Thanks Gary, for your article and dedication to this cause. And not only do these marches create an avenue of exposure for the violation of human rights experienced by the LGBTQ communities, it also serves as a community enhancement movement that brings all people together. The members of PFLAG also attend these marches. They are often families who have lost loved ones through hatred, and are there to proclaim an end to violence against LGBTQ individuals citing them as mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers, aunts and uncles, black, white yellow, red, and brown, and from all faiths and non-faiths of the world. Thank you for standing for the rainbow flag!!! God's Peace and Love to you.....To`na Wanagi

Thank you for the kind and supportive words. I am working on a series of presentations and articles that interpret the Hebrew and Christian Bibles in an affirming, loving way for the LGBTI community. I am in the midst of making arrangements to present it to a local homosexual organization and one or two PFLAG chapters.

As the articles are finalized, I hope to put them on my blog at http://gkonecky.blogspot.com/ and at http://ministers.themonastery.org/profile.php?user=gkonecky.

If they are acceptable, I might try to have them published here as a series of sermons.

Hello Gary,

I couldn't agree more. Pride is such an important occasion. My partner and I are celebrating 20 years together this year, and the changes in 'tolerance' (a word I dislike immensely, because I don't think I need to be just tolerated - it's my life) have been profound. Unfortunately, there is still a lot of prejudice out there. I'm from the UK and we don't quite have some of the hate groups that I've seen evidence of here in the US, but it's still a difficult choice to come out, and Pride can be the one day for some people that they can be out and proud. Then it's back in the closet for another year. That is so sad. But I can empathise - it took me a long time to be totally out because I was afraid of how everyone would take it. In the end it was no big deal - a few tears from mum, but the world didn't end, I wasn't hit with a lightning bolt. Life went on, and I realised that actually I had the right to be just who I am. I'm not hurting anyone, I'm in a completely loving relationship, and two years ago, unlike in many places in the US, my partner and I were 'married'. It's a civil partnership, but we now have the same rights as other married heterosexual couples, so we're protected in and by law.

We live in Brighton, which has it's own Pride march/parade and is a great occasion. It's later - August 2 this year - but that's probably because we're hoping for nice weather and August is the likeliest month! We first went when Pride started in Brighton. There was no parade and the main event was maybe seven stalls selling stuff and giving out information. There were probably 100 people there. Year by year it grew and now people come from all over the country. There's a huge march and parade that finishes at a park and there are so many things to do. Plus you get around half a million people there from all walks of life, homosexual, homosexual, bi, trans, straight, parents supporting their homosexual kids, kids supporting their homosexual parents. We both work with Pride and the magazine they produce every year, interviewing people, writing articles and proofreading. It feels so good to be giving something to the community. We also both volunteer for Hospital Radio and do a live broadcast on the day.

We've done the New York Pride once, which was incredible. This year we were in San Francisco for the Saturday events, but had to leave before the march. But we saw all the activity and again it was amazing.

To anyone who has a chance to see Pride wherever you are, whatever side of the life spectrum you are on, do it!

Kind regards,
Steve

Hey Gary,

I may disagree with you on legal and law issues; but I want you to remember that God loves you and so I do too.

May you be blessed the rest of the year such that you begin to see real healing in our world and can feel more secure and know that you are not alone.

Thank you Br. Joseph

Let us all know when your sermons are up!

A.J.

Thanks for the encouragement. As the articles are taking shape, they are looking less and less like sermon material. The series is progressing, though I wish it was going faster. At this point, the first article is being proofread. Articles two and nine are being rewritten. Articles three through eight are completed drafts. Article ten is partially written. Articles 11 through 13 have not been started and should finish the series.

My goal is to finish all the drafts by the end of summer, as I have one set of speaking engagements based on the series already lined up for the Fall and I hope to add more speaking engagements.

I will try to remember to make a posting announcing the articles appearance on my blog.

If you or anyone else is interested, please feel to email me at minister.konecky@gmail.com and request an update.

Gary