I went to a Pride event to talk to pro-LGBTQ+ people, this is what they said
Article - 4 minute read
On Saturday, June 25, Wichita Pride hosted its first Unity March since 2019. Hundreds of people attended the march that went from Old Town Square to Naftzger Park. A family picnic was held in the park with different tables surrounding the area. Entertainment came in the form of live music and a drag show. There was also an impromptu proposal between two women who came up on stage during a performance of a SpongeBob song. This was a planned proposal with the singer in on it and an immediate wedding ceremony followed.
While I was there, I talked to a couple of people to hear about their views. This is what they said:
Ian Brannan: Why do you feel it’s important to be here supporting the LGBTQ+ community?
Kansas Chapter Co-Leader of Free Mom Hugs Erica Schofield: Free Mom Hugs are here, obviously, to give hugs out to those who maybe don’t have that parental or family support. So, we’re just here to let them know that they’re loved. Most of us are parents of the LGBTQ community and so it’s just our way of supporting them.
IB: What would you like people who are anti-LGBTQ+ to know?
ES: We are all human. We all just want to be loved. It’s pretty simple. That’s the basic. We’re all human. We all just want to be loved and live our lives authentically in the way we can.
IB: Matt Walsh recently came out with a documentary called ‘What is a Woman?’ in the movie they showed the struggle LGBTQ+ people and supporters have answering this question. Why do you think this question is so hard for this group to answer?
ES: I don’t think that it should be hard. It’s who you are. It’s a feeling. I think we are born and yeah, there are gender norms, we’ve all kind of figured out our way through those, but some people don’t feel that way. If you identify on the more feminine side of being a human than you’re a woman. That’s basic to me. Trying to keep it simple.
Ian Brannan: Why do you feel it’s important to be here supporting the LGBTQ+ community?
Woodland United Methodist Church Pastor Valecia Vogts-Scrivmer: I believe whole heartedly in equality. I believe we are all beloved creatures of God and deserving of all the love this world has to offer.
IB: What would you like people who are anti-LGBTQ+ to know?
PVV-S: I think the main thing is just to focus on what is important. That is our shared humanity. Our shared need for all the good things including love and equal rights.
IB: Detransitioners have spoken about how there has only been affirming care for them which led to them getting surgeries they’ve regretted. Do you think we need to change how we are treating people with gender dysphoria to prevent regrettable surgeries?
PVV-S: I think there are sort of two prongs of this. First is sort of the religious side of me. As a Pastor, I look at the theological side of things, and I think we are all granted free will. That is for us, regardless. We all have decisions to make, and we should be free and clear to make those decisions. I also think from an American citizen standpoint, I mean, the same is really true. There should be an alliable human right, and above all else, sovereignty over one’s body.
There were no protestors at the event; however, if there were, the following questions would have been asked:
Why do you feel it’s important to be here protesting the LGBTQ+ community?
What would you like people who are pro-LGBTQ+ to know?
According to truecolorsunited.org, up to 40 percent of homeless youth are LGBTQ+, making them disproportionately represented among homeless youth. The Bible states in 1 Timothy 5:8, “But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” What are your thoughts on this?
Many LGBTQ+ people say they target children with education and media because they remember being young and feeling out of place and so they don’t want kids like them to feel the same way. What are your thoughts on this? Can you understand where they’re coming from?
If you would like to answer these questions, please send your response by July 3, 2022 to ksconstitutional@gmail.com with the subject line ‘Letter to the Editor.’