Homily for the Gay Pride Liturgy
SLO Mission Square
July 10, 2011
The Rev. Brian H. O. A. McHugh

“Taking Back the Good News”
[ Theme for the Liturgy ]


“God” is an awesome concept. Some very early religionists insisted on calling God “Nothing”, to make the point that once you’ve said everything there was to say about God, you’ve said Nothing.

I have come to think that there are basically two types of religious folk: one for whom the idea of God grows more and more vast as they journey into the Great Mystery, and the other whose idea of God diminishes and narrows. In my experience, the former become embracing, welcoming, compassionate, and inclusive; they recognize that they are one with God and with every other person. The latter become more and more pinched, judging, and exclusive; their “God” more and more tribal, and more and more small.

Religiously, I started as a Scottish Presbyterian in Canada, age five. By age 8, I knew I was whatever the word for Gay was then - sissy, I think; this complicated things. I became an Anglican at age 19. At age 21, I became a monk in the Episcopal Church. If I ever wondered if God existed, the fact that I ended up in a deeply rich and open religious setting of mostly Gay men convinced me that, in whatever mysterious manner, She did! It saved me from a lot of pain and grief. At 27, I was ordained a priest, and, even though it was still Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” in the Episcopal Church, it was definitely affirming to hear the Bishop ask, “Is it your will that Brian be ordained a priest” and hear 250 people shout loudly, “It is!” I retired in 2008 after 40 years in ministry at age 62, and 4 days ago I turned 65. And relentlessly, throughout my Life, God has gotten vaster, more Mysterious, more inclusive, more loving, more compassionate, more glorious.

What’s been at the heart of this Journey? Being Queer! And I will tell you why. “Being Queer” is a metaphor to the larger Truth that the idea of “God” is formed by the struggle of human beings for identity and affirmation, particularly in the face of oppression and discrimination. There is not one of us here this afternoon who has not experienced these things in some way. You can see this in the Scriptures of every religion. Every culture develops deities who affirm, strengthen, encourage and empower its people. The Jewish people come to mind, as do the African-American people in our country. The great 16th C Mogul Emperor of India, Akbar, in his wisdom understood that “all religions are “historically developed” and “products of their time and the land of their origin”. Where we often go awry is when tribal gods remain tribal gods; when we fail to recognize Akbar’s insight that “all the nobler religions ….. radiate from the one eternal truth”.

The great Nothing, the great Mystery of God, does indeed work in mysterious ways to become Known. She has “spoken” through the oppression and struggle of many many peoples and individuals. Now it is the time for Queerfolk confidently to take our place in this divine revelation. But for a few exceptions, Queerfolk who do manage to escape the oppression of tribal religions with their narrow views of God and the diversity of the human creation know that God is Goodness, Compassion, Justice, Kindness, Inclusion - and that all human beings who strive for the deepest authentic humanity strive to image and to be One with these things. And: we know that we Queerfolk are radically, intrinsically OK!

I have a few words for those in America and in our World, of the likes of Michelle Bachman and her ilk, who seek to impose their tribal gods and their fear and exclusion on Queerfolk or any others. The first is from the Christian monk Thomas Merton; he said, “A faith that supports itself by condemning others is itself condemned by the Gospel." The second is a word of caution from that great wise crone philosopher many of us know and love, known as Maxine; she said, “Life is like a jar of jalapeno peppers ..... what you "eat" today might burn your ass tomorrow”.

Those of us who follow a religious path know and value the Wisdom of our traditions. I would also offer a bit of spiritual and practical advice for all of us, Queer and not, as we seek to live out our radical OKness, from the Roman philosopher Marcus Aurelius: he wrote, “"The first rule is to keep an untroubled spirit. The second is to look things in the face and know them for what they are." Jesus’ version was, “Be wise as serpents and gentle as doves”.

The God Who is Love and Truth has spoken throughout human history through those who have been oppressed. Now is the time for Queerfolk and all who are one with us to take back the Good News from those who have stolen and perverted it in the name of their petty tribal gods. We are all One, and we are all beloved, the more so that we strive to act in Compassion, do not fear those different from us, seek to honour and respect the dignity of every human being, and seek to serve others in kindness and generosity and justice.

Today we take back the Good News. Let us live it well ….. and with our usual Gay Abandon!