Cardston Pride event a chance to start building bridges

It goes without saying that Cardston was founded very much on the idea of escaping persecution due to unjust laws in the late 19th century. These pioneers were asked to find a place where they could worship freely and live freely.

The town continues to embody that pioneer spirit, and with this inaugural Pride event, does so again. In a province where the LGBTQ2S+ community continues to fight for equality while some politicians choose to push for outing gay kids before they’re ready or pushing policies that echo 2012’s infamous “Lake of Fire,” we risk turning back the clock on all the progress that’s been made.

This is where Cardston gets to shine and to lead. As I said earlier, Cardston was founded as a place to escape persecution and as a predominant Mormon community, we as LDS Church members should understand better than some the pains of persecution, being driven from homes, jailed and martyred for being different. When others are experiencing such experiences, we should be the first to lift them up, take them in and have their backs. Nothing in our doctrine or beliefs limits us supporting them and saying, “Even if we disagree, because I have the right to freely live as I do, then so should you.”

If Joseph Smith was willing to lay down his life for a Mormon, a Presbyterian or Muslim, then we ought to be able to stand up for the LGBTQ2S+ community and say, “No. The discrimination, the hate and intolerance has to stop.” When we have been taught to “love one another as Jesus loves us,” doing the right thing becomes obvious. False equivalencies of adhering to our beliefs means we have to turn a blind eye to others or the belief that stepping outside our paradigm means we’re sinning against our Creator are what impedes us from doing it.

This weekend, take your family to Cardston Pride. Ask questions. Enjoy the festivities. Listen to the stories and learn. For every one of our ancestors who were hurt due to persecution, there’s probably a young man or woman who’s been forced out of their own home for being different or took their life because they didn’t live up to standards society had for them. That has to stop. We have to start mending fences, building bridges and encourage healing. There’s no better time than now. Jeremy Woolward

Calgary