“Today we give thanks: for fierce love and creative expression”
Local clergy members ended today's rally with an interfaith prayer. (l-r) Rev. John Betit (Christ & Holy Trinity), Pastor Heather Sinclair (United Methodist Church of Westport and Weston), Rev. Marcella Gillis (Christ & Holy Trinity), Rev. Dr. John Morehouse (Unitarian Church of Westport), and Rev. Alison Patton (Saugatuck Congregational Church). An interfaith prayer by the clergy present this morning: Source of Love,
You create and bless the whole rainbow of human expression;
All orientations; all gender identities and expressions; Every way of forging a family.
Dazzled by all that diversity
Today we celebrate those among us who are
Lesbian and gay, bisexual, transgender, Queer, questioning.
Today we honor and admire the full spectrum of human sexuality,
All the ways we move through the world, expression love for each other and for ourselves.
Today we give thanks: for fierce love and creative expression
For clarity of identity
And for the courage to be
For brave souls who love their stories
And devoted allies who stand alongside.
Today we also grieve the forces
That continue to deny and iminish,
making it unsafe for too many to come out,
to love freely or live fully.
We name and lament
the multi-layered hostilities
faced by LGBTQ people of color.
Mend the damage inflicted by bigotry and fear;
heal all who are hurting in body, mind, heart or spirit;
Bind up all wounds and banish all stigma,
Empower us to build community
That values the integrity of all people
Bless all our creative efforts
Bless first-time rallies and unfolding relationships
Bless rainbow swag and you be you campaigns.
Bless our mutual teach and learning,
our songs and our speaking,
our laughing and loving.
Bless every step we take toward
embracing your rainbow people
Today and every day.