Please Feel free to send us your Pride Photos and stories. Email: Office@openandaffirming.org

Friends,

With Pride Month now behind us, I’ve found myself thinking about all that we experienced together over the past month.

For many of us, June was filled with worship, celebration, advocacy, laughter, tears, and hope. We marched. We prayed. We blessed. We showed up. We reminded LGBTQ+ people (and the world)  that they are beloved by God.

For me, it was one of the most meaningful Pride seasons I can remember.

I had the joy of worshiping and serving alongside the people of St. Peter’s United Church of Christ in Cincinnati. I also traveled to the Minnesota Conference UCC Annual Meeting, where delegates made history by overwhelmingly voting to adopt a resolution encouraging settings to advocate for gender-affirming care. I also preached at Lyndale UCC in Minneapolis, and at Danville Congregational UCC in California, and spent time with and ministered with incredible Open and Affirming churches and colleagues across the Bay Area.

Everywhere I went, I witnessed what sustains us. I saw people living, loving, creating, and showing up for one another. I saw communities refusing to surrender their joy. I saw churches standing with LGBTQ+ people not only with rainbow flags, but with affirming hearts and courageous action.

I saw hope that refused to give up!

I left Pride Month convinced that what sustains us is one another. It is joy. It is faith. It is community. It is the wholehearted belief that love is stronger than fear.

Joy is how we survive. Joy is how we resist. Joy is how we keep loving one another when the world tells us not to.

And yet, as Pride Month came to an end, we were reminded why this work matters.

On the final day of Pride Month, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld laws allowing West Virginia and Idaho to exclude transgender girls from participating in girls’ school sports. Even as we celebrated LGBTQ+ joy, another barrier was placed before some of our most vulnerable siblings.

The work continues.

Our movement was never just about one month on the calendar. It has always been about building a world where every LGBTQ+ person knows they belong, where every family is supported, and where every child can grow up knowing they are loved exactly as God created them.

One of the ways we build that world is by telling the truth about who we are and what God is doing in our communities. Every Pride celebration, every worship service, every conversation, and every act of courage reminds someone that they are not alone. Your story has the power to inspire hope, encourage another church, or help someone believe that an affirming faith community is possible.

Help Us Tell the Story

As we reflect on Pride Month, we’d love to celebrate what happened in your congregation or community. Did your church host a Pride worship service? March in a parade? Staff a booth? Bless families? Celebrate becoming Open and Affirming? We’d love to see it.

Share a photo or story on social media using #WhatSustainsONA, text Pride26 to 855-589-2210, or click here to share your story online. Or you can email us your pictures and stories directly to Office@openandaffirming.org Subject Line: Pride2026.  Because sometimes the very thing that helped you make it through a difficult season is exactly what someone else needs to hear today.

What Sustains You?

Our What Sustains You? campaign doesn’t end with Pride Month. It continues because LGBTQ+ people still need affirming churches. Congregations still need resources. Pastors still need support. Families still need hope. And together, we are building a movement that reminds people they are not alone.

If this ministry has sustained you, or if you believe it can sustain someone else, would you consider making a gift today?

Every gift matters.  Click Here to Donate 

Your generosity equips churches, trains leaders, supports LGBTQ+ people and their families, and strengthens a movement of nearly 2,000 Open and Affirming congregations across the United Church of Christ.

Pride Month may be over. But love doesn’t end on June 30 and neither do we! 

With gratitude and hope,

Rev. Derek Terry
Executive Director

Open and Affirming Coalition of the United Church of Christ

Every gift matters.  Click Here to Donate

Click here to Donate Now

Together We Can Turn $1,500 into $3,000 for LGBTQ+ Affirmation.

Every gift will be matched dollar for dollar for one week only.

For my birthday this year, I’m asking for support for something that literally changed my life.

Being a Black gay man in America is a lot. It’s beautiful. It’s sacred. It’s a gift. But it can also be exhausting. There are days when it feels like you’re fighting on every front: racism, homophobia, political attacks, religious rejection, and the constant pressure to prove your humanity and worth.

