“Pride: Standing Up for Who We Are and What We Believe In”

WATERritual on Tuesday, June 24, 2025 at 7:30 PM ET

Watch the video here.

Preparation: Pride flag and memorabilia

Welcome 

Welcome to our Pride and Equality Day Liturgy: Standing Up for Who We Are and What We Believe In! Each pride month we have the opportunity to rejoice that LGBTQIA+ people and allies are fighting for social justice and the powerful impact LGBTQIA+ people have throughout the world. Let us come together in the current age of threats to queer and women’s rights, as well as education and security, to remember who and what we are proud of. It is more important than ever to embrace each other’s existence and accomplishments.

We gather to rejoice that LGBTQIA+ people and allies are working on and bringing together
many struggles for justice—especially for immigrants’ rights, against racism, to protect the environment, and many more. Tonight we are proud to stand up for who we are and what we believe in.

Litany of Pride

Let us name LGBTQIA+ people who have been working for change.

We celebrate Sappho, a poet from the Isle of Lesbos, whose words inspire us.
Proudly, we claim you.

We celebrate Ruth and Naomi whose love models women’s commitment to one another.
Proudly, we claim you.

We celebrate Gertrude Stein, author and poet, whose writings have influenced generations.
Proudly, we claim you.

We celebrate Audre Lorde, a womanist poet, who challenges us to expand justice struggles.
Proudly, we claim you.

We celebrate Del Martin, Phyllis Lyon, and Edie Windsor, who started the ball rolling for marriage equality.
Proudly, we claim you.

We celebrate Doechii, who has used her platform and influence to speak out about current injustices.
Proudly, we claim you.

Who else? Let us speak their names out loud in our own spaces.
Proudly, we claim you.

We celebrate all LGBTQIA+ and straight sisters, brothers, friends, and allies, named and unnamed, known and unknown, who put their lives on the line for justice.
Proudly, we claim you. 

Song: “How Could Anyone Ever Tell You,” by Libby Roderick https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MiUqqWOXPEs&list=RDEMpVvxKy2YuWl1cNWm9fX5oA&start_radio=1&rv=UyYSgBUbrLo&ab_channel=KimPrucha

How could anyone ever tell you
You were anything less than beautiful?
How could anyone ever tell you
You were less than whole?
How could anyone fail to notice
That your loving is a miracle?
How deeply you’re connected to my soul 

A Call for Solidarity

Listen to LGBTQIA+ people who call for our solidarity. Think of the ones you know. 

I am your friend. For a very long time, I have been reaching out to you, listening to your dreams, talking with you about my life. I work for Black Lives Matter. I am right here with you.
You are not alone. We are with you too.

I am your co-worker. I work next to you in so many places. I am the doctor who comforted your dying mother. I teach your children. I am your therapist. I am your waitress and bus driver. I am your pastor, rabbi, cardinal, priest. I am right here with you.
You are not alone. We are with you too.

I am your colleague. I stand beside you in so many places. I am the campus minister who marched next to you as we advocated for LGBTQIA+ rights and marriage equality. I am the nun by your side at the women’s shelter where you volunteer. I am the social worker who supports your sister at the mental health center. I am the immigrant worker who meets you at the food pantry. I am right here with you.
You are not alone. We are with you too.

I am your family member. I am your neighbor. As you support my coming out, you give me courage. As you support LGBTQIA+ people and interconnected issues, you give me strength to say I am right here with you.
You are not alone. We are with you too.

The Beatitudes of Pride © DignityUSA 2003

            Blessed are you, lesbian, gay, queer, bi, trans, straight sister, brother, friend, ally – you are made in the image of love!

            Blessed are you when you dare to bring the truth of who you are into a loving relationship with others—you heal and strengthen the global community!

            Blessed are you who challenge stereotypes and caricatures—you bring light to the world!

            Blessed are you who speak out against religious hypocrisy—you help to birth justice and peace!

            Blessed are you when you work for full equality and inclusion—you honor the sacredness of all people!

            Blessed are you when you create new kinds of families formed by love rather than by law—you live the truth that all people are one family!  

            Blessed are you who seek to worship in spirit and truth, whose prayer arises from humble hearts—the Spirit of holiness will inspire and guide you!

            Blessed are you who offer comfort to the dying, healing to the sick, food to the hungry, housing to the homeless, presence to the lonely, hope to the hopeless—you are the message our aching world so desperately needs to know!

            Blessed are you, reviled and persecuted, yet persistent in faith, hope, and love! Rejoice and be proud of who you are and what you believe in!

SONG “Hear My Voice” by Celeste
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrmLIEl9pvQ&ab_channel=Celeste

Hear my voice
Hear my dreams
Let us make a world, world, in which I believe

Hear my words
Hear my cries
Let me see a change through these eyes

You may think I won’t be heard
Still I raise this hand, spread this word
These words of fire, of hope and desire
And I’ll let them free

Hear my voice
Hear my dreams
Let us make a world in which we believe
In which we believe

Hear my words
Hear my choice
Hear my voice

Reflection | Sharing 

How are you feeling this Pride month?
What are you proud of this month?
What do you need from the LGBTQIA+ Community, and how can allies support you?

Take Action

Let us put our prayers into action and act with pride. Here are some possible ways to act in solidarity and pride.

– Participate in Pride events.

– Wear a rainbow ribbon in solidarity with the LGBTQIA+ community.

– Advocate to end discrimination against LGBTQIA+ people.

– Use a person’s chosen name and pronouns. Start using your pronouns when you introduce yourself, not only in LGBTQIA+-specific situations.

– Promote safe places for trans and gender-nonconforming individuals. Start by  working for safe bathrooms https://ohr.dc.gov/page/safe-bathrooms-dc

– Donate to a group that works toward LGBTQIA+ equality.

– Give your religious leader a book that will enrich their understanding of diversity.

– Read the complete guide to Queer pride flags. https://www.pride.com/pride/2018/6/13/complete-guide-queer-pride-flags-0#media-gallery-media-0

Sending

Let us go forth with pride.
May we be grateful, proud, and connected.
May we not rest until all stones of injustice have been rolled away.
May we stand up for who we are and what we believe in.

Song: “Singing For Our Lives” by Holly Near

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tuVN52g22rU&list=PLYEytncoYeitCs9WaDIkav9R9oVz0nzuv&index=3&ab_channel=HollyNear-Topic (start at .37)

We are a gentle, angry people
And we are singing, singing for our lives

We are a land of many colors
And we are singing, singing for our lives

We are a peaceful loving people
And we are singing, singing for our lives

© 2025 Diann L. Neu, dneu@hers.com, with Magdalena Müller and Wed Naji