Hey there! I see you made it out today! I know your calendar must be jam-packed. I heard you recently participated in a local beer festival fundraiser where you used your megaphone to declare that drinking beer is a sin. You even made a memorable appearance at last year’s Christmas parade, warning families that believing in Santa Claus is sinful. So, thanks for taking a moment to join us at the pride march in our small town.
I can only imagine what was going through your mind as you arrived in our downtown area just after the march wrapped up. Those of us who participated were riding high on the joy of the day—walking through the streets, smiling at onlookers, and soaking in the cheers from the farmer’s market. We cherished the vibrant atmosphere, the fun, and the colorful outfits.
Then you arrived. We were waiting in line with other families for free glitter tattoos from the local art store when you suddenly appeared with your megaphone, your quiet companion, and your large, professionally printed signs bearing strange and harsh messages like “God hates pride” and “Homosexuals will not inherit the kingdom of God.” (My 8-year-old asked where you could even buy those signs, and I had no answer.)
Perhaps you were upset about missing the march. Is that why you chose to target a group of children?
My 11-year-old daughter, 8-year-old son, and 5-year-old son were all wearing their matching “Love Wins” shirts (thanks to Old Navy for making it so easy!). They thoroughly enjoyed the march and believe wholeheartedly that love is love—that two mommies and two daddies are just as wonderful.
When you began your unhinged tirade, I honestly wasn’t sure what to expect. I thought you might be a street preacher reciting Bible verses. I was taken aback when you decided to focus your anger on a group of kids ranging from 4 to 13 years old.
You shouted, “Your children are going to hell! Do you want your kids to go to hell?” Unsurprisingly, we didn’t respond. You just kept yelling.
At one point, you noticed my kids’ shirts and screamed, “You say love wins, but you don’t even know what love is; all you understand is lust.” You went on about sodomy and eternal flames, saying a lot of bizarre things that most people wouldn’t typically scream at children.
So why am I expressing my gratitude? Let’s just say you inadvertently taught my kids some important lessons that day.
- That adults don’t always have the right answers. “Some of the best people we know are gay,” my son remarked. “If hell exists, which I don’t believe, wouldn’t people like him end up there instead of us?” Yes, my boy, you’re absolutely right.
- That the world can be an unkind place. “He’s just mean,” my daughter observed. “Mean and unhappy. I really hope he doesn’t have kids … can you imagine? His poor family.”
- That there are still good people around. Families nearby began chanting joyfully to drown out the negativity coming from your megaphone. Cars honked in disapproval of you. A wonderful woman quickly wrote “God is Love” on a poster and held it up right in front of you. We stood together in solidarity.
- That we should stand firm for our beliefs. In a world that teaches us to respect adults, we must also remind our children that not all authority figures deserve that respect. My kids didn’t respect you—and I’m glad they didn’t.
- That people like me are raising our kids the right way. Faced with a grown man shouting at them, did my kids break down? Cry? Panic? No. They talked to each other and to me.
My 11-year-old focused on the feelings—the meanness and cruelty of your statements. My 8-year-old focused on the logic—how your arguments were nonsensical.
And my 5-year-old? He hopped onto a fire hydrant in his “Love Wins” shirt and started doing one of his goofy dances, full of laughter and joy, perhaps even a bit mockingly, right in front of you. He chose love.
See you and your megaphone at the next community event! We’ll be the ones rolling our eyes at you.
—A Proud Mom
In summary, this blog post reflects on an experience during a pride march where a protester confronted families with harsh messages. It highlights the lessons learned by the children about kindness, logic, and standing up for their beliefs. The mothers illustrate how they are raising their children in an accepting and loving environment, despite the negativity they sometimes encounter.
Leave a Reply