by Rev. Michael Lonergan
On December 4th, I joined many others from across the country at the Freedom to be Ourselves Rally, that took place outside of the United States Supreme Court Building. That day the court heard arguments in the case of US v Skrmetti. This case challenged the constitutionality of Tennessee’s ban on life saving gender affirming care for transgender youth.
My years of political activism taught me not to expect that our presence outside for a few hours in the brisk December cold would have any real impact on the proceedings inside the Supreme Court. I went to support the transgender youth, their parents, and the entire LGBT+ community. Siblings just like me, made in God’s image and likeness. That is why I went. As usual, God had other ideas.
I joined a contingent who boarded the ACLU sponsored bus in Wilmington, DE. We gathered that morning at 7:30 and departed at 8:00, then arrived in Washington, DC around 10:00. Our group joined others arriving from different areas. As we walked the few blocks from Union Station to the Supreme Court, we heard the rally had already begun. The energy the participants generated seemed palpable.
Initially, this rally seemed similar to others I had attended. The format included a lineup of speakers and chants between the speakers. The speakers included a member of congress and a US Senator. Both spoke words of support for gender affirming care. Medical professionals shared their experiences and their hope that they could continue to offer lifesaving gender affirming care without governmental interference.
I appreciated the professional speakers’ thoughts and presence, but other speakers touched my soul. The transgender clergy, transgender parents, a transgender teenager, and cisgender parents with transgender children all shared their heartfelt stories. As I listened, I felt privileged to take part in such a gathering of God’s children. A gathering that shared a loving community, despite coming from different areas of our country.
An oppressed and marginalized community to be sure, plagued by uncertainty because of the actions of elected officials and Christian nationalists striving to deny them the right to exist as God made them, but a community none the less. When communities get together, what do they do? They celebrate and show concern for each other, and that made Freedom to be Ourselves different. The loud upbeat music that played in between the speeches, the expressions of care and support from the podium and the conversations among the participants showed me that I witnessed something very special.
During my time in the southwest, I met the mother of a transgender child. I saw her post rally comment on social media, “Today’s rally felt like the biggest family reunion, and all the hugs filled my cup!” I commented that it was nice seeing them, and she replied, “Thanks for being there with us.”
Afterward, someone asked me if I think my being there mattered. I replied that it mattered to the people who allowed me into their community for the day, and clearly, it also mattered to me.
Courage,
Rev. Michael P. Lonergan
Rev. Michael, thank you for sharing such a moving reflection on your experience at the Freedom to be Ourselves Rally. Your words resonate deeply, not only because they affirm the dignity of our transgender siblings but also because they highlight the sacred power of presence and solidarity in the face of injustice.
You remind us that these gatherings are more than political acts—they are sacred moments of community and connection. By showing up, you embodied Christ’s love and reminded the world that we are all made in God’s image, deserving of life, affirmation, and care. Your description of the rally as a “family reunion” is especially poignant. It beautifully reframes what it means to be a community: celebrating, supporting, and embracing one another, even amidst pain and struggle.
Your presence did matter. It mattered to the parents, youth, and allies who saw in you a reflection of God’s unwavering love. And your witness matters now, as it inspires others, myself included, to continue showing up and speaking out. May we all strive to build the kind of beloved community you so powerfully describe.
With gratitude,
Christopher