St. Mark’s Takes Part in Teaneck’s First Pride Observance

On Sunday, June 4th, Teaneck Township held its first LGBT+ Pride observance. Following the 10:00 service a group gathered at the corner of Cedar Lane and Teaneck Road and marched approximately two-thirds of a mile to Votee Park where a flag-raising and festival took place. We were joined by representatives from Christ Church, employees of Hackensack University Hospital and other groups. At the park there were face painters and other activities set up.  Other activities including an art show and film screenings are planned for later in the month.

St. Mark’s has long been a “safe space” for LGBT+ people to worship and gather.  In the 1980s, we hosted a gay and lesbian community group which had been denied another place to meet. In 1998 we called the Rev. Randall C.K. Day, a partnered (since married) gay man, to serve as our Rector. Numerous same-gender couples have been married at our altar, and people of all orientations and gender identities have made St. Mark’s their spiritual home.

June was selected for LGBT+ pride month in recognition of the Stonewall Riots, an uprising that took place in New York City in late June of 1969 after years of harassment by police and others. The Stonewall Inn is now a national historic site. The observance has particular meaning this year when anti-LGBT legislation and violence is on the uptick around the country.

The Episcopal Church has been on a journey towards the full inclusion of LGBT+ people in the life of the church since the 1980s, when a gay man, Barry Stopfel, was ordained a priest by retired bishop, the Rt. Rev. Walter Righter. Righter was tried as a heretic in ecclesiastical court and won his case.  In the time since, the church has elected gay men and lesbians as bishops (2003) , created an official rite for blessing same-gender relationships (2009), officially stated identifying as LGBT+ was not a barrier to ordained ministry (2012), and began conferring marriage rites to same-gender couples in any jurisdiction where they are legal (2015). While individual congregations, clergy and dioceses are on different places in the road to full inclusion, these rites are available in all domestic dioceses of the church.

PHOTOS CREDIT: Ellen Brooks