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PRIDE MOMENTS
PRIDE MOMENTS are brief paragraphs about LGBTQIA+ organizations or persons of note that were read in person by LAFA members or allies during the Christ Church Sunday service during the month of June.
2026:
June 7 - Good Morning & Happy Pride! In recognition of LGBTQIA+ Pride Month, the Love & Faith Alliance of Christ Church brings you this moment of pride, to highlight LGBTQIA+ organizations of note.
The podcast Gay USA is a 1-hour news and analysis program that airs every Wednesday on YouTube. It focuses primarily on global LGBTQ+ news and politics. Click here for the link.
Also on YouTube is the LGBTQ Archives channel, which documents and shares individual true stories and experiences of a wide variety of people in the LGBTQ community through the use of interviews and photos. Simply type “LGBTQ Archives” in the search prompt at YouTube.com.
The Rainbow Alliance is an organization committed to fostering a community where everyone can thrive, regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression. Of particular interest is their Ally Resources page, which provides information about what LGBTQ+ allyship is. Visit https://rainbowalliance.org/ally-resources/ for more information.
You can learn more about these and other LGBTQ+ organizations in upcoming moments of pride each Sunday throughout this month. Thank you.
June 14 - In recognition of LGBTQIA+ Pride Month, the Love & Faith Alliance of Christ Church brings you this moment of pride, to highlight LGBTQIA+ organizations of note.
Advocates For Trans Equality is an organization that fights for the legal and political rights of transgender people in America. With decades of experience on the frontlines of power, their policy experts, litigators, and community organizers work at all levels of government to shift and lead society towards a future where trans people are no less than equal. You can learn more at their website, transequality.org.
Two resources for seniors: Outstanding Life's mission is to improve the quality of life of LGBTQ+ older adults by creating opportunities for connectedness through free online programming. They currently serve hundreds of LGBTQ+ seniors through our virtual senior center online community at outstandinglife.org. And SAGE USA is a leader in advocating for policies, services, and resources that empower LGBTQ+ elders to live openly and authentically, across America and around the world. You can find out more at www.SageUSA.org.
You can learn more about these and other LGBTQ+ organizations in upcoming moments of pride each Sunday throughout this month. Thank you.
June 21 - In recognition of LGBTQIA+ Pride Month, the Love & Faith Alliance of Christ Church brings you this moment of pride, to highlight LGBTQIA+ organizations of note.
The Black AIDS Institute is dedicated to ending the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the Black community by engaging and mobilizing Black institutions and individuals to confront HIV. BAI centers Black experiences and perspectives to ensure that Black people can live their fullest, healthiest lives with dignity, care, and respect. For more information visit www.blackAIDS.org.
The Bayard Rustin Center for Social Justice is a dedicated Queer Safe- Space, community activist hub, & educational bridge for LGBTQIA youth, intersectional families, & all marginalized folx across the spectrum. The Center works hard to preserve the life & legacy of Bayard Rustin, who was the chief architect and primary organizer of the historic 1963 March on Washington with Dr. King. Located in Princeton, NJ, the Center offers innovative all-inclusive support initiatives, powerful programs, & extraordinary in-person or virtual events. Learn more at www.rustincenter.org.
You can learn more about these and other LGBTQ+ organizations in upcoming moments of pride each Sunday throughout this month. Thank you.
June 28 - In recognition of LGBTQIA+ Pride Month, the Love & Faith Alliance of Christ Church brings you this moment of pride, to highlight LGBTQIA+ organizations of note.
The Safe Space Alliance works with LGBTQI+ communities and organizations to identify and verify physical and online safe spaces around the world. They provide guidance on how to navigate and create safe spaces, and help develop safe space networks in areas of the world where LGBTQIA+ communities have few or no rights. You can learn more at safespacealliance.com.
