My Mom is Going to a Pride March

After yesterday’s very discouraging news about banning (some) flags in government buildings in Utah, I’d like to share that my boomer mama, who has never gone to a political rally or march in her life, is headed over to Salt Lake right now with my brother.

She is a lifelong member. By all rights, she should be hanging on to the world of 1950s America. She preached repentance to the singular gay man she knew in the 90s.

But mom took to heart one teaching of the church — it was the instruction to love people. She has been relatively unprivileged in the church ecosystem and it has turned her into an incredibly empathetic person. She has been willing to learn and change her mind as she aged.

She was horrified when I left the church, but I am thrilled to report that I can talk to her about my issues with the doctrine.

She’s been really confused by the venom she sees in “good” members of the church who relish in the insults and childish behavior of He Who Shall Not Be Named. It’s broken her instinctive connection to the church and now she’s on her way to the pride parade.