There was a time when I didn’t think I could be both LGBTQ+ and Christian. I definitely didn’t think I could be a pastor.

Then I encountered something different.

The work of the Open and Affirming Coalition helped me to find a God who loves and affirms queer people. I discovered churches that didn’t just tolerate us but celebrated us. I learned that my queerness was not a mistake, that my faith and my sexual orientation were not enemies, and that God was not asking me to become someone else in order to be loved.

That realization changed everything.

Honestly, I don’t know where I would be today without organizations like the Open and Affirming Coalition. The work of affirmation helped save my life. It made it possible for me to imagine a future, a ministry, and a calling that celebrated all of my identities intersectionally. It helped me understand that I could be Black, gay, Christian, and called by God all at the same time.

Today, I have the privilege of helping lead that work.

So for my birthday, I’m trying to raise $1,500 in one week for the Open and Affirming Coalition. A generous donor has agreed to match every gift dollar for dollar up to $1,500. Together, we can raise $3,000 to help more people discover what I discovered: that they are loved by God, worthy of belonging, and not alone.

Click here to Donate Now

If you’ve ever supported me, my ministry, my work, been encouraged by something I’ve shared, or simply believe LGBTQ+ people deserve places where they can thrive, I hope you’ll consider making a gift. And if you can’t give, I’d appreciate you sharing the campaign.

Thank you for helping make sure more people hear the message that changed my life: You are loved. You belong. And you are not alone.

-Rev. Derek Terry, Executive Director, Open and Affirming Coalition

Click here to Donate Now

The death of Jason Collins hit me harder than I expected. Maybe it is because I am a big Black gay man who played basketball. Maybe it is because I know what it feels like to navigate spaces where people assume they already know who you are before you even speak. Maybe it is because, for so many of us, Jason represented possibility.

For younger LGBTQ+ folks today, especially in sports, it might be hard to fully grasp just how groundbreaking Jason Collins was.

In 2013, when Jason came out publicly, he became the first openly gay NBA player and the first openly gay athlete actively playing in one of the four major men’s professional sports leagues in the United States. That might sound like a statistic, but it was so much bigger than that. It was cultural. It was spiritual. It was deeply human.

Sports, especially men’s sports, have long been places where masculinity gets narrowly defined. As a Black man who grew up around basketball, I know those expectations well. Strength is celebrated, but vulnerability often is not. Difference is tolerated only if it stays quiet. You can belong, but only if certain parts of yourself stay hidden.

Jason challenged all of that.

He stepped into the light in a world that had not made room for him. He did not come out after retirement, when the risks might have felt smaller. He came out while still actively playing, knowing full well the criticism, jokes, assumptions, and scrutiny that would follow. That kind of courage matters.

And for Black LGBTQ+ people, especially Black queer men, visibility matters in a different way.

We know what it means to live at intersections. To be too Black in some spaces and too gay in others. To constantly negotiate belonging. To wonder whether we will be accepted if people know all of who we are. Seeing someone like Jason, a tall, strong, athletic Black man, living openly and unapologetically, mattered more than many people understood.

He expanded the imagination of what was possible.

As Acting Executive Director of the Open and Affirming Coalition, I think often about what affirmation really means. It is not simply tolerance. It is not merely saying “you are welcome here.” True affirmation creates the conditions for people to live fully, openly, honestly, and safely as themselves.

Jason Collins helped make that world possible.

Because of his courage, countless athletes today are able to imagine lives that do not require secrecy. Young LGBTQ+ kids, especially young queer athletes, can now look at professional sports and see people who remind them of themselves.

Representation alone does not solve injustice. But representation can save lives. Representation can plant hope.

And hope matters.

Jason once said that the years after coming out were the best of his life because he finally got to live as his true self. There is something sacred in that truth. There is freedom in no longer hiding. There is power in authenticity.

We mourn Jason Collins not simply because he was the first, but because of the example he gave us. Courage. Integrity. Humanity. The willingness to step forward when no roadmap existed.

May he rest in power.

And may we honor his legacy by continuing to build a world where no one has to choose between belonging and being fully themselves.