The LGBTQ page on the Disability Resources website provides resources, support, and invaluable insight for LGBTQ+ individuals with disabilities. Efforts are being made to promote inclusivity, raise awareness, and create supportive environments that recognize and celebrate the diverse experiences within this intersectional community. For more information, visit https://www.disabilityresources.org/lgbtq.html
You can learn more about these and other LGBTQ+ organizations in upcoming moments of pride each Sunday throughout this month. Thank you to everyone who helped make Pride Month at Christ Church a success.
2025:
June 1: Happy Pride everyone! In recognition of LGBTQIA+ Pride Month, the Love & Faith Alliance of Christ Church brings you this moment of pride, to highlight LGBTQIA+ individuals and organizations of note. In 1972, Rev. Bill Johnson became the first openly gay person to be ordained in any Christian denomination. After being ordained into the United Church of Christ in San Carlos, California, Rev. Johnson founded the UCC Gay Caucus (now known as the UCC Open & Affirming). He traveled widely as a community organizer advocating the full inclusion of LGBT people in the UCC and has opened many doors for diversity and inclusivity in both the secular and religious community. Retired after serving 41 years, Bill remains an active member of Claremont UCC in Claremont, CA.
Advocates For Trans Equality is an organization that fights for the legal and political rights of transgender people in America. Their policy experts, litigators, and community organizers work at all levels of government to ensure that trans voices are not only heard, but embraced. As a trans-led nonprofit, they also help the LGBTQIA+ community navigate the realities of law and policy through vital tools, knowledge, and services. You can learn more about these and other LGBTQ+ persons and organizations of note online and in upcoming moments of pride each Sunday throughout this month. Thank you.
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Bill Johnson: https://lgbtqreligiousarchives.org/profiles/william-r-johnson
A4TE: https://transequality.org/
June 8: In recognition of LGBTQIA+ Pride Month, the Love & Faith Alliance of Christ Church brings you this moment of pride, to highlight LGBTQIA+ individuals and organizations of note. World tennis champion Billie Jean King (born Billie Jean Moffitt) won 39 Grand Slam titles and is renowned for her win against Bobby Riggs in the Battle of the Sexes in 1973. She is the founder of the Women’s Tennis Association and the Women’s Sports Foundation, and was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1987. Her most recent honors include being awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, the French Legion of Honor, and having the Federation Cup renamed the Billie Jean King Cup. She has long been an advocate for gender equality and social justice, raised large sums to fight AIDS, contributed funds to combat homophobia in schools, and supported efforts to prevent LGBTQIA+ teenage suicide.
The Trevor Project is the leading suicide prevention and crisis intervention nonprofit organization for LGBTQIA+ young people. It provides year-round crisis services, advocacy, and peer support to LGBTQIA+ young people 24/7. It also conducts research studies for policy makers and public education support for allies and educators. If you or someone you know needs support, you can reach the Trevor Project by calling 866-488-7386. You can learn more about these and other LGBTQ+ persons and organizations of note online and in upcoming moments of pride each Sunday throughout this month. Thank you.
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Billie Jean King: https://www.billiejeanking.com/
The Trevor Project: https://www.thetrevorproject.org/
June 15: In recognition of LGBTQIA+ Pride Month, the Love & Faith Alliance of Christ Church brings you this moment of pride, to highlight LGBTQIA+ individuals and organizations of note, in the midst of our Juneteenth celebration. William Dorsey Swann was an African American who was born into slavery but after the Civil War became the first person in the United States to lead a queer resistance group and the first known person to self-identify as a queen of drag. He organized drag balls in Washington DC where formerly enslaved men gathered to dress in drag under his leadership in the House of Swann.
Frances Thompson was a formerly enslaved black transgender woman and anti-rape activist, believed to be the first transgender woman to testify before the United States Congress, documenting the terror experienced during the Memphis Riots of 1866. You can learn more about these and other LGBTQ+ persons and organizations of note online and in upcoming moments of pride each Sunday throughout this month. Thank you.
