Pride, A Spiritual Experience

In 2013, I became an ordained minister with the Institute for Spiritual Development (ISD), a small, non-denominational metaphysical church community in Washington, D.C.

At that time, I was nearly 50 years old, and had been “out” as a gay man for more than 20 years. I had been a member of ISD since 2008, and everyone knew about my husband Wade, with whom I had been since 1997. I loved my fellow congregants and they loved me. And though it took a couple of years for Wade to reveal himself to my church family, when he did, they loved him too. There was never a moment when my spirituality, my commitment to the church, or my ability to serve as a minister was ever filtered through my sexual orientation by my fellow church members, volunteers and ministers.

And yet, often when I shared the fact that I was a minister with ISD (and would become its pastor/director in 2015), some folks would be confounded as to how I could be a minister/pastor and be openly gay. Or to have a longtime life partner or husband. Or have sex as a gay man with no shame or feeling of sinfulness.

I was raised Roman Catholic, which despite recent emerging and evolving support from Pope Francis, had traditionally branded same-sex, feelings, relationships and encounters as sinful. In fact, most of the world’s major religions, including Judiasm, Christianity, and Islam,(among others) have historically marginalized, excommunicated, even executed LGBTQ+ people for being inherently sinful or morally bereft. Because of this ancestral, widespread marginalizing of LGBTQ+, I do understand the line of questioning from people raised in traditional faiths who may have a difficult time trying to make sense of my devotion to a God that they have been raised to fear.

I chose to leave the Catholic Church because I would never feel welcome in a church that wanted me to deny the Creation of God that I know I am. Thankfully, I ultimately found a church and a community that didn’t ask me to change myself for our community, it urged me to share myself exactly as I Am with our community. My church community showed me that, if there is a Divine Plan, then it is to do just that. . Be authentically who we are. Without Shame. Without apology.

This is the true spirit of Pride Month, which, in my opinion, is also the True SPIRITUALITY of Pride Month. For when we live in the Light of our True, Authentic Presence, we are celebrating our PRIDE OF BEING JUST HOW THE CREATOR MADE US!

And what could be more spiritual than expressing to The Creator that we are PROUD to be its Creations!

MAY YOU BE PROUD ALWAYS OF THE YOU GOD MADE YOU TO BE.