Last Updated on June 2, 2024 by Kittredge Cherry
Q Spirit presents a prayer for International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia on May 17. The prayer was written by Q Spirit founder Kittredge Cherry.
Founded in 2004, IDAHOBIT celebrates sexual and gender diversities and raises awareness of LGBTQ rights violations around the world. It has grown to include events in more than 130 countries, including 37 where same-sex acts are outlawed. Acronyms have also evolved from the initial IDAHO to variations such as IDAHOT or IDAHOT. Increasingly it is called IDAHOBLIT with an L added for lesbophobia.
May 17 was chosen for IDAHOBIT because the date is the anniversary of the World Health Organization’s May 1990 decision to remove homosexuality from its list of mental disorders. The American Psychiatric Association removed homosexuality as a disorder in 1973. IDAHOBIT is especially popular in Europe and Latin America, where almost all countries hold public events for the occasion. It is recognized by the European Parliament and United Nations agencies host IDAHOBIT events.
All readers are invited to join in prayer:
Loving God of the rainbow promise,
Thank you for creating us in your holy image, with a wide range of genders and sexualities that reflect your own sacred diversities. May we hear your voice and embody your love today on the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia.
We pray for an end to hatred and violence against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex people in every nation. Bring strength and comfort to the LGBTQ people who experience violence, poverty, job loss, homelessness and other forms of discrimination because of who they love and who they are.
We acknowledge our own brokenness and invite you to heal the wounds, ease the pain and calm the fears in every human heart. Be known to us even in the midst of every storm and illuminate a way in our wilderness.
We pledge to help build a world where love means love, a world where justice and peace kiss each other. As a rainbow community, we give thanks for friends, families and allies who join us in the journey to protect and celebrate sexual and gender diversities worldwide.
In your many names we pray, Amen.
A Spanish translation of the prayer is included at the end of this post.
National Cathedral used the prayer
This prayer was included at the end of the evening worship service at the National Cathedral in Washington DC for the birthday of gay martyr and hate-crime victim Matthew Shepard every year from 2021 through 2023. The cathedral posted the service leaflets online for 2021, and 2022 and 2023, plus the 2021 video, 2022 video and 2023 video of the worship services. The full text of the prayer is included in the worship service leaflets every year.
Cherry was not there in person, but her prayer was read aloud at the Washington National Cathedral by Rose Duncan, canon for worship (pictured here), and Patrick Keyser, priest associate.
The main speakers at the service were Gene Robinson, the first openly gay Episcopal bishop, and Matthew’s parents, Judy and Dennis Shepard. Cherry originally wrote the prayer for the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia. For more info, see Q Spirit’s article about the prayer and the National Cathedral.
“I still can’t believe that the National Cathedral contacted me out of nowhere and asked to use my prayer!” she said. “The worship leaders did an excellent job of reading it out loud, setting just the right tone. I wrote the prayer last May for the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia. One of my inspirations was a request from friends at an LGBTQ church in Russia. But it fits perfectly as the closing prayer for Matthew’s service. I like to think that Matthew and all the other queer souls were present with us as we prayed. ”
Prayer is widely used
The prayer continues to be used in a wide variety of settings worldwide. It is included in the 2023 book “Faith and Sexuality: Reconciling LGBT+ People and Christianity” by Australian pastor Shane St. Reynolds.
For the 2022 Day Against Homophobia, an Anglican church in Liverpool, England, showed artwork with LGBTQ saints by queer artist Tony O’Connell. The one-day pop-up exhibit was hosted by the Liverpool Parish Church of Our Lady and Saint Nicholas. It included an icon of the Virgin of Montevergine rescuing a queer couple, an altarpiece of a dove with a rainbow halo, a triptych with saints Sebastian and Joan of Arc as protectors of those killed in the Pulse gay bar massacre in Orlando, and photos that express a “democratised hagiography” in which “everyone gets a halo.” Photos of the exhibit are posted online.
