07/06/2024
I recently attended the City of Shelton, Council meeting where on the agenda Miguel Gutierrez was slated to give the proclamation that the city will recognize June as Pride Month, of which he did a beautiful job. With a request for allies to attend, I was there. The portion of public comments was unsurprisingly mixed but surprisingly moving. As an ally but not a resident within the city, I sat in the back observing, giving space to those who felt they needed to speak. Since then, I have felt the need to speak. The words from a Pink song have rang through my thoughts – I invite you to make it right. So here I am.
I identify as a Christian, brought up in the church. There is a lifetime of belief and faith there. I was also brought up in the time of the AIDS epidemic and the time of Pat Robertson’s reaction to that. As a child I heard my father say the words ‘They should just round up all those people and put them on their own island.” Isn’t it beautiful that people can grow and change?
Before my dad retired, one of his closest friends and coworkers was a gay man. When my husband and I blended our families, my dad knew and loved his new q***r grandson as his own. Though with three adopted kids, making them as his own was his heart. Now as a Christian, my faith is between myself and God. I will not use his teachings to judge and bully people. Love is what we are required to do, and love is what I have to give.
What most of the opposition to the recent proclamation utilized was scripture. To say that this hurt my heart is an understatement. But I am not here to debate that. What I do want to say is that we don’t have to agree to be kind. And we don’t have to agree to not spread hate.
Many do not agree with Indigenous Peoples Day – and yet we live on historically tribal lands.
Many do not agree with supporting immigrants – and yet we are all immigrants.
Many do not believe in Christmas – and yet we are Christmas Town.
We support these proclamations to create a safe space for people to be seen in a positive way. In a space where they have been historically been belittled, bullied, ostracized and worse. We have done this as a country and will continue to do so to make it right, until we can make a world where we no longer have to. Thank you mayor and the city council for supporting this proclamation. For working to create a space safe to be and support our community for being who they are.
Thank you also to the Shelton Farmers Market, where my business Baker Greens calls home. Your support of our community, our diversity and our small businesses is a true example of the hearts of our residents.