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William Dorsey Swann: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-first-self-proclaimed-drag-queen-was-a-formerly-enslaved-man-180982311/
William Dorsey Swann: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Dorsey_Swann
Frances Thompson: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frances_Thompson
Frances Thompson: https://documentwomen.com/frances-thompson
June 22: In recognition of LGBTQIA+ Pride Month, the Love & Faith Alliance of Christ Church brings you this moment of pride, to highlight LGBTQIA+ individuals and organizations of note. Johnanna Siguroardottir is formerly the first female Prime Minister of Iceland and the first openly LGBT head of government in modern times. Elected to Iceland’s parliament in 1978 and appointed Prime Minister in 2009, she was a leading advocate for advancements in LGBTQIA+ and gender equality, and her marriage to her wife in 2010 became one of the first same-sex marriages in Iceland.
The LGBT Rain Foundation provides emergency shelter services to address the needs of LGBT individuals experiencing crisis leading to homelessness. Their programs promote self-sufficiency and independence to enhance their residents’ ability to function within their communities. They aim to help adolescents lead healthy, productive, and meaningful lives.
You can learn more about these and other LGBTQIA+ persons and organizations of note online and in upcoming moments of pride each Sunday throughout this month. Thank you.
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Johnanna Siguroardottir: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J%C3%B3hanna_Sigur%C3%B0ard%C3%B3ttir#
LGBT Rain Foundation: https://www.essexresourcenet.org/search/lgbt-rain-foundation/
June 29: In recognition of LGBTQIA+ Pride Month, the Love & Faith Alliance of Christ Church brings you this moment of pride, to highlight LGBTQIA+ individuals and organizations of note. Elected in 2022, Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey is proud to serve as America’s first lesbian governor. Healey previously served two terms as Massachusetts Attorney General, and is a passionate advocate for LGBTQ rights, women’s health, and women’s equality in general, but especially in sports.
Elevated Access was launched in 2022 in response to the extreme healthcare bans being enacted in state legislatures. They are a non-profit organization that enables people to access healthcare by providing flights on private planes at no cost. Their volunteer pilot network transports clients seeking abortion or gender-affirming care across the United States.
You can learn more about these and other LGBTQ+ persons and organizations of note online. For more information about the Love & Faith Alliance or to receive a copy of the moments of pride readings this month, please contact us at LAFA@christchurchsummit.org. Thank you.
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Maura Healey: https://www.nga.org/governor/maura-healy/
Elevated Access: https://www.elevatedaccess.org/
2024:
June 2: In recognition of LGBTQIA+ Pride Month, the Love & Faith Alliance of Christ Church brings you this moment of pride, to highlight LGBTQIA+ individuals of note. Dr. Jane Rigby is a groundbreaking astrophysicist at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center and is the Senior Project Scientist of the James Webb Space Telescope. She is a founding member of the American Astronomical Society Committee for Sexual Orientation and Gender Minorities in Astronomy, and was recently awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Biden.
Stacey Li is a self-described Deaf lesbian Asian female traveler who raises awareness with her intersectionality and offers advice to other LGBTQ+ world travelers through her social media. You can learn more about these and other LGBTQ+ persons of note online and in upcoming moments of pride each Sunday throughout this month. Thank you.
References:
Jane Rigby: https://science.gsfc.nasa.gov/sci/bio/jane.r.rigby
Jane Rigby: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jane_Rigby_(astrophysicist)
June 9: In recognition of LGBTQIA+ Pride Month, the Love & Faith Alliance of Christ Church brings you this moment of pride, to highlight LGBTQIA+ individuals of note. Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, better known as Lady Gaga, is an award-winning singer, songwriter, performance artist & actress whose name was inspired by the song Radio Ga Ga by Queen. In 2012, Lady Ga Ga and her mother founded the non-profit organization Born This Way Foundation, which prioritizes the mental health and wellness of young people by working to promote kindness and open and honest conversations about mental health, validating the emotions of young people, and eradicating the stigma around mental health.
