Those who know me well know I loathe most contemporary Christian music. It’s often inward focused and driven by first-person language. It’s commonly all about one’s personal relationship with God or what God has done for individuals, ignoring the Bible’s continued commitment to restoration and the unraveling of systemic oppression.
Unfortunately, this is where we find many progressive religious communities during Pride month, annoyingly stuck on the solfège syllable, “me, me, me, me, me… .”
Anna M.V. Bowden
In the last chapter of John, Jesus asks Simon Peter three times if he loves him and in reply to each Peter professes his love.
Last summer, I wrote a short piece reflecting on this quirky exchange. I argued Jesus was challenging Peter to rethink what it means to love him. Love, for Jesus, isn’t a declaration. It’s an action. When Jesus asked Peter if he loved him, he wasn’t looking for a confessional “I” statement. He was interested in how Peter planned to show up in the world.
As we enter Pride month amid a challenging year, especially for our trans siblings, I urge progressive religious communities to rethink their approaches to Pride.
Jesus reminds us at the end of John’s Gospel that love isn’t a declaration of affection or affirmation. It’s an action. Jesus expects more than our proclamation of “love” and “support” for the queer community. Jesus commands deeper engagement.
“I” statements are merely hollow attempts at brand management, lip service to the inclusivity of God’s kin-dom. They’re attempts to make institutions feel better rather than tangible actions that support the communities that need supporting.
When Jesus asks us if we love him, he asks us how we are showing up for our trans siblings in the midst of dehumanizing language and harmful legislation. He asks us how we push back against book bans and curriculum censorship that target queer content in public schools. He asks us how we address limited access to affirming health care for trans and nonbinary youth and a continued increase in hate crimes against Black and brown trans women. He asks us how we plan to confront barriers to employment and ongoing workplace bias, harassment and underrepresentation in hiring, promotion and pay. He asks us how we are defying deep-seated religious opposition — often couched in a “protect the children” rhetoric that tragically (and ironically) fuels the increase in unhoused youth.
So, dear church, when you seek to offer your affirmations this Pride season, strike a different tune. Leave the “me, me, me” aside and be sure your expressions of support, solidarity and advocacy are responsive to genuine need and anchored in the lived realities of the queer community.
This is what it looks like to love Jesus. This is what it looks like to love.
Anna M.V. Bowden serves as associate professor of New Testament at Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary.