Episcopal churches to celebrate Pride Month throughout June to affirm, support LGBTQ+ people

[Episcopal News Service] Episcopal churches nationwide will recognize Pride Month throughout June with special events to celebrate and affirm LGBTQ+ people, and to raise awareness of increasing anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment.

“It’s really important for Christians to be actively, vocally affirming and visible in Pride Month. It’s a time to be fabulous, to be joyful and to celebrate,” the Rev. Cameron Partridge, rector of St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church in San Francisco, Diocese of California, and a trans man, told Episcopal News Service. “I’m looking forward to continuing to live out our witness as a church in support of the community and as agents of good news and transformers of this world.”

On June 1 at 6 p.m. Eastern, The Episcopal Church will kick off Pride Month with a special livestreamed Eucharist at the Chapel of Christ the Lord at the Episcopal Church Center in New York, New York, “to bless and commission Episcopalians who will share God’s love at Pride events across the church,” and to “celebrate the dignity, love and lives of LGBTQ+ people.” Partridge will preach and Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe will preside.

Pride Month has been celebrated nationwide in June since 1970. It began after the Stonewall riots, a series of gay liberation protests that took place one year prior between June 28 and July 3, 1969. The riots started in response to a police raid at the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in New York’s Greenwich Village neighborhood. In 1999, former President Bill Clinton commemorated the Stonewall riots’ 30th anniversary by declaring June as Gay and Lesbian Pride Month. June 28 is International LGBT Pride Day, though celebrations commonly occur on other days in June.

This year’s Pride Month events will take place as anti-LGBTQ+ bills continue to be introduced nationwide. As of May 16, the American Civil Liberties Union is tracking 588 anti-LGBTQ+ bills in the United States. Out of 910 anti-trans bills introduced in 49 states so far in 2025 by federal, state and local legislators, 103 have already passed, and 731 cases remain active, according to Trans Legislation Tracker, an independent research organization that tracks bills affecting anti-trans and gender-diverse people in the United States.

In January, President Donald Trump signed an executive order banning initiatives that support diversity, equity and inclusion, prompting federal agencies and now some private corporations to discontinue commemorating holidays and observances, including Pride Month. By early February, agency websites began to remove mention of transgender or queer people, including the Rev. Pauli Murray, and changed the acronym LGBTQ (for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer) to LGB.

Additionally, hate crimes targeting marginalized groups, including LGBTQ+ people, also have increased worldwide. Between Oct. 1, 2023, and Sept. 30, 2024, 350 known transgender people worldwide – including 41 in the United States – were murdered, though the number may be much higher, according to data compiled by the Trans Murder Monitoring Project, an initiative of Transgender Europe, a Berlin, Germany-based nongovernmental organization.

The Episcopal Church has been formally welcoming and affirming LGBTQ+ people since 1976, when General Convention adopted two resolutions stating that “homosexual persons are children of God who have a full and equal claim with all other persons upon the love, acceptance, and pastoral concern and care of the Church (A069), and that they “are entitled to equal protection of the laws with all other citizens (A071).

Today, Episcopal dioceses, congregations, organizations and individuals continue to advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, and LGBTQ+ people now serve in clergy and lay leadership roles, including bishops. Many churches display the rainbow flag despite the risk of vandalism, while many others sponsor and march in their local Pride parades and festivals.

“I recognize that sometimes there may be a place where, for instance, it’s not safe to have pride flags flying outside your church. Maybe in those cases, you don’t do that, but you make sure that within your community, you are doing the work to be fully welcoming and supportive,” Partridge said. “I recognize that not all contexts are the same, and you have to know your context and what’s going to create the greatest reality of sanctuary for trans and nonbinary folks in your midst.”

The Episcopal Church has special Pride Month resources available on its website, including a downloadable Pride shield, short videos highlighting the church’s advocacy and support, social media graphics and more.

The following is a list of some Episcopal congregations hosting Pride Month gatherings or participating in community-led events. Check online for additional events hosted by local dioceses and parishes. All times are local.

Lebanon, Pennsylvania — St. Luke’s Episcopal Church will hold a livestreamed Pride service on June 1 at 10:30 a.m. followed by a luncheon. At 3 p.m., St. Luke’s will host the Harrisburg Gay Men’s Chorus, who will perform their spring program, “A Choral Kaleidoscope.”

Crystal Lake, Illinois — Trinity Episcopal Parish: St. Mary’s Church is sponsoring and participating in the city’s downtown Pride Walk & Social, taking place June 1 beginning at 11 a.m. A festival featuring live music, line dancing, karaoke and a car show will follow. The festival will also include a craft fair supporting LGBTQ+-owned businesses and makers, as well as opportunities to connect with local nonprofits and community resources.

