Each year, in communities across the world, June is celebrated as “Pride” month — a commemoration of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer community’s struggle for civil rights and the ongoing pursuit of equal justice under the law.

The leadership of St. Paul’s is committed to extending the hospitality of Jesus Christ to the LGBTQ+ community, knowing that for too long – and, in many churches, even now – this community has been marginalized, and even harmed by the Church. As Christians in the Episcopal tradition, in our baptismal covenant, we promise to “strive for justice among all people” and “respect the dignity of every human being.” This promise invites us, as a Christian community, to celebrate our LGBTQ+ siblings and share in the Pride festivities!

There are many opportunities to join the St. Paul’s community in celebrating Pride, encompassing fellowship, community outreach, and worship. You can find more details below. Contact the Rev. Brandon Ashcraft (bashcraft@stpauls-church.org) with questions.

Community Outreach

In honor of Pride, the Outreach Committee has made discretionary grants to support the mission of three community non-profits that serve the LGBTQ+ community and their allies: the LGBT Community Center of Greater Cleveland, the sponsor of Pride in the CLE and one of the oldest LGBTQ+ community centers in the country; Colors+, which has a mission to strengthen LGBTQ+ youth and their allies by promoting individual and community wellness; and Central Outreach Wellness Center, a Cleveland Heights-based clinic that specializes in providing culturally competent health care to the LGBTQ+ community.