Churches join for Interfaith Pride celebration

Pride month in San Marcos is celebrated each September to give TXST University students, who are back in class, the opportunity to attend the festivities.

Several faith communities in San Marcos have come together to sponsor a welcoming Interfaith Pride Celebration for the LGBTQIA+ community and allies on Thursday, at 6:30 p.m. at the First Christian Church, 3105 Ranch Road 12, San Marcos.

Co-organizers are the Rev. Dr. Christine Tata, minister at the San Marcos Unitarian Universalist Fellowship; the Rev. Madeline Hawley, assistant priest at St. Mark's Episcopal Church; Dr. Heather Aidala, member of the San Marcos LGBTQIA+ community; and Jeannie Lewis, Social Justice Chair at the San Marcos Unitarian Universalist Fellowship.

Also participating are faith leaders from First Christian Church; Christ Chapel at Texas State University; Unitarian Universals Church of New Braunfels; Spiritual Assembly of Baha'is of San Marcos; the Jewish Community; Faith United Church of Christ, New Braunfels; and the Indigenous Cultures Institute.

Tata said, 'This Pride Interfaith Celebration is an open, unconditional invitation to the LGBTQIA+ community to experience amends, reconciliation and hopefully healing, as the gathered community celebrates all persons in this good creation.'

Hawley said, 'We have come together as communities of faith with the intention to celebrate all the diverse ways God has created humankind. Though our traditions are different, queer people of faith and their families are integral parts of our congregations and leadership structures.'

And Aidala expressed her feelings about the Service in this way: 'As a LGBTQIA+ community member and activist myself, it has been exciting to collaborate with so many communities of faith that are committed to offering affirming spaces and spreading the message of love and inclusion to create the first Interfaith Pride Celebration. And I am proud it is scheduled to intentionally lead into San Marcos's 10th annual SMTX Pride Festival, an essential piece of our local queer culture and community.'

Lewis added, 'All of us working on this Interfaith Service are so pleased and excited to be participating together to provide this very welcoming event for the community. We believe it will be a beautiful, inspiring, meaningful experience for those who attend. And we welcome all, whoever you are. In fact, our opening hymn is titled, 'Come, Come, Whoever You Are.' We'll see you there.'

For more information contact Jeannie Lewis at jeannie@centurytel.net or (512) 353-2872.