• For this year’s Pride Month, churches are hosting drag story hours, queer proms and events to liberate themselves from “the Bible as a weapon of exclusion.”
• A church in Maryland promoted its upcoming drag queen story hour with “Mama Bell,” encouraged children to “just be themselves,” and even Jesus “used the tools drag artists used.” ” he claims.
• “Additionally, by breaking down traditional gender norms, drag queens help create an atmosphere of openness, acceptance, and nothing that can hold back the imagination,” says Maryland. The First Presbyterian Church of Colombia told the story of a drag queen. time.

Some churches celebrate Pride Month by hosting events such as queer proms, drag queen story hours, and studies to liberate themselves from “the Bible as a weapon of exclusion.”

A 2020 study from the University of California, Los Angeles Williams Institute found that 47% of Americans who identify as LGBTQ consider themselves moderately or highly religious. according to To NBC News. As June is in full swing, chapels in Ohio, New York, California and Maryland are hosting several pride-themed events. (Related: Major League Baseball Celebrates Pride Month with ‘Rainbow Walk’ and Pregame Drag Show)

The First Presbyterian Church in Columbia, Maryland will host a drag story hour with drag queen “Mama Bella” for children of all ages on June 11th. according to to the event page. Another webpage has since been deleted and archived. gone He further explained the purpose of the event, claiming to create a space where children can “be themselves.”

“Drag queen costumes and imaginative staging enrich the story as the narrator herself tells the story through her dramatic appearance and performance,” Church explained. “Furthermore, by breaking down the walls of traditional gender norms, drag queens help create an atmosphere of openness, acceptance, and freedom from anything that might block the imagination. Even so, that in itself is proof that they are opening the door to surprise and interest.”

The church said drag queen story time was safe for children because it was “created by mothers (who are members of the LGBTQ+ community) to have fun and experience together with their children.” claimed. The church also said the story times indicate:[o]You can’t say that Jesus used the tools drag artists use! “

Trinity Church on Wall Street in New York City tells young people to “youth queer promOrganized by Trinity Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA). According to the event page, the prom will be exclusively for teens in grades 9-12 who identify as LGBTQ+ and will feature “dancing, fashion, snacks, swag and great music.”

All Saints’ Church in Pasadena, Calif., followed its regular Sunday service with a “Queer Prom Over the Rainbow” on June 2 and a drag queen bingo hour on June 4. . according to Go to the church website. The church has several other LGBTQ events planned for this month, including a Pride Movie Night screening of “The Wizard of Oz” on June 16 and It will also include an event titled “But the Word of the Bible” that will support the “liberation from the Bible”. As a weapon of exclusion… [and] Eliminate the misuse of our sacred documents as weapons of group discrimination. “

The church’s pastor, Bishop Susan Russell, told the Daily Caller News Foundation that she asked church members to uncover the “biblical context” of scriptures that have been used against the LGBTQ community, saying, “But the Bible says program is offered occasionally.

“That means that just as a handful of out-of-context sentences were used to brand Galileo a heretic in the 17th century, a handful of out-of-context sentences are used today to stigmatize LGBTQ+ people. It contains a historical note that it is used to dress and the Bible states that this book is not a textbook about astronomy or human sexuality, but rather a call to all of us to create in love and love one another. It’s a book about faith in the God who gave us,” Russell said. “Recognizing that good people of good faith read the same Bible and come to different conclusions on various issues such as sexual orientation and gender identity, it is our hope that members of our parish will To be able to interact with us, to be different while affirming the dignity and loveliness inherent in all members of our human family.”

Christ Church Cathedral invited Ohio LGBTQ singers from Cincinnati join the “queer-centric multi-generational” choir at the “SingOUTCincy” festival.Preparations for the festival are held several times day to day The group is gearing up for a concert on June 13th, and students in grades 9-12 who want to perform can sign up for free.

“This week-long experience showcases work by queer composers, focusing on the voices of Cincinnati’s LGBTQIA+ community.” page To read.

Christchurch in New York City on June 19th to commemorate Juneteenth invite The New York City Gay Men Choir helps its members learn about the “intersections of being black and being queer.”

“A group of black singers from NYCGMC will share what Juneteenth means to them through their stories, solos and favorite songs,” the church’s event page reads. “With a full chorus set in the background, NYCGMC is proud to bring these singers to the center and spotlight in this celebratory and essential concert that centers on long-unheard voices and experiences. The Big Apple Performing Arts and NYCGMC are committed to fighting all forms of discrimination through the power and unity of our music.”

The church also celebrated Father’s Day on June 18 with a coffee hour hosted by the LGBTQ+ ministry to celebrate fathers as well as “other caregivers who have given us their love and support.” ‘ is celebrating. To wrap up the month, a special Pride service will be held on June 29 highlighting the church’s “LGBTQIA+ fraternity” and “Commitment to Inclusion, Diversity and Love.”

A spokesperson for the church told DCNF the purpose of the event was to “show support and solidarity with the LGBTQIA+ community.”

“This reflects our commitment to inclusivity, diversity and showing the love of Christ to all,” the spokesperson said. “By organizing Pride Month celebrations, our church aims to foster an environment in which everyone, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, feels included, supported and valued. These celebrations also recognize and seek to rectify past abuses of LGBTQIA+ people by religious institutions.”

The First Presbyterian Church, Trinity Church on Wall Street, and Christ Cathedral Church did not respond to DCNF’s request for comment.

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