Click Here to Register!

A Supportive First Step for Churches Exploring the ONA Journey

Walk With Us: A Roundtable to Start your ONA Journey

At a time when many LGBTQ+ people are seeking safety, dignity, and belonging, churches are being invited to respond with brave intention. This guided roundtable offers a supportive, practical first step toward becoming an Open and Affirming congregation.

About This Roundtable

Walk With Us: A Roundtable for those Starting their ONA Journey is a guided, conversation-based gathering for churches and individuals who are ready to begin their Open and Affirming journey.

This is not a lecture or slide presentation. Instead, this is a facilitated, small-group learning space where participants can ask questions, receive guidance, and begin working through what the ONA process looks like in their own context. You will be accompanied step-by-step through the early stages of the journey in a way that is clear, practical, and grounded in real congregational experience.

What You Can Expect

• A guided, facilitated conversation with an experienced ONA coach
• Time to ask specific questions about beginning the ONA process
• A structured introduction to the Building an Inclusive Church toolkit
• Practical insight from churches that have already completed the journey
• Space to discern next steps for your own congregation

Who This Is For

• Churches ready to begin the ONA process
• Pastors and lay leaders seeking structured guidance and clarity
• Individuals helping their congregation take the first step

Meet Your ONA Guide

Barbara Biedenstein (she/hers) is a long-standing member of and serves as the secretary of Gateway ONA, the coalition of UCC churches in the St. Louis area. She has attended and studied the Building an Inclusive Church training. For the past 15 years she has served as the ONA coach for UCC and Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) churches in the St. Louis and eastern Missouri areas. She has walked dozens of churches through their ONA journey and brings deep wisdom, care, and practical experience to this space.

Registration Rates (Honor System)

Individual Registration
• Standard Rate – $30
• Pay-It-Forward Rate – $45

Church Registration (per congregation)
• $75 for small churches (under 75 members)
• $125 for churches with 75 or more members

Church registrations are on the honor system and cover anyone in the congregation or on your ONA team who would like to participate. The person who registers will receive the webinar link and is responsible for sharing it with others in their church or ONA team who should attend.

These registration fees help support the ongoing work of the Open and Affirming Coalition, including coaching, training, and resourcing congregations across the country.

Scholarships are available. If cost is a barrier, please reach out to office@openandaffirming.org

Click Here to Register!

Back in July, while many of us were at the United Church of Christ’s General Synod in Kansas City, Missouri, I delivered a speech to mark an important milestone: the 40th anniversary of the Open and Affirming movement. What began as a courageous declaration of affirmation four decades ago has become one of the most transformative faith movements in the world. Today, nearly 1,950 congregations have publicly committed to affirming the dignity, worth, and belovedness of LGBTQ+ people.

Whether you are a pastor, a lay leader, a lifelong church member, or someone who supports this work from the pews or beyond, you are part of this powerful, justice-seeking movement.

As hostility rises across the country, LGBTQ+ people—especially trans and nonbinary youth—are facing unprecedented attacks. Diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts are being dismantled. Laws restricting our rights and our bodies are spreading. Many national LGBTQ+ organizations have withdrawn from entire regions, leaving local churches and ministries to fill enormous gaps.

When someone reaches out seeking help, hope, or an affirming place to land, they are not only calling your local church— they are calling on ALL OF US, together! 

That is why, as we approach the end of the year, I invite you to support the Open and Affirming Coalition with a special year-end gift—and to prayerfully consider joining the forms of ongoing support that sustain this movement.

The mission of the Coalition is simple: to strengthen, equip, and support churches and leaders who embody God’s inclusive love.

With a small staff and a modest budget, we work every day to:

• coach congregations and conferences beginning or deepening their affirming journey
• train pastors, leaders, and teams to meet this moment with courage and clarity
• create and share resources grounded in Scripture, justice, and liberation
• stand with churches facing backlash for their public welcome
• defend LGBTQ+ inclusion across the wider church and public square

We cannot sustain this work without your partnership.
As you consider your end-of-year giving—whether as an individual or a congregation—here are three ways you can support the movement:

1. Individuals: Join the Sustaining Circle

Members of the Sustaining Circle commit to a monthly gift that provides steady, year-round support. Monthly giving helps us plan ahead, respond quickly to urgent needs, and build the long-term resilience our movement needs.  Click here to join!

