Kelloggs
The company known for ‘Snap, Crackle, and Pop’ Rice Krispies, Tony the Tiger, and the iconic Froot Loops’ mascot Toucan Sam released a limited edition cereal called ‘Together With Pride.‘ Kellogg’s ad slogan reads, “No matter who you are, who you love, or what pronouns you use, you’re too awesome to fit in this box.”
Lucasfilm
Lucasfilm revealed that Lando Calrissian, the famous ‘Empire Strikes Back’ character, is a member of the LGBTQ community. StarWars.com released six comic book covers for Pride month highlighting Star Wars characters it says are LGBTQ.
PBS
Taxpayer-funded Public Broadcasting Service (PBS channel) features a drag queen who goes by the name of ‘Little Miss Hot Mess.’ The character sings a song called “The Hips On the Drag Queen Go Swish-Swish-Swish” to the children’s tune “Wheels on the Bus Go Round and Round.” The drag queen tells kids: “I think we might have some drag queens in training on our hands.” Little Miss Hot Mess said after dancing and singing for the virtual audience, “Being a drag queen is about being bold, shining bright, and showing a little bit of bravery, being willing to step outside the box and to dance to our own beat sometimes.”
U.S. Army
The U.S. Army uses an animated ad to inspire youth to join the army. The ad tells the story of real-life Corporal Emma Malonelord, who grew up with two moms, depicting their marriage and a Pride parade. Corporal Malonelord identifies herself as a ‘intersectional cisgender millennial.’
The Church and LGBTQ Community
ChurchLeaders Podcast Series
ChurchLeaders.com’s new podcast series addresses the LGBTQ community and the church, offering perspectives from important Christian voices like Ed Shaw, Dr. Sean McDowell, Dr. Preston Sprinkle, Rachel Gibson, and others. Listen here.
Biblical Marriage: ‘Hate Speech’
In March 2021, a church rally called “Prayer, Faith & Freedom Rally to Celebrate the Natural Heterosexual Family” in Sandy, Oregon hit national news because it was dubbed as hate speech. The rally was held because the Rivers of Living Water United Pentecostal Church said the natural heterosexual family designed by God was under attack “spiritually, politically & socially.” They said “Satan wants to destroy the natural family & the unborn.”
The rally sparked an LGBTQ community protest that took place directly across the street. In an interview conducted by a YouTube journalist who talked to both parties, a girl from the LGBTQ side said what the church’s rally was hate speech. The LGBTQ supporter said, “ I was taught that Jesus loves everybody regardless of who you are. So when I see Christians out here saying, spouting, like hate messages, like, ‘You’re not natural if you’re gay,’ it’s really hurtful and I just hope that we can teach our youth that, you know, Jesus loves you no matter who you are.”
Street preacher John Sherwood was arrested in London on April 23, 2021 for making “homophobic statements” while preaching out of Genesis 1 about Biblical marriage. Pastor Sherwood said, “I was doing what my job description says which is to preach the gospel in open air as well as in a church building.”
*This article was written to inform readers. It is not an endorsement of any of the mentioned organizations.
