Hermit Diary 35: Proud

 

It's Pride Week in Montreal, and although there won't be the usual city-wide festivities, the cathedral held a virtual version of our annual "OutMass" on Sunday evening. The link above is our choir's offering of hope and love, with photographs from last year's Pride parade. This piece of music was written by the British composer Will Todd and made available to musicians worldwide. It was originally written to celebrate the NHS in the early days of the pandemic, and offer some hope and cheerfulness with the rainbow as a symbol, but we felt it was just as appropriate for a dual purpose, acknowledging that the coronavirus is still with us, making events like these as well as the usual closeness between friends impossible, and also as a symbol of Pride.

Just as the service began, our gathering -- which had been advertised and was open to the public -- was Zoom-bombed by a group of anonymous men, who spewed homophobic hate in the most vile way possible. Thanks to the quick reactions of our hosting team, they were removed and the "room" was locked, but of course it was a shock, and distressing. However, the service resumed under the calm leadership of our music director, Jonathan White. The incident was unable to mar the beauty, love, and solidarity of the hour that followed, which was filled with music, spoken word, prayer, reflection, and shared purpose. In fact, I think all the positive qualities of the gathering were actually augmented, and burned into the memories of the people who were present.

When I think of the courage, gentleness, openness, honesty, and calmness of the people of all ages who were gathered, representing all aspects of LGBTQ+ expression as well as their straight allies, and compare it to the cowardice of those who tried to disrupt this beautiful celebration of pride in our human diversity --  and the sanctity of that diversity -- there's really little to say. It's so obvious. Love triumphs over hate.

I'm proud of our community, and extremely proud of and grateful for the friends who planned and prepared this service, and all those who came and stood together on Sunday night. Your strength makes all of us stronger, and I'm glad to be able to help salute you in music and join with you in working for a better, kinder, more just world.

The full service is embedded below. I'd like to call your attention particularly to the section from 26:16 - 32:10, where members of the community offer a litany asking God to "walk with us, grieve with us, and rejoice with us," interposed with Jonathan White singing a Kyrie.

 

 

Comments

[Vivian Lewin]

At yesterday's mid day prayers, mindful of all had transpired the day before--Pride, and also the peculiar conditions of the isolation we are living, that of course prevented our being physically together for that event-- I included this poem by Canadian poet Dorothy Livesay (from Phases of Love, Coach House 1983)

Locked in your house
as I in mine
we build a bridge
to celebrate
togetherness
We throw an arc of coloured light
and swing on it
walk soft, lest giddiluy
we'd sway and fall
into the waving arms
seeking to flay us.

[Beth]

What a perfect poem for this moment, Vivian. Thank you for sharing it here.

[Alex]

I’m so glad you liked the litany I wrote, Beth! I feel really grateful at how many people found that impactful, and I loved what Jonathan and the readers did with it!

[Duchesse]

I am grateful action was taken immediately. It's hard for me to imagine in 2020 (and I can't help but think, here) that happened. Beautiful service.

[Priya Sebastian]

Beautiful music Beth. The words and music of Jonathan White singing the Kyrie especially so.