2. Congregations: Become a Sustaining Church

Sustaining Churches commit to giving once or twice per year—typically in June and/or December—and some give more often as they are able. These anchor gifts allow us to continue offering coaching, training, resources, and support at low or no cost to the churches that need us most.

We also encourage your congregation to remember the Coalition in your annual budget, and to include us in your bulletin, newsletter, and website as a ministry your church supports.

Becoming a Sustaining Church is simple: fill out this brief form, and we will add your congregation to the growing list of churches committed to supporting this work. A suggested gift is at least $1 per active member a few times a year—though many congregations give more as they are able. Whatever your church can contribute makes a real and lasting difference.

If your congregation has a grant, mission, or gift program for ministries like ours, please let us know how we can apply. Every avenue of support strengthens this movement and equips us to serve more churches across the United Church of Christ.

3. Give through our 2-for-1 Matching Grant

We are excited to share that the Coalition has received a 2-for-1 matching grant: for every dollar donated, a generous supporter will give two dollars, up to a total of $10,000 raised. If our community contributes $10,000, the donor will add $20,000—providing $30,000 to strengthen this movement!

Because this is a 2-for-1 match, every gift is tripled.
A gift of $25 becomes $75.
A gift of $100 becomes $300.
A gift of $1,000 becomes $3,000.

This matching grant multiplies the impact of every contribution and directly fuels the coaching, training, resources, and support that churches across the country depend on.

Click Here to Donate to help us unlock this sustaining Grant.

Every contribution—large or small—strengthens the ministry that strengthens all of us.

Will you join us?
Will you help sustain a movement grounded in God’s radical welcome, justice, and love?

When fear rises, Open and Affirming ministries rise higher.
When marginalized people are pushed aside, we open our doors wider.
When the world tells LGBTQ+ people they are less than, we declare what God has already named them: beloved.

Thank you for your witness.
Thank you for your courage.
Thank you for your leadership, your prayers, and your generosity.

With deep gratitude and hope,

Rev. Derek A. Terry, Acting Executive Director

The Open and Affirming Coalition of the United Church of Christ

Feel free to share these graphics and links on your social media to help us expand our impact!

Heres the link to share about the Sustainers Circle: https://openandaffirming.networkforgood.com/projects/264217-faithful-resistance-the-sustainers-circle

Here is the link to sign your church up to be a sustaining church: https://openandaffirming.dm.networkforgood.com/forms/open-and-affirming-coalition-sustaining-church-form

Here is the link to give to the 2 for 1 matching grant: https://openandaffirming.networkforgood.com/projects/265515-the-beloved-fund-2-for-1matching-grant

Right now, as hatred and fear rise, the Open and Affirming Coalition continues to stand firm as a beacon of faithful resistance. This year has stretched us in every way. Our small team—just one full-time and two part-time staff—has carried a bold and vital ministry: showing up at World Pride in Washington, D.C.; hosting a powerful National Gathering; celebrating 40 years of the Open and Affirming program at the General Synod; supporting churches and conferences in their ONA journeys; and responding to the growing number of communities seeking guidance, training, and resources.

While some national LGBTQ+ organizations have pulled out of entire regions, ONA churches remain—rooted in Christ’s inclusive love and steadfast in the work of justice.

To keep showing up where we’re needed most, we’re launching Faithful Resistance: The Sustainers Circle with one bold goal:

Raise $2,000/month in sustaining support.

And this is absolutely within reach:
• 20 people giving $100/month
• 40 people giving $50/month
• 100 people giving $20/month
• 400 people giving $5/month

Every monthly gift—large or small—moves us closer.

And as a thank-you, anyone who gives $20/month or more will receive a free gift after 3 months of sustaining support.

