10-year anniversary of Light up the Cathedral kicks off San Diego Pride week

LGBTQ affirming faith leaders from multiple traditions fill the front rows of St Paul s Episcopal Cathedral in Bankers Hill on Wednesday July Courtesy photo BANKERS HILL San Diego Pride week kicked off Wednesday night with Light up the Cathedral an interfaith utility full of LGBTQ affirming religious leaders that has held a special place in the hearts of spiritual locals for the past decade It s a rare and perhaps even unique relationship between a Christian faith district and Pride and I hope it s a model that other pride organizations might follow explained the Very Reverend Penny Bridges dean of St Paul s Episcopal Cathedral at the system which she reported is one of her favorite moments of the year County Supervisor Monica Montgomery-Steppe also loves attending the amenity at St Paul s each year These types of events and ceremonies are more crucial than they ve ever been and it gives all of us a much needed reminder that giants can fall and mountains can move when we come together she explained describing her faith as what grounds her during turbulent times Montgomery-Steppe acknowledged that has not perpetually been viable for LGBTQ people You have been pushed away from the church and discriminated against in your right to worship This as we have heard already here this evening has caused tremendous hurt often leaving the LGBTQ locality members feeling that places of faith are not for them But I am here to say that I believe the right to worship is for everyone not just for certain the county leader commented adding that others including Bridges share the belief that faith is for everybody For that reason on behalf of the Board of Supervisors Montgomery-Steppe presented a proclamation naming July as Rev Penny Bridges Day Councilmember Stephen Whitburn brought a similar proclamation naming July as Light up the Cathedral Day in the city of San Diego History In Bridges initiated a tradition of St Paul s Episcopal Cathedral lighting up its entire exterior in rainbow colors the first time a mainstream denomination so visibly took part in Pride celebrations In an award was added to the facility handed out to a religious leader or organization for its persistent sustained advocacy of the LGBTQ public The Light of Pride award was first given to Reverend Troy Perry a founder of Metropolitan Locality Church and queer faith pioneer This year s honoree Pastor Dan Koeshall is a local leader in the same denomination created by and for LGBTQ people Siblings let us keep shining boldly and brightly Let s keep on bringing hope and justice and love wherever we go Koeshall urged the congregation upon receipt of the award A year after the inaugural Light of Pride award in event organizers turned to more political and social justice work Instead of just highlighting religious institutions where LGBTQ people are welcome a coalition of faith leaders was formed devOUT to publicly denounce when religious rights were used to defend homophobic and transphobic actions Through society advocacy and educational initiatives these faith leaders meant to show that religious freedoms and LGBTQ rights are not at odds with each other The knowledge that there are leaders and institutions that would welcome us would fight and work alongside us and would make ongoing the words and convictions of their faith to build us up to protect and defend us to welcome and comfort us is and has reliably been a powerful thing revealed Kristin Flickinger interim executive director at Pride Social justice became key to the interfaith organization as honorees and speakers focused on such issues as combating antisemitism Christian nationalism the perimeter predicament missing and murdered Indigenous women and two-spirit folks racism and transphobia We are in a season of rampant and vast disregard and loathing in specific cases for the sanctity or the preciousness of life The misuse and abuse of power and tools is causing global catastrophes explained Caedmon Grace this year s keynote speaker The transgender pastor urged the audience to find the light which makes darkness flee rather than trying to fight the darkness This week s provision The interfaith function remains popular with several saying it is their favorite Pride event This year as in the past hundreds crowded in to hear music prayers liturgy poetry scripture readings and a keynote address in the two-hour organization The Pride Pop-Up Symphony San Diego Gay Men s Chorus and San Diego Women s Chorus combined protest songs musical theater numbers and pop classics for the audience Reverend Maria Harman led a meditation while playing crystal serenading bowls To match this year s theme of finding the light composer Joey Pearson music minister at the Oceanside Sanctuary wrote and performed a song to close out the provision Dozens of faith leaders took turns doing readings from multiple traditions while sporting rainbow vestments vivid yamulkes and other religious accouterments The majority of the clergy in attendance were protestant yet Jewish Catholic Buddhist Muslim humanist spiritualist and universalist leaders stepped forward to speak as well Executive bureaucrats like gubernatorial candidate Toni Atkins city attorney Heather Ferbert Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera and San Diego County Assessor Recorder Clerk Jordan Marks attended After the utility Bridges led a procession around the cathedral where each rainbow light on its exterior was lit walking the same highway as years ago in a tradition that marks the historic Bankers Hill building as a beacon on a hill for the LGBTQ population