A Poem as we Celebrate Pride Month
By Maren Tirabassi

Blessed are the queer in spirit --
for theirs is the home and harbor of God.

Blessed is anyone who mourns
one single friend or a whole family lost,
for there is comfort
in, through, and after the tears.

Blessed are those who are coming out tomorrow,
for they will inherit themselves.

Blessed are those starved for change
and parched for legal victories --
for every cold call, email, rally, parade,
information table, knock on the door,
will be satisfied.

Blessed are the ONA, reconciling,
more-light, room for all ...places,
where folks wander in to scuffed pews, worn carpet,
someone's lost mitten, and sanctuary.

Blessed are the purely gay, lesbian, transgender,
bisexual, queer, questioning, gender free --
the pure in heart,
in the old and the next word, in every language.
God sees them and they will see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers,
long ago and always, they are the children of God.

Blessed are those who lose a job,
or see a smile freeze,
those slapped by veiled denial in a liberal church,
or averting their child's face
from ugly Westboro Baptist posters.
Rejoice and be glad -
for reviled and rejected has a gospel pedigree.
It's called resurrection.

You are the pride of the earth.
If pride loses its spine, it slumps for everyone.
You are the rainbow of the world.
People will turn to your bright spectrum
and say - this is holy.