can be celebrated. Over the last few years I have seen a subtle change in Pride events and spiritual involvement and engagement with them. There is a wider active involvement of Christians, predominantly but not exclusively LGBTQ occurring. Whilst spearheaded by groups like LGCM and MCC this is not exclusive by any means. I want to argue that beyond the missional approach to these events Christians can show their support for the LGBTQ community in other ways too.....primarily through volunteering. For example the MK Pride I referred to earlier is in desperate need of stewards - particularly stewards who can attend trainings on this coming Thursday and on the 9th August in Campbell park. One way Christians and others in MK can support these events is through giving their time in that way. (Note should anybody be up for this please urgently complete and return the form on the MK Pride site - nb the closing date for volunteers on there is passed but they would still be greatful for your support and help). Another thing they are still in need of having been badly let down by someone are 3 marquees. Their director put out the following statement recently: "I am doing a 'Nick Knowles' and wondered if you would be interested in helping a charity who has been badly let down by a con. We are holding the very first LGBT Milton Keynes Pride event on 11th August and need to find 3 marquees urgently please. In return for being able to advertise your company as sponsoring the marquees for the event, would we then be able to 'borrow' them for the day, free of charge. Whoever takes up this offer, will be the only marquee company on site and will become a partner for future events. Further to this, if you also wished to set up a small marketing tent for yourself on the day, this would be welcomed too. The marquee sizes we need are: 2 x 10m x 15m 1 x 10m x 10m We are desperate for a company to help us out." I do have the phone number which was also included to pass on should anybody comment on here leaving their non-visible email should you be able to help. In terms of the wider and core issue Charlotte picks up on I think that is something I will leave for another day....realising my 2nd post of the day is somewhat longer than expected already - especially as I only intended to blog once today; having put quite alot of effort into my Steve Winch review.