Guest Opinion: Keep your joy this Pride

[Editor’s note: Alex U. Inn gave this sermon at the June 8 service of Metropolitan Community Church-San Francisco. They graciously shared it with us.]

What up people! Happy Pride! What a joy it is to gather here in this sacred space, of the Metropolitan Community Church, especially during this month that celebrates the vibrant tapestry of God's beloved LGBTQQIA2S+ children. And I will only say that once.

Please look to the person on your right and say, “You make me joyful.” Now, look to the person on your left and say, “You make me joyful.”

Yes! Joy! No one can take that away from you. NO ONE! Despite any of this nonsense that is happening to us because of this administration, please try to give, receive, and keep your JOY!

Thank you, Reverend Daniel [Borysewicz] and the MCC congregation for welcoming me into your beautiful divine home and having the honor of delivering the sermon today.

When Reverend Daniel asked me to deliver today’s sermon about the Black and Brown colors in the Progress flag and intersect with a scripture, Mark 7:24-30, the plight of the Syrophoenician Woman, was the perfect pairing. Because the story provides a theological framework for challenging exclusivity and embracing expansive grace.

For many years, the rainbow has been our iconic symbol of diversity, hope, and liberation. It speaks volumes without uttering a single word. But today, I want us to lean in a little closer, to look at the profoundly important evolution of our beloved flag: the Progress Pride flag.

Notice the added chevron, the arrow pointing forward. And within that arrow, two striking colors: black and brown. Today, we're going to explore what these colors mean, why they are so vital to our collective liberation, and how they challenge us to embrace an even deeper and more expansive love – a love that truly mirrors God's radical welcome.

This isn't just about history; it's about justice. And justice, when it comes from love, is a source of profound joy and spiritual growth for us all!

These aren't just decorative stripes. They represent people, histories, struggles, and triumphs that are absolutely foundational to our community’s movement, yet have often been overlooked or marginalized.

The brown stripe stands for Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) within our community. Think about that. Our movement, often portrayed as predominantly white, owes an immense debt to BIPOC individuals who were at the forefront of the fight.

When we talk about Stonewall, that pivotal moment of rebellion against oppression, we must speak the names of Black and Latinx trans women like Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera. They were on the front lines, literally throwing bricks, leading the charge. Their courage ignited a fire that has benefited all of us.

This stripe is a joyful affirmation: You are here. Your contributions are seen. Your voices matter. Your lives are sacred and celebrated within our community.

The black stripe carries a dual, powerful meaning. Historically, it has represented those lost to the HIV/AIDS epidemic and those living with HIV/AIDS today. This crisis disproportionately impacted Black and Brown communities, often compounded by systemic racism and lack of access to care.

It's a stripe of remembrance, of solidarity, of ongoing commitment to ending the stigma and the disease itself. It reminds us of immense grief, but also of incredible resilience, activism, and community care that emerged from that struggle.

More recently, the black stripe also stands in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement. It’s a powerful declaration that our liberation cannot be truly achieved if Black people, particularly Black trans people, are still facing systemic violence and injustice.

We must all say, so repeat after me, “I stand with you. My liberation is bound up with yours. We will not be free until all of us are free!”

Please remember, these stripes are part of an arrow, pointing forward. This is a visual reminder that while we celebrate progress, our work for full liberation isn't over. We are called to continue progressing, especially for the most marginalized among us.

Now, let's turn our hearts to a powerful story from Mark 7.

Jesus, seeking a quiet moment, enters Gentile territory, a place traditionally considered “outside” for Jewish people. A Syrophoenician woman, an outsider by every societal measure – a Gentile, a woman, non-Jewish, desperate for her daughter's healing – approaches him.

Jesus' initial response is jarring: “Let the children be fed first, for it is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs.” This reflects the societal norms and prejudices of the time – a hierarchy where some were “in” and others were “out,” destined for “crumbs” or nothing at all. Sound familiar?

The woman's radical faith and persistence. But this woman! Oh, this woman is a model of faith and persistence! She doesn't lash out. She doesn't give up. With humble brilliance, she counters, “Yes, Lord; yet even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs.” She acknowledges her place in the hierarchy but dares to appeal to a deeper, more expansive truth of mercy and abundance.

Jesus’ transformation, our call to expansion. And what happens? Jesus is moved! He is transformed by her faith. He sees past the societal divisions, past the prejudice, and recognizes the inherent worth and deep faith of this “outsider.” He grants her request, and her daughter is healed.

The parallel. Just as the Syrophoenician woman pushed Jesus to expand his understanding of God's grace beyond the “children of Israel,” so too do the black and brown stripes push our LGBTQIA+ community, and indeed the broader world, to expand our understanding of liberation and love beyond our own perceived boundaries.

God's table has room for everyone. This story, like the Progress pride flag, reminds us that God's love, God's justice, and God's table are not exclusive. There are no “dogs” in God's eyes, only beloved children. God's grace is abundant, overflowing, and meant for all – not just for those who have always had a seat at the main table.

So, what does this mean for us here at MCC, during Pride?

It means our Pride is not just about celebrating how far we've come. It's about remembering those who paved the way, acknowledging the ongoing struggles, and committing to justice for everyone.

Be information-seekers. Be curious. Learn the histories of Black and Brown LGBTQIA+ pioneers. Understand the unique challenges faced by trans BIPOC individuals today.

Be advocates. Speak up against racism, discrimination, and injustice within our own communities and in the world. Show up for racial justice, for HIV/AIDS advocacy, for housing justice, for immigrant rights – because these are all interwoven threads of liberation.

Be agents of radical welcome. Look at our own table here at MCC and ask, “Who might feel like they are only welcome to crumbs?” How can we ensure that every single person who walks through our doors and our doors of life, feels not just tolerated, but truly seen, deeply valued, and profoundly loved in all their glorious complexity?

This is joyful work. This isn't heavy work; it's holy work! It's the joyful work of reflecting the very heart of God – a heart that continually expands, a love that breaks down barriers, a grace that covers all.

When we embrace the full meaning of the black and brown stripes, our Pride celebration isn't diminished; it's infinitely enriched. It becomes a celebration of genuine liberation, a reflection of God's boundless love, and a testament to the power of a community committed to justice for all.

The black and brown stripes on the Progress Pride flag are a powerful call to remember our roots, acknowledge ongoing struggles, and commit to an ever-expanding, intersectional love. They challenge us to live out the radical inclusivity modeled by Jesus in the face of prejudice.

May this Pride season be a time of not just celebration, but also of deep reflection and renewed commitment. May we be a church, a community, a people that live out the truth that all God's children, in all their colors and identities, are worthy of not just crumbs, but the full, abundant bread of life.

So, go forth from this place, filled with the spirit of radical love. May you see the divine in every face, particularly in those pushed to the margins. May your hearts be open, your voices be strong, and your actions reflect the boundless, beautiful, and truly progressive love of God. Happy Pride! Amen.

Alex U. Inn (they/them/theirs), is an ART-tivist for the people, an LGBTQIA2S rights activist, distinguished founder of the San Francisco LGBTQ Community Center, 2017 San Francisco Pride grand marshal, winner of many activism awards, five-time Best of the Bay drag king award, and co-founder of the People’s March, happening Sunday, June 22, at 11 a.m. (See related article.)