Here in Evanston, the convergence of Juneteenth and Pride Month feels especially significant given our community’s history of civil rights advocacy, from early integration efforts to becoming the first municipality in the U.S. to provide reparations to Black residents.
Both observances commemorate the courage of those who refused to accept injustice and fought for the right to live authentically and freely.
Juneteenth, marking the end of slavery in America, reminds us that freedom delayed is freedom denied—and that true liberation requires not just legal proclamation but societal transformation. Pride Month reminds us that authentic love and identity cannot be legislated away, and that visibility and celebration are acts of resistance against oppression.
This year marks a meaningful milestone for Lula B. Sherman United Methodist Church as we celebrate our first-ever Pride Sunday, affirming our commitment to radical love and inclusion.
This follows the United Methodist Church’s historic 2024 vote to repeal its ban on LGBTQ+ clergy as well as prohibitions on its ministers from officiating same-sex weddings, marking a transformative moment for one of the largest Protestant denominations in the United States.
Our congregation embraces this decision and the responsibility it implies as a continuation of the legacy of Mrs. Lula B. Sherman herself—a social justice leader whose commitment to equality and human dignity continues to inspire our mission today.
When we say “all means all,” we honor the divine spark within every person, regardless of whom they love or how they express their gender identity
. This moment signals Evanston’s continued commitment to being a beacon of hope during a particularly challenging time, as our federal government seeks to turn back the clock on both Black liberation and LGBTQ+ rights.
The congregation of Lula B. Sherman UMC is proud to join other faith communities in extending the radical hospitality that Jesus exemplified, honoring both our past struggles for freedom and our ongoing responsibility to ensure liberty and justice for all.
On the day after the 56th anniversary of the Stonewall Rebellion, June 29, Lula B. Sherman UMC will celebrate our first Pride Sunday as part of this commitment.
