Ramona Pride and St. Mary’s

St. Mary’s has been an integral part of planning and supporting Ramona Pride for the past three years, and we are honored to continue this work as we prepare for the fourth annual Pride Month celebration on June 14, 2025, at Collier Park. This event, which includes a visibility walk, vendor booths, speakers from across San Diego County, and delicious food offerings, is a powerful testament to the resilience and beauty of the LGBTQ+ community in Ramona. While 2023’s event welcomed up to 140 participants, last year’s extreme heat reduced attendance, and we look forward to welcoming even more people in 2025 as we celebrate with joy and determination.

St. Mary’s is more than just a participant in Ramona Pride. We are proud to be queer-friendly, unabashedly and unequivocally affirming all LGBTQ+ people, including our transgender siblings. For too long, society and the church have ignored or erased the gifts and wisdom trans people bring. We believe trans people reveal one of the many faces of God that fear and ignorance have kept us from fully seeing. At St. Mary’s, we are committed to standing against political attempts to erase or define anyone’s identity. We affirm that God’s love is expansive and liberating—beyond gender, beyond fear, beyond hate.

As Episcopalians, we follow a tradition of inclusion that seeks to embody God’s unconditional, redemptive love for all people. We openly support transgender individuals through non-discrimination policies, inclusion in ordination, and rituals that honor and affirm their identities. We stand firm against any efforts to marginalize or legislate their humanity, declaring boldly that every person is a beloved child of God.

The day after Ramona Pride, St. Mary’s hosts our annual Pride Eucharist, a sacred service celebrating the LGBTQ+ community in the presence of Christ’s love. This gathering is a safe and affirming space for all to worship, reflect, and feel God’s unconditional embrace. We hope this Eucharist continues to grow as a source of healing and renewal for the LGBTQ+ community and their allies.

As followers of Jesus Christ, we believe in love, justice, and inclusion, and we are honored to be known as a “gay church” in Ramona. Queer people of all identities deserve to have a church where they can worship freely, without fear of rejection or judgment. While straight people are welcome at St. Mary’s, we recognize that there are many other churches where they may feel at home. What sets St. Mary’s apart is our unwavering commitment to providing a sanctuary for those who have been excluded by other faith communities.

St. Mary’s will continue to work with Ramona Pride’s committee as they pursue incorporation and nonprofit status in 2025, ensuring this vital community celebration becomes even more sustainable and impactful. We will keep showing up, loving boldly, and proclaiming God’s inclusive love—because everyone deserves a spiritual home, and at St. Mary’s, there’s room for everyone.