Rev. Michelle's Message June 4, 2026

Happy Pride Month everyone!

The Pride Flag Raising Ceremony at Del Rey Oaks City Hall last Sunday was a great kick-off for Pride Month (see photo below). Although a small community, DRO has a lovely bunch of folks that strongly support Pride. Similar pride flag raising ceremonies were held this week all around Monterey Bay including in Seaside, Monterey, Carmel, Pacific Grove, Marina, Salinas, and Santa Cruz. It looks like it is gearing up to be a very busy and festive Pride Month this year!

Our own UMB Annual Pride Sunday will take place this year on Sunday June 28 during the regular Sunday service and will include special music, a positive message, and a fun glitter ceremony. We are postponing Pride Sunday until the end of the month in hopes that Denise will be back in business by then and able to be there.

I want to share a comment that was made to me recently by someone who doesn’t “agree with” the wearing or displaying of rainbow flags. This person also said to me that pride celebrations alienate straight people and are divisive. I was extremely saddened by the comment and this person’s apparent lack of understanding or empathy toward the LGBTQ+ community.

I don’t believe that Pride alienates straight people. LGBTQ+ people, on the other hand, have been alienated for thousands of years. They have also been the victims of discrimination, prejudice, religious harm, hate crimes, conversion therapy, and physical, spiritual, and emotional cruelty and violence.

I don’t find Pride to be divisive either. Rather, Pride is a fun and vibrant celebration of human diversity and inclusivity. All the Pride events I have ever been too were extremely open and welcoming to folks of all colors, ethnicities, socioeconomic backgrounds, and cultures, whether gay or straight, cis or trans.

For people who have long been excluded from mainstream culture and often relegated to the shadows and margins of society, a month of celebrations that recognize and affirm their existence is extremely healing. For young people navigating the challenges of sexual orientation and gender identity, symbols of acceptance and representation are so incredibly important. Tragically, the rate of suicide among trans and queer youth is extremely high. Pride celebrations make a difference.

According to research conducted by the Trevor Project, “LGBTQ youth who had high levels of LGBTQ pride had nearly 20% lower odds of attempting suicide in the past year compared to those with lower levels of LGBTQ pride (aOR=0.81, p<.001). Among transgender and nonbinary youth, this relationship was even stronger, with high levels of pride associated with nearly 30% lower odds of a past-year suicide attempt (aOR=0.71, p<.001).” (www.thetrevorproject.org)

For LGBTQ+ youth, the rainbow flag has come to mean safety and understanding and acceptance and inclusion. Displaying or waring a Pride flag, holding a Pride Sunday service, or participating in a Pride March can literally mean saving the lives of vulnerable trans and queer young people.

Lest straight people feel alienated (said with sarcasm), they can be sure that their existence will be recognized and affirmed the other 11 months of the year. As for the person who made the comments to me, I say, why not let go of old, worn-out, homophobic ideas about LGBTQ+ people and join the beautiful, colorful, and joyful wave of love and acceptance that is Pride Month? I bet you’d have a lot more fun!

Pride Blessings,

Rev. Michelle