Click here to Become a Monthly Sustainer! 

Your support helps us:
• Equip churches on their ONA journey
• Strengthen our national network
• Support ministries hurt by cuts to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion funding
• Keep ONA congregations shining as places of hope, safety, and belonging

Together, we can build a resistance that refuses hate and boldly declares that God’s love is for every body—no exceptions.

Join the Sustainers Circle today and help us reach our $2,000/month goal.

Let’s keep this movement alive and strong.

Rev. Derek Terry

Acting Executive Director
Open and Affirming Coalition
of the United Church of Christ

Click here to Become a Monthly Sustainer! 

Use this QR Code to Share this campaign with others

P.S. If a monthly gift isn’t possible right now, please know your presence and prayers still matter. You can Click Here to make a one-time donation or simply share this campaign to help us reach others who can give.

It is time to have an honest conversation about what Christian nationalism really is, the harm it causes, and how we can resist it.

That is why the Open and Affirming Coalition is hosting a special book study and conversation with April Ajoy, a former evangelical who uses humor to challenge Christian nationalism and advocate for an inclusive faith.

Before diving into the details of the event, let’s take a closer look at the problem we are facing.

What Is Christian Nationalism?

Christian nationalism is not about personal faith or religious freedom—it is about power. It is the false belief that America was founded as a Christian nation and should be governed according to a narrow, exclusionary interpretation of Christianity.

Those pushing Christian nationalism seek to merge religious identity with political control—often at the expense of democracy, civil rights, and religious diversity.

• It is not about protecting faith
• It is not about personal religious beliefs
• It is about forcing one religious ideology onto everyone

The Core Beliefs of Christian Nationalism

Christian nationalists believe:

• The United States should be governed by their version of “Christian values”
• Church-state separation should be weakened or erased
• LGBTQ+ rights, reproductive freedom, and racial justice threaten “God’s order”
• Schools should teach a whitewashed version of history that aligns with their ideology
• Their faith should dictate government laws and policies

The movement claims to uphold morality, but in reality, it prioritizes control over compassion and exclusion over justice.

The Harm Christian Nationalism Causes

Christian nationalism is not just rhetoric—it has real consequences that shape laws and culture:

• Threats to democracy, including voter suppression and election denialism
• Attacks on marginalized communities, including LGBTQ+ rights, reproductive justice, and racial equity
• Book bans and censorship in schools and libraries
• Disinformation campaigns that manipulate voters and spread fear

Faith should be about love, justice, and inclusion—not fear, control, and exclusion.

Who Is Behind Christian Nationalism?

This movement is well-organized and well-funded. It is not just coming from churches—it is backed by:

• Billionaire funders and corporate interests
• Right-wing media and disinformation networks
• Politicians using faith as a tool for control
• Extremist groups pushing anti-democratic policies

These forces are working together to reshape America’s political and cultural landscape, and they are gaining ground.

How Do We Fight Back?

Resisting Christian nationalism is not just about opposing bad policies—it is about defending religious freedom, democracy, and human dignity.

Here is what we can do:

• Educate ourselves and others by learning the signs and challenging misinformation
• Defend democracy by supporting policies that protect voting rights and civil liberties
• Uplift inclusive faith voices by amplifying diverse Christian perspectives
• Protect church-state separation to ensure religion is never used as a weapon of oppression

The good news is that we are not alone in this fight.

Join the Conversation: A Book Study and Chat with April Ajoy

“Star-Spangled Jesus: Leaving Christian Nationalism and Finding a True Faith”

April 9, 2025 | 7:00–8:30 PM ET
$30 for individuals | $50 for small churches | $70 for large churches
Click Here to Register Now!

April Ajoy, a former evangelical, will share her experiences and insights on how Christian nationalism distorts faith and how we can reclaim a Christianity rooted in justice, inclusion, and love.

This is a conversation we all need to have. If you care about protecting faith from political extremism and defending true religious freedom, do not miss this event.

