Our Boise church celebrates Pride because God’s love is for everyone | Opinion

For nearly 15 years, Cathedral of the Rockies has declared a simple truth: All means all.

We believe every person is created in the image of God and deserves dignity, belonging and love. That belief has shaped our mission and welcome — from the rainbow flag flying outside our building to the invitation we give each week: All are welcome at Christ’s table.

Last year, our denomination, the United Methodist Church, took a long-overdue step in living out that truth. It removed harmful language about LGBTQIA+ people from our Book of Discipline, affirming what many of us have practiced for years: that God’s love is for everyone, without exception.

Since we began living into that inclusive vision, nearly 80% of our new members have told us they came because they were looking for a spiritual home where “all means all” isn’t just a slogan — it’s a lived reality.

So why do we celebrate Pride?

Why do we speak up for our LGBTQIA+ neighbors?

Because Pride saves lives.

In 2025, a staggering 923 anti-trans bills were introduced in 49 states. Of those, 113 passed, 732 are still active, and only 78 failed. In 2020, there were just 100 such bills. What began as isolated efforts has become a sweeping campaign targeting healthcare access, IDs, sports participation, public bathrooms — even the right to legally exist as oneself.

Recent executive orders have ended federal Diversity, Equity and Inclusion efforts, banned transgender military service and declared that there are only two “unchangeable” genders. References to transgender people were removed from the National Park Service’s Stonewall Uprising exhibit. The Navy was told to rename a ship honoring Harvey Milk, a gay rights pioneer.

This isn’t just politics — it’s people’s lives. And it sends a devastating message: You don’t belong.

But our faith says something else.

The creation story in Genesis says God created day and night — a binary. But look again. Between day and night, we have dusk, twilight, dawn. If God made the beauty between light and dark, why wouldn’t God also create the full spectrum of gender and identity?

When someone discovers that their identity doesn’t align with the sex assigned to them at birth, they’re not rejecting how God made them. They are discovering how God made them. The Apostle Paul wrote, “There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28). In Christ, we are called to clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness and humility — and to affirm each other’s sacred worth.

So why Pride?

Why not “Straight Pride?”

Because no one is kicked out of their family or church for being straight.

Because straight people don’t face legislation aimed at their identity.

Because no one fears holding their straight spouse’s hand in public.

Because straight weddings aren’t protested.

Because straight kids don’t need to be “outed” or fear conversion therapy.

Because being straight was never illegal.

Pride exists because LGBTQIA+ people have had to fight to exist.

It is a celebration, yes — but also a resistance, a declaration: We are here. We are beloved.

As Harvey Milk once said, “Hope will never be silent.”

And neither will we.

At Cathedral of the Rockies, we celebrate Pride because all people matter to God — and sometimes we all need to know that we matter.

All means all.

All belong.

All are beloved.

And that is why we celebrate Pride.