The Rev. Isaiah "Shaneequa" Brokenleg

By Julie Gehm

Last year, the Rev. Isaiah “Shaneequa” Brokenleg walked in the Sioux Falls Pride Parade with a contingent of Lutherans. This past April, she asked around to see who might be interested in putting together an Episcopal entry for the parade, set for June 10.  The result was a group of a dozen or more Episcopalians marching behind a rainbow banner stating “You Are God’s Beloved – From your spicy Christian Friends – The Episcopal Church.”  Mother Shaneequa, who is Staff Officer for Racial Reconciliation for the Episcopal Church but lives in Sioux Falls, was thrilled with the response.

With crowd estimates at 10,000 or more, it was hard for many to believe they were in “conservative” South Dakota.  Families and people of all ages turned out, and the atmosphere was positive, joyful, and festive. The Rev. Dr. Lauren R. Stanley, Canon to the Ordinary for the Diocese of South Dakota, gave out candy, “I Am God’s Beloved – I Am Loved” rainbow bracelets and pins, purchased by Mother Shaneequa, for the “spicy” Episcopalians to hand out.  A member of the group waved a dove banner with a pride windsock attached. The Rt. Rev. Dr. Jonathan H. Folts, Bishop of South Dakota, was speaking in the Diocese of West Texas that weekend and was unable to attend, but he wholeheartedly endorsed the event and hopes to be there next year.

“I was handing out the bracelets to anyone who wanted one, saying, ‘You are beloved, you are loved,’” Canon Lauren said. “And pretty soon, people were coming up to me, holding out their hands like they were receiving communion! It was a holy moment each time. People loved being told they were loved!”

The Rev. Deacon Robyn Shores Foster, from Calvary Cathedral in Sioux Falls, wore her white alb in the parade and was accompanied by her 5-year-old son, Rory.  As she handed out the swag, she told each person, “You are loved.” One young woman in particular seemed very moved and sought out Deacon Robyn after the parade to thank her and ask for a hug.  “I hugged her and told her, ‘You are loved. God loves you; do you know that?’” Deacon Robyn said.  “And she hugged me harder.  I told her she was welcome in the Episcopal Church.”

A few days later, on June 14, Mother Shaneequa and clergy from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the United Methodist Church, and the United Church of Christ held a Pride worship service at the Icon Event Center in Sioux Falls. Mother Shaneequa preached to a nearly full house of around 100 worshipers, and McHale Davis, also an Episcopalian, performed a liturgical dance. The Rev. Dr. Christina O’Hara, rector of Good Shepherd Episcopal Church in Sioux Falls; the Very Rev. Ward Simpson, Dean of Calvary Cathedral; and Deacon Robyn were in attendance, along with other Episcopalians.

“This was such an important and amazing service,” Mother Shaneequa said.  “So many of our LGBTQIA2S+ siblings have experienced trauma at the hands of the Church, a church that has failed to see our belovedness, our sacredness, and our gifts. This worship service allowed for some of that healing, reconciliation, and celebration of us and our belovedness to take place. So many people were deeply moved and appreciated what happened here. I am deeply grateful to everyone to helped to put this on and everyone who attended. I look forward to all the ways our Church can be a part of this important work.”  

Plans already are in the works for next year’s entry in the Sioux Falls PRIDE parade, with a Sioux Falls Episcopalian offering a convertible so people with limited mobility may participate. We invite you to join PRIDE events in your community, or even to instigate them. It’s a small way we, as part of the Jesus Movement, can reflect the love of God and “respect the dignity of every human being.”