#ResistChristianNationalism #FaithForAll #ONAWebinar #LoveNotFear #ChristianNationalism #ReligiousFreedom #FaithAndDemocracy

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent—a season of reflection, repentance, and renewal. As ashes are placed on our foreheads, we are reminded: “You are dust, and to dust you shall return.” This call to humility is an invitation to truth, transformation, and justice.

For LGBTQ+ people, it is also a moment to reflect on the Church’s history of exclusion and harm. If Ash Wednesday is about truth-telling, then the Church must tell the full truth:

• LGBTQ+ people are fearfully and wonderfully made in God’s image.
• Our love is not a sin—hatred, exclusion, and injustice are.
• God calls us, in all our queerness, to live fully, authentically, and without shame.

Repentance: A Communal Call to Justice

Traditionally, Ash Wednesday calls for repentance, not just personally, but as a faith community. The Church has long condemned, erased, and harmed LGBTQ+ people through:

• Theologies that fueled shame and exclusion.
• Barriers to pulpits, pews, and sacraments.
• Spiritual abuse, including conversion therapy.
• Violence against trans and nonbinary people, often justified by religious rhetoric.

True repentance is not just about confession—it requires action. Some churches embrace Ashes to Activism, using this season to move from acknowledging past harms to actively creating spaces of radical inclusion.

Sacred Bodies, Sacred Dust

The words of Ash Wednesday—“You are dust”—remind us that all bodies are sacred. LGBTQ+ bodies, trans bodies, fat bodies, disabled bodies, aging bodies—all are equally beloved by God.

For those who have been told their queerness separates them from God, this day is a declaration: You are not an accident. You are not a mistake. You are part of the divine creation. You belong.

Lent as a Journey Toward Liberation

Lent mirrors the journey many LGBTQ+ people know well—seasons of wilderness, exile, and struggle before finding renewal, hope, and resurrection. We have been cast out, but we rise. We reclaim our voices. We live fully in our truth.

From Ashes to Affirmation

As we enter this Lenten season, may churches move beyond mere acknowledgment into true affirmation. May we use this season not just to confess, but to act—offering reparative justice, full inclusion, and the celebration of LGBTQ+ lives as sacred.

Open and Affirming churches embody this call, creating spaces where LGBTQ+ people are not just welcomed, but affirmed, celebrated, and empowered—not just during Lent, but all year round. In a world where too many have been told they are unworthy, these communities stand as beacons of love, healing, and justice.

For those who have been told they are not enough, let this be our reminder:

• We are made of sacred dust.
• We are seen and loved by God.
• We are called to live boldly in our truth.

May this season bring healing, visibility, and renewal—and may the Church finally rise into the fullness of God’s inclusive love.

As a Black Queer person, I celebrate Black History Month with intention. It is a time to honor our ancestors, recognize our resilience, and reflect on the struggles that Black communities continue to face. But let’s talk about something that doesn’t always get the spotlight—Black Joy. In a world that constantly tries to wear us down, joy is not an escape; it’s a tool, a declaration that we are still here, still thriving, and still worthy of love, laughter, and rest. And this isn’t just a Black thing—this is a lesson for anyone who has ever been marginalized, for anyone who has ever felt like the world was trying to erase them. Joy is resistance.

Why Black Joy Matters

Black joy is about more than just happiness—it’s about survival. In the face of racism, anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, economic struggles, and the criminalization of our very existence, our ability to love, laugh, and rest is an act of defiance. This isn’t about pretending oppression doesn’t exist. It’s about refusing to let oppression define us.

Our ancestors sang through their pain, found laughter in the midst of struggle, and built communities where love thrived despite everything working against them. That spirit lives on today in the way we create music, gather in community, dance, and tell our stories.

What This Means for the LGBTQ+ Community and Other Marginalized Groups

If you’ve ever had your rights threatened, your identity challenged, or your safety compromised, you know that just existing can be exhausting. But joy—queer joy, immigrant joy, working-class joy, disabled joy—is fuel. It keeps us going when the world says we should give up.

