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Capital Pride 2007
On June 9, 2007, Riverside Baptist Church proudly marched in its second
Capital Pride Parade. This year we marched in a contingent of welcoming and affirming Baptist churches, alongside
Washington Plaza Baptist Church (Reston, VA) and Ravensworth Baptist Church (Annandale, VA). The crowd was really glad
to see us out there, and we were glad to be there for them!
Check out the pictures from the parade below!
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| Riverside and Washington Plaza get ready |
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| Ravensworth leads the way |
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Readings from Spirited
On March 25, 2007, the AWAB Team hosted a reading of the book, Spirited:
Affirming the Soul and Black Gay/Lesbian Identity edited by
G. Winston James and Lisa C. Moore. In this book, more than 40 writers discuss how black gays and lesbians
are affirming themselves as spiritual people. The editors and several of the book's contributors were invited to read
passages from this deeply moving compilation of personal narratives. We had such a great time listening to the
speakers, meeting with them after the readings, and enjoying the many delicious desserts during our reception. We were
all blessed that day!
Below are a few pictures of our event. You can click on the thumbnail and bring up a larger version of each
picture.
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| Our audience listens intently |
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| G. Winston James and Lisa C. Moore |
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| Lillie and Nicole chat with the editors |
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AWAB Team Marches in the 2006 Capital Pride Parade with PFLAG
| At the Gay Pride March with PFLAG |
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| Wilma, Maggie, Pastor, & Nicole |
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Several of the AWAB Team--Craig & Maggie, Nicole, Wilma and Pastor--marched in the Gay Pride March on Saturday evening,
June 10th. We marched with PFLAG--Parents and Friends of Lesbians And Gays--along a route with thousands of cheering
people. Below are a few pictures of our day. You can click onto the thumbnail and bring up a larger version of the picture.
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| Washington Plaza Baptist folks with us. |
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Riverside
Marches in the Capital Pride Parade
by Nicole Warren
On June 10, 2006, Pastor
Bledsoe and several members of Riverside Baptist
Church marched in the Capital Pride Parade. We were joined by Washington Plaza Baptist
Church (Reston, VA) and our regional AWAB council member, Sandi John.
Together, we marched under the PFLAG banner, an organization which is very strongly supported in the LGBT community.
The parade route took
us from 23rd & P Street, around Dupont Circle, winding through streets filled with thousands
of supporters, and finishing at Thomas Circle. Rainbow-colored freedom flags were held high in pride against clear blue skies.
Along the way, we saw
folks from many races, many faiths, and many communities, all proud. In fact,
a group of gay square dancers marched and danced directly ahead of our contingent and a Southeast Asian group followed us! We met faeries, athletes, and darlings of the pageantry. We began new friendships
with Washington Plaza’s
co-ministers, Jill McCrory and Dean Jenkins.
The experience was
incredibly powerful and uplifting.
Powerful, because we
marched to celebrate our affirmation of the LGBT community: a community that is thriving in a society which is increasingly
tolerant on one hand, and on the other, fighting tooth-and-nail to deny civil rights, discourage acceptance, and convince
us all that the God-given sexual orientation of LGBT people is an abomination.
Marching in the parade
was uplifting, because thousands of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people came out to say, in truth: ‘I am
proud of who I am!’ And as we marched with our AWAB friends under the PFLAG
banner, those thousands of people showed their overwhelming pride in the loving efforts of parents, friends, and clergy. They clapped and roared loudly for our contingent at every step...And Riverside will
be there for them as they step out in faith.
As I marched beside
my pastor, through the cheering crowd, I felt an enormous sense of hope for my community and pride in our diversity and unity. While looking at all those happy smiling faces, I saw reflected the deep joy that
comes with personal acceptance and outward support of who I am. We were indeed
marching in the light of God!
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