On Friday, Pittsburgh Pride kicks off this year’s events with the Advocacy Rally, and while I’m excited to see all of the speakers, I’m most thrilled that we are bringing the Reverand Mary Kay Totty from Dumbarton United Methodist Church in DC. If you read my other blog, Queer Look of the Bible, her name may not be new to you. Otherwise, you might be thinking that a Methodist preacher is an odd choice for a gay rights rally.
But I don’t think so.
I think that the mainstream Faith community will play a major role in today’s civil rights movement for LGBT Equality, and I believe people like Pastor Totty is at the lead. Here’s why I think she is a tremendous role model and leader in the fight for equality, and why I think the mainstream Faith community is so important.
The United Methodist Church hasn’t been the most welcoming place for the LGBT community. There are many individual churches which are welcoming, but as a denomination, not so much. However, when the District of Columbia passed Same-sex marriage, Dumbarton, under her leadership came out with a statement that they would do weddings for all, even though performing same-sex weddings is against the policies of the United Methodist Church as a denomination. That is a pretty gutsy thing to do, and they did it! Her story is an exciting one and Dumbarton UMC is there as a beacon of light showing other churches how tone true to their calling, especially in relation to social justice issues. I’m not sure every pastor would take a stand and vocally share it when that stand is at odds with their denomination.
There are some in the LGBT community who dismiss the Faith communities entirely, or lump them all with those on the far-right who are anti-gay. But in reality, the mainline denominations are not so anti-gay (except perhaps the Roman Catholics- but that is another post). The Lutherans, Episcopalians, United Church of Christ, the Quakers, and the Presbyterians may not all be at the head of the pack when it comes to Gay Rights, they are all becoming more and more accepting and supportive. Their voices are essential in this dialogue about God and the Gays, because without them, the only “religious” voice is that of the far right. With the voices of the mainline denominations, we can counter the Biblical, theological, and Social arguments that are used to deny the LGBT full equality.
My post about Mary Kay and Dumbarton
I also wrote the other day about Zach Wahls, one of the other speakers at the rally.