When we consider the current realities facing our trans siblings—who are being targeted in ways that are deeply insidious and harmful—we know that their joy is under attack. From laws designed to erase their existence to barriers preventing access to gender-affirming care, the assault on trans people is relentless. That is why their joy is sacred. When trans folks find laughter, love, and celebration in the face of oppression, they send a powerful message: they will not be erased. We stand with them in that truth.

Building Communities of Joy and Resistance

Resistance isn’t just about marches and petitions—it’s also about creating spaces where joy can thrive. That means supporting Black and queer artists, uplifting trans voices, and ensuring that all marginalized communities have room to breathe, rest, and flourish. It means showing up for one another, protecting spaces where we can exist freely and fully, and making sure that our movements include not just justice, but also celebration.

Immigrants, people of color, disabled individuals, the poor, the unhoused, and those living at the intersections of multiple marginalized identities continue to face systemic oppression, racial profiling, deportation threats, and targeted hate. Many are denied basic human rights and dignity. Their struggles are deeply connected to our own, and their joy is just as powerful a form of resistance. We must stand in solidarity with them, ensuring that our collective movements amplify their voices, honor their stories, and uplift their fight for liberation. Joy unites us, reminding us that we are not alone and that our survival is a testament to our strength.

A Call to Joy

This Black History Month—and beyond—let’s make joy a priority. Let’s reclaim it, protect it, and share it. Let’s dance, laugh, and rest—not because we’re ignoring the struggle, but because we refuse to be consumed by it. The executive orders, the attempts to erase us from history, the attacks on our trans siblings—these are all designed to hinder, stifle, or even steal our joy. Don’t let them! We used to sing a song in church growing up:
“This Joy that I have, the world didn’t give it to me! The world didn’t give it, and the world can’t take it away!”

• To our Black siblings: Our joy has always been a revolutionary force.
• To our LGBTQ+ siblings: Our love and laughter are acts of defiance.
• To our trans siblings: Your joy is sacred and essential, and we will work to help you secure and protect it.
• To our immigrant siblings: Your joy is powerful, necessary, and worthy of celebration. We stand with you, support you, and uplift your right to thrive.
• To all people of color facing oppression: Your joy is resistance. It is vital, it is sacred, and it cannot be erased. We see you, we celebrate you, and we stand with you.

To everyone trying to exist in a world that tells them they shouldn’t—claim your joy. Celebrate yourself, your identity, and one another in the struggle. Because joy is not just resistance—it is the foundation of our liberation! 

Let that sink in.

The national monument that honors the Stonewall Uprising—the very birthplace of the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement—has been rewritten to exclude the trans and queer people who led the fight. This is not just an oversight. This is a deliberate and cruel attempt to whitewash history, to push trans people back into the shadows, and to fuel the culture wars of an administration that thrives on hate.

But history is not up for debate.

Sylvia Rivera, Marsha P. Johnson, Miss Major Griffin-Gracy, and so many other trans and gender-expansive people were the ones who put their bodies on the line at Stonewall. Their courage ignited a movement that has shaped LGBTQ+ rights in this country for over five decades. And yet, this administration wants to pretend they never existed. Without them, there is no Pride, no LGBTQ+ rights, no Stonewall history to honor at all.

And now, the government wants to pretend they never existed.

Erasing letters from a government website doesn’t change the truth. It does, however, send a dangerous message to trans youth, to our communities, and to the world: that our lives, our stories, and our contributions don’t matter. But we know better.

As people of faith, we have a moral obligation to resist.

If the government will not tell the truth, then our churches must. If the government will not protect trans and queer people, then we must go out of our way to create safe and brave spaces for all of God’s people. If the government will try to erase us, then we must show up louder, prouder, and more determined than ever.

Here’s what you can do:

• Call it out. Tell your community what’s happening. Speak truth in the face of lies.
• Take action. Show up to protests, sign petitions, and demand that the full history of Stonewall is restored.
• Make your church a true refuge. Advocate for trans inclusion, fight for justice, and be a beacon of love.

Stonewall was a rebellion. Stonewall was a fight. And we are still fighting.

#NoLGBWithoutTheT
#TransPeopleBelong
#StonewallWasATransRiot