Day Against Homophobia has religious aspect
With the prayer, Q Spirit joins LGBTQ people and our allies around the world in calling upon religions to condemn violence and prejudice based on sexual orientation or gender identity, and to create communities of respect for all people.
“Celebrate the Power of Love” says an IDAHOTB poster from 2021
The IDAHOBIT campaign in 2010 focused specifically on the role of religion in promoting — or ending — violence against LGBTQ people. It included a “multi-faith global prayer initiative.” Prayers have continued since then.
LGBTQ spirituality is international
Cherry especially wants to support the Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia because it is international. “I have personal experience with religious homophobia at the international level, so I know how important it is. I confronted it when I worked with the World Council of Churches as ecumenical officer for Metropolitan Community Churches in the 1990s,” Cherry said. During that time she co-edited the classic book “Equal Rites: Lesbian and Gay Worship, Ceremonies and Celebrations.”
She also pointed out how a false form of “internationalism” can be used to mask homophobia, because progressive religious leaders supposedly don’t want to “offend” the developing nations that they imagine are more prejudiced against LGBTQ people.
On IDAHOBIT, Q Spirit is highlighting the international nature of queer spirituality by adding this “Flag Counter.” It tracks the number of visitors to Q Spirit from various countries.
“I’m an American, but as you can see, only about half of Q Spirit blog visitors come from the United States. The rest come from all across the globe. LGBTQ spirituality is truly worldwide,” Cherry said. The “Live Globe” shows real-time visitors to Q Spirit from around the world.
Spanish translation: Oración por el Día Internacional contra la Homofobia, la Transfobia y la Bifobia
Amoroso Dios de la promesa del arco iris,
Gracias por crearnos según tu santa imagen, con una amplia gama de géneros y sexualidades que reflejan tus propias diversidades sagradas. Que escuchemos tu voz y encarnemos tu amor hoy, en el Día Internacional contra la Homofobia, la Transfobia y la Bifobia.
Oramos para que se ponga fin al odio y la violencia contra las personas lesbianas, gays, bisexuales, transgénero, queer e intersexuales en todas las naciones. Para aportar fuerza y consuelo a las personas LGBTQI+ que sufren violencia, pobreza, pérdida de empleo, falta de vivienda y otras formas de discriminación debido a quiénes aman y quiénes son.
Reconocemos nuestros propios quebrantamientos, y te invitamos a curar las heridas, aliviar el dolor y calmar los miedos de y en cada corazón humano. Sé conocido por nosotros incluso en medio de cada tormenta e ilumina los caminos en nuestro desierto.
Nos comprometemos a ayudar a construir un mundo donde amor signifique amor, un mundo en el que la justicia y la paz se besen. Como comunidad arco iris, damos las gracias por amigos, familias y aliados que se unen a nosotros en el viaje para proteger y celebrar las diversidades sexuales y de género en todo el mundo.
Todo esto te lo pedimos en tus muchos nombres, Amén.
More LGBTQ Prayers from Q Spirit
Rainbow Christ Prayer: LGBT flag reveals the queer Christ
Day of Silence Prayer: Stop bullying God’s LGBTQ youth
LGBTQIA+ Community Prayer of Thanks, Reflection and Courage
“Mary, Queer Liberator” prayer: We your queer children call on you
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Top image credit:
Promotional image from International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia, 2010
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This post is part of the LGBTQ Calendar series by Kittredge Cherry. The series celebrates religious and spiritual holidays, events in LGBT and queer history, holy days, feast days, festivals, anniversaries, liturgical seasons and other occasions of special interest to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people of faith and our allies.
This article was originally published on Q Spirit in May 2021, was expanded with new material over time, and was most recently updated on June 2, 2024.
Copyright © Kittredge Cherry. All rights reserved.
Qspirit.net presents the Jesus in Love Blog on LGBTQ spirituality.
