Editor’s note: This transcript has been edited for clarity.
Faith communities across Washington are showing up for Pride Month events. Some organizers and religious leaders say public support for LGBTQ+ people can help heal longstanding wounds stemming from some religious institutions. Northwest Public Broadcasting’s Senior Correspondent Anna King sat down with Tracy Simmons, of FāVS News, to discuss faith leaders leading queer celebrations this month.
Anna King: Tracy, it's so great to see you again.
Tracy Simmons: Thanks for having me back, Anna.
King: We're in the middle of Pride Month. What's the big picture of what you're seeing from faith communities across Washington this year?
Simmons: You know, there's always been tension between the queer community and faith communities. So what we're seeing this year is that not all faith communities — but many — are stepping up and participating in Pride by tabling, by marching. In some towns, they're hosting interfaith Pride events. And one thing we're seeing this year that's a little bit different is that Pride organizers are actually looking at how to include the faith community. So both sides are leaning in. It's not just churches showing up; Pride wants them there.
King: The Episcopal Diocese of Spokane was Spokane Pride's largest single donor last year. How significant is that?
Simmons: The Episcopal Diocese of Spokane has been a big ally for a long time now. They're not just showing up, but they're actually helping to keep the event running by offering their space, by organizing events and of course with their financial donations and their support.
And they say when culture says “God is for me, but not for you,” that the church should be, quote, "outraged and stand up to represent the alternative voice." So they're really putting their money where their values are.
King: But is it common for faith communities to support Pride celebrations, or is this a fairly new phenomenon?
Simmons: You know, I think that faith communities have been involved in Pride for a long time. What's different now is that it's a little more organized and unified now. Faith leaders are working together to actually have a presence at these different Pride events. And so it's not just one or two congregations marching as one-off anymore. It's actually a unified effort, and people are noticing.
King: The Northwest Washington Synod, for those unfamiliar, is made up of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America's congregations throughout the Northwest. The Synod is planning on bringing up to 200 marchers to Seattle Pride. What does this kind of organized, large-scale participation signal to you, Tracy?
Simmons: You know, I think the size is the message. Some people are marching or participating in Pride up there maybe because they are queer or they know someone who's gay, and they love that person. So they're showing up from a faith perspective to say that queer people are loved. I think also they're answering the loud fundamentalist voice that sometimes says, "You're going to hell," and that voice is also very loud and present at Pride, but it's not as welcome.
King: The Faith Action Network is an advocacy group here in Washington. The group works across denominations and traditions. What does their involvement in Pride Month say about where the broader Northwest faith community is on this?
Simmons: So the Faith Action Network takes a stand and participates in Pride because they see it as a justice issue. And I think what's interesting is that their partner organizations aren't required to support gay marriage, and they definitely don't all support that. I think they're showing that religious institutions can work together on issues of injustice while holding genuine theological differences without demonizing each other.
King: What is the tension that still exists even within the LGBTQ+ affirming spaces?
Simmons: There's still a lot of tension there. The cultural narrative is that Christians are anti-gay, and so the result is that queer people sometimes write Christians off because of distrust or hatred, and that's borne out of a real hurt, I think.
The Episcopal diocese that we mentioned earlier has been confronted by people who are hurt by churches, and they say that's fair. The anger is a fair response, and the church should be held accountable for the hurt they've caused. And much of their work is to reconcile themselves and do better. That's what they told us when we interviewed them for the story. So affirming Christians are reconciling within themselves how to answer for what other Christians have done and continue to do.
King: I just really appreciate the interview. Thank you for coming on with us.
Simmons: Thank you for having me again.