Pritpal Bhallar is a volunteer role model with Diversity Role Models, an organization that creates safe spaces where young people can explore difference and consider their role in creating a world where we all feel accepted. Pritpal is an openly bisexual man who practices the Sikh faith and demonstrates the importance of authenticity to his family and community. He is an example of how faith does not have to be in conflict with sexual orientation. You can learn more about these and other LGBTQ+ persons of note online and in upcoming moments of pride each Sunday throughout this month. Thank you.
References:
Lady Ga Ga: https://bi.org/en/famous/lady-gaga
Lady Ga Ga: https://bornthisway.foundation/
Pritpal Bhallar: https://www.diversityrolemodels.org/news/bi-visibility-day-pritpals-story
June 16: In recognition of LGBTQIA+ Pride Month, the Love & Faith Alliance of Christ Church brings you this moment of pride, to highlight LGBTQIA+ individuals of note, in the midst of our Juneteenth celebration. William Dorsey Swann was an African American who was born into slavery but after the Civil War became the first person in the United States to lead a queer resistance group and the first known person to self-identify as a queen of drag. He organized drag balls in Washington DC where formerly enslaved men gathered to dress in drag under his leadership in the House of Swann.
Frances Thompson was a formerly enslaved black transgender woman and anti-rape activist, believed to be the first transgender woman to testify before the United States Congress, documenting the terror experienced during the Memphis Riots of 1866. You can learn more about these and other LGBTQ+ persons of note online and in upcoming moments of pride each Sunday throughout this month. Thank you.
References:
William Dorsey Swann: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-first-self-proclaimed-drag-queen-was-a-formerly-enslaved-man-180982311/
William Dorsey Swann: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Dorsey_Swann
Frances Thompson: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frances_Thompson
Frances Thompson: https://documentwomen.com/frances-thompson
June 23: In recognition of LGBTQIA+ Pride Month, the Love & Faith Alliance of Christ Church brings you this moment of pride, to highlight LGBTQIA+ individuals of note. In 2023, Governor Murphy appointed Allison Chris Meyers to become the Chair/CEO of the NJ Civil Services Commission, making her the first transgender cabinet member in the state of New Jersey. Her credentials include developing and implementing the Civil Service Index, a comprehensive digest of cases decided by the former merit system board and the New Jersey Civil Service Commission.
Kris McElroy is a self-described 37-year-old autistic biracial black transgender man with multiple disabilities who is a passionate artist, advocate, and freelance writer, including a self-publishing author of several books. Through public speaking and community engagement he addresses topics such as disabilities, race, sexuality & gender identity, faith, trauma, self-care, mental health, parenting, intersectionality, and self-identity. You can learn more about these and other LGBTQ+ persons of note online and in upcoming moments of pride each Sunday throughout this month. Thank you.
References:
Allison Chri Meyers: https://nj.gov/governor/news/news/562022/20221205a.shtml
Allison Chris Meyers: https://www.nj.gov/csc/about/chair/
Kris McElroy: https://rootedinrights.org/author/krismcelroy/
June 30: In recognition of LGBTQIA+ Pride Month, the Love & Faith Alliance of Christ Church brings you this moment of pride, to highlight LGBTQIA+ individuals of note. Isaiah Piche is an author, model, and contributing writer for CrippleMedia.com where he shares his experiences as a First-Generation queer disabled person of color. In his Ted Talk, he shares his family history and how cerebral palsy has impacted his life as a queer person.
Christian Cooper may be remembered for his interaction in Central Park with a woman who called the cops on him for asking her to leash her dog. But he is a self-described birder (one who enjoys bird watching), editor and writer for science and for comics. His work in comics includes introducing the first gay male character for the Star Trek Starfleet Academy series and the first openly lesbian character for Marvel. You can watch his series on National Geographic called . You can learn more about these and other LGBTQ+ persons of note online at websites like lgbtqhistorymonth.org. Thank you.
References:
Isaiah Piche: https://cripplemedia.com/author/isaiahpiche/
Christian Cooper: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_Cooper
Christian Cooper: https://www.npr.org/2023/06/29/1185076694/central-park-birder-christian-cooper-on-being-a-black-man-in-the-natural-world