We should all be allies to LGBTQ+ community

It has been great to see the celebrations, events and support for Pride Month. And I have also noticed the concerns and opposition. Sadly, the opposition reflects intolerance and exclusion and appears to reflect a lack of understanding about the LGBT+ community. But the fact is, people who are LGBT+ are our neighbors, friends, co-workers, medical professionals, postal workers, lawyers, shop owners and countless other roles. In other words, they are just like the rest of the community, people working to make their lives and the lives of their loved ones, better. They simply want the freedom to love and be loved, openly and freely. Isn't that something we all want?

Why use the word celebrate for Pride Month? Say you are having lunch with a friend and they say, "I really tolerate our friendship." Or "I really celebrate our friendship." Which would make you feel more special? Celebrate denotes action and support. We should all be allies to the LGBT+ community.

For those offering a faith-based response that God does not accept the LGBT+ community, as a Catholic I can only comment on Christianity with any depth. And that leads me to a very simple lesson. For those who believe in God, we can be comforted knowing God loves us, unconditionally and always. This is central to the Christian faith. We are not called to cling to this gift but share it with others. More specifically everyone.

God does not call us to love some people and not others. We are called to always love everyone and not just those we arrogantly believe worthy of love. God's teaching can easily be condensed to love others as we are loved by God and to include everyone in that love. Anything less is simply not acceptable to God.

Tom Southall

Arlington Heights