Living Pride
A Meditation by Rev. Cameron Trimble
“Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend.” —Martin Luther King Jr.
As we come to the close of Pride Month in the United States, we find ourselves in a paradoxical moment: a season meant to honor dignity, truth, and love—now met with escalating efforts to erase, vilify, and harm.
Pride began as protest. It has always been an act of resistance and resilience, especially for trans people who stood up when no one else would. It was never about rainbow capitalism or surface-level inclusion. It was—and remains—a sacred declaration: We are here. We are holy. We will not be erased.
And yet today, that erasure is precisely what is being attempted by those in the MAGA movement.
The current administration is investing billions—not in education, housing, or healthcare—but in campaigns of cruelty against LGBTQ people. Through policy, media manipulation, and legal strategies like Project 2025, they are reshaping our cultural imagination—trying to make exclusion feel normal, and injustice seem divine.
This month, the Defense Department announced that it will rename a U.S. Navy destroyer that had been named after Harvey Milk, the slain gay rights activist and veteran.1 It was a symbolic and deeply intentional act of erasure. Simultaneously, mentions of LGBTQ leaders and history have been scrubbed from government websites. In one absurd and telling moment, the name of the Enola Gay—the historic WWII aircraft—was removed simply because it contained the word “gay.”2
The recent Supreme Court decision allowing parents to pull children from schools that include LGBTQ stories signals a chilling shift.3 It’s not just censorship—it’s a declaration that some lives are too shameful to be spoken aloud. It’s “Don’t Say Gay” by another name. Behind these policies lie deeper ambitions: to overturn the legal recognition of gay marriage, to re-criminalize difference, to dismantle decades of hard-won protections.
For queer people of color, the weight is even greater. They bear the compounded burden of systemic racism, spiritual rejection, and targeted political violence. And yet—miraculously, defiantly—they continue to lead movements for justice, joy, and liberation.
Let us name this moment clearly:
This administration’s agenda is not moral. It is a campaign of control and division with life threatening consequences.
These policies are not protecting children. They are teaching them fear.
The goal is not order. It is erasure.
We know something deeper still: Love is not a trend. Queer lives are not a debate. Our worth is not up for a vote. We are not just “allowed” to exist. We belong.
We must be fierce in our resistance—and tender in our remembering. This isn’t just about policy. It’s about the kind of world we want to build, one where no one has to hide. One where every child grows up knowing they are beloved. One where love—real, hard-earned, holy love—has the final word.
We are in this together,
Cameron
Reflection Questions
Where have you internalized messages that certain kinds of love are more worthy than others? What needs healing there?
What does it mean to you to be an ally, co-conspirator, or beloved community member—not in name, but in action?
How can we root our activism in love that refuses to abandon anyone?
A Prayer for the Day
For the Sacredness of Every Life
Holy Love, You who delight in our diversity, who shaped us in a thousand hues and heartbeats— help us remember who we are. When policies try to erase, remind us that our presence is a miracle. When fear shouts louder than truth, anchor us in belovedness. Make us dangerous with compassion. Disruptive with tenderness. And faithful to the fierce, gentle work of justice. Amen.
Spiritual Practice
Hold Sacred What the World Tries to Erase
Spend five minutes today naming aloud (or writing down) the names of LGBTQ people who have shaped your life—past or present, public or personal. Let their courage, creativity, and complexity rise in your heart.
If you are queer or trans yourself, name your own name among them. You are part of a lineage of sacred beauty.
Then speak this blessing: You are not an issue. You are not a sin. You are not a threat. You are a blessing. You are beloved. You are a gift to the world.
Upcoming Events That Might Be of Interest…
SOLD OUT!!! July 20-25, 2025 - The Art of Wilding: A 5-Day Expedition in Wyoming for Women Leaders. Click here to learn more in case you want to come next year!
REGISTRATION OPEN! August 11, 2025, 2pm ET - Dr. Andrew Root and I will be hosting a 6 part series on Spirituality in the Secular Age based on his research. The dates are August 11, 18, September 8, 15, and October 6, 13. Register here!
September 4, 4:30pm ET - I will be collaborating with the Anderson Forum for Progressive Theology to host a conversation with Thomas Jay Oord on Open and Relational theology. It’s a FREE event. Register here.
October 15-18, 2025 - Converging 2025: Sing Truth Conference (all musicians invited!) at Northwest Christian Church in Columbus, OH. Register here!
I drafted a Strategic Framework for Congregations as we move into the coming years of increased authoritarianism around the world. If interested, you can download it here.
If you are a leader or member of a congregation looking for consulting support in visioning, planning, hiring or staffing, please consider Convergence.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jun/27/hegseth-navy-ship-harvey-milk-oscar-peterson
https://apnews.com/article/dei-purge-images-pentagon-diversity-women-black-8efcfaec909954f4a24bad0d49c78074
https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-lgbtq-books-religion-maryland-schools-c0b0fb4b96531636fcb98b08aabc3cf9
Yes!🌈
Thank you. I consider myself an ally of my friends and family members who are LGBTQ. This meditation is encouraging and inspiring.