New York City — St. Philip’s Episcopal Church in Harlem, Upper Manhattan, will host a special Pride worship service on June 1 at 10 a.m. After the service, everyone is welcome to gather in the church’s garden beginning at noon for the “Gay Garden Get Together,” “where the vibes are lush, the love is loud, and the community is unapologetically queer.” There will be a DJ and live performances and presentation, as well as open mic opportunities for poetry readings, music and storytelling. “This is a celebration of Pride, joy, resilience, and community. Whether you’re out and proud or still finding your way, this space is for YOU.”

Greenville, North Carolina — Members of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church will participate in an interfaith Pride prayer service on June 1 at 3 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church in Greenville. The Rev. Josiah Daniels, associate rector of St. Paul’s, will be the headline speaker. The event will include activities for children.

Arlington, Virginia — St. George’s Episcopal Church will host a special choral evensong service on June 1 at 3:45 p.m. followed by a festive reception. Selected repertoire will include works by LGBTQ+ composers.

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma — Members of St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral will march in the 39th Street Pride Parade on June 1 at 7 p.m. This year’s parade theme, “They Can’t Erase Us,” will serve “to remind the world that our stories, our love, and our existence cannot be erased. …We are here, and we are unstoppable.”

Homewood, Alabama — All Saints Episcopal Church will host a contemplative prayer service celebrating and uplifting the LGBTQ+ community on June 4 at 6 p.m. The service will include reflection and music. The Rev. Dillon Greene, rector of St. Catherine’s Episcopal Church in Chelsea, Alabama, will preach.

Salt Lake City, Utah — The Episcopal Church of Utah will host and participate in several events in conjunction with the city’s Utah Pride Parade & Festival beginning with an interfaith Pride service on June 5 at 7 p.m. at First Baptist Church in Salt Lake City. Utah Bishop Phyllis Spiegel will lead the service. On June 7 and 8, the diocese will have a booth at the Pride festival in Salt Lake City. The diocese will also participate in the Pride parade on June 8, starting with a pre-parade led by the Rev. Jeff Stevenson, canon to the ordinary, at 10 a.m.

San Francisco, California — St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church will host a “Pride poster pizza party” on June 6 at 6 p.m., where members of the congregation and community can make LGBTQ+-affirming posters ahead of Pride Month events in the San Francisco Bay area.

Kansas City, Missouri — St. Paul’s Episcopal Church will host the Dioceses of Kansas and West Missouri’s annual Diocesan Mass on June 7 at 9 a.m. as part of the Kansas City PrideFest. After Mass, members of the dioceses will march in the Pride parade.

Memphis, Tennessee — Members of Grace-St. Luke’s Episcopal Church will participate in the Mid-South Pride Parade in Memphis on June 7 at 11 a.m. The church will also include a collect supporting its LGBTQ+ ministry during worship services throughout June.

Patchogue, New York — St. Paul’s Episcopal Church will host its second annual Pride Mass on June 7 at noon. The special worship service will kick off Pride Weekend in Patchogue.

Seward, Alaska — St. Peter’s Episcopal Church will conclude Pride Weekend Seward with a special Pride worship service on June 8 at 9 a.m.

Milwaukee, Wisconsin — Episcopalians in the Diocese of Wisconsin will march at the Milwaukee Pride Parade on June 8 beginning at 2 p.m. “The Episcopal Diocese of Wisconsin is proud to show up in love, solidarity, and celebration with our LGBTQ+ siblings. …All are welcome – really.”

Indianapolis, Indiana — Members of the Diocese of Indianapolis will march in the Indy Pride Parade in downtown Indianapolis alongside the diocese’s special float. Participants will gather at the lineup at 9:30 a.m. for a brief worship service, a half hour before the parade begins. The diocese will also have a booth at the Indy Pride Festival during and after the parade.

Missoula, Montana — Members of Holy Spirit Episcopal Church will march or ride vehicles in the Missoula Pride Parade on June 21 at noon. Staging begins at 10 a.m.

Las Vegas, Nevada — All Saints/Todos Los Santos Episcopal Church will dedicate its 9:30 a.m. English language worship service to Pride Month and expressing solidarity for LGBTQ+ people on June 29. “Diverse and beautiful, blessed and beloved, we are all made in the image of the Creator of all things.”

-Shireen Korkzan is a reporter and assistant editor for Episcopal News Service. She can be reached at skorkzan@episcopalchurch.org.