All Saints Church to Celebrate National Coming Out Day on Sunday

All Saints Church in Pasadena will observe National Coming Out Day on October 13, with special services and activities aimed at celebrating LGBTQ+ courage and authenticity. The event underscores the Church’s commitment to inclusivity and its stance against discrimination.

“At All Saints Church Pasadena, we are committed to creating a space where everyone is welcomed, valued, and celebrated for who they are,” said Thomas Diaz, Director of Connection and Care.

The Reverend Canon Susan Russell, chair of the Episcopal Church’s Task Force on LGBTQ Inclusion, will preach at both the 7:30 and 10:00 a.m. services.

“Coming Out Day is the opportunity for us to come out as Christians by offering a rebuttal to the rabid rhetoric of the religious right who have taken the Good News of God’s inclusive love and distorted it into a weapon of mass discrimination,” said Russell.

“As Harvey Milk famously said ‘You must come out … and once and for all, break down the myths, destroy the lies and distortions.’ And for me as a priest and pastor, those lies and distortions include hijacking my faith and turning it into weapon to wound God’s beloved LGBTQ children.”

Harvey Milk, a pioneering gay rights activist and one of the first openly gay elected officials in the United States, made the remark in 1978. He was assassinated later that year.

Following the 10:00 a.m. service, the Church will host “Express Yourself,” a community art experience designed to bring people together, share their stories, and celebrate diverse identities through creative expression.

The event aims to honor those who have come out and support those still on their journey, the Church statement said.

National Coming Out Day, first celebrated in 1988, is officially observed annually on October 11, marking the anniversary of the Second National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights. Grounded in the feminist and gay liberation spirit, it has evolved into a global event raising awareness about LGBTQ+ issues.

All Saints Church, founded in 1883 as the first Episcopal parish in Pasadena, has a long history of advocating for social justice.

Located at 132 North Euclid Avenue, the Church is currently commemorating the centennial of its current building, constructed from 1923-1924. Its activism includes involvement in the 1970s anti-war movement, the anti-apartheid movement in the 1990s, the battle for the ordination of women, and the struggle for LGBTQ+ rights and marriage equality in both Church and civic arenas.