LGBTQ Rally At Edmonds Church After Gay Pride Flag Theft

EDMONDS, WA - The local group Edmonds Is Love will host an LGBTQ support rally outside the Edmonds Lutheran Church on Sunday after an anti-gay message was left at the church and a gay pride rainbow flag was stolen recently - the fourth such flag theft in two years.

At the end of January, the church flew the rainbow flag to celebrate its second year as a Reconciling in Christ church, which is a program that allows a Lutheran church to become publicly accepting of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer worshipers.

Edmonds Lutheran Church Rev. Tim Oleson told Patch.com that, after three days of flying the flag, someone came during the night and took the flag down; they rolled it up and put it on the ground. The day after that, someone posted a 3 foot square sign outside the church quoting Leviticus 18:22 - "Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination" - a Bible quote often used as justification for Christian bias against gays.

Oleson said the church removed the sign and notified police. That night, someone stole the flag outright.

"It feels sad to know that that symbol of love and inclusion is still seen as a threat," Oleson told Patch.com. "It's sad, and it reminds me it's still important we boldly show that symbol and still carry on God's reputation for radical love."

The church has experienced some backlash over its decision to fly the iconic rainbow flag. Oleson said that the church has received phone calls in the past about it. Only one of those callers has left a return phone number, but didn't answer when Oleson tried to call them back.

When the church went through the Reconciling in Christ process, which involves almost a year of study within a congregation, openly gay pastors from other churches visited and talked about some of the abuse they endured. Oleson said the theft of Edmonds' flag pales in comparison.

The Edmonds is Love event is not sponsored by the church, although Oleson said that the congregation supports the effort.

"We really appreciate and value the solidarity this group has organized," he said. "It really says, 'hey we're not alone, this community is supportive.'"

The rally begins at 10 a.m. on Sunday outside the church. Learn more about the rally on its Facebook page.

Image via Google Maps