All posts by Rev. Paul M. Turner

Pride celebration

Why Pride Is So Much More Than a Month

It’s so much more than rainbow logos What does Pride mean today? Is it the vibrant parade of colors marching down the street? The rush of joy as music blares through the alleys and people dance uninhibitedly. Or is it a political statement, a reminder

Pride celebration

How To Make Every Day Like a Pride Parade

As I watched the Atlanta Pride parade broadcast on TV last fall (we march in October thanks to a summer drought in 2007 that rendered the parade’s endpoint, Piedmont Park, a scorched wasteland), I was struck by a couple of things at once. For starters,

Protest signs at Black Lives Matter Knoxville’s Juneteenth Rally and March, 6.19.20

Why Juneteenth Should Matter to LGBTQ+ Christians

Juneteenth, a holiday commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African Americans, holds profound significance for our nation and should be honored and celebrated by everyone, including LGBTQ+ people — and in particular, by LGBTQ+ Christians. Here’s why. For starters, Juneteenth for me as a Christian is

Rainbow buttons with cross

How To Live the Gospel With Pride

In life’s complex tapestry, where prejudice, -isms and misunderstanding can still cast long shadows, the LGBTQ+ community has navigated through storms of discrimination and rejection. And within that struggle lies an opportunity — a clarion call to embody the deepest teachings of love, compassion and