Students in the community at St. Benedict’s Prep, Kristopher Gittens ’25 and Malik Abdus-Sabur ’25 are launching the Pride Society on October 11, 2024. This is the first queer identity group in the community. Abdus-Sabur says this regarding the mission of the Pride Society, “It is an ever-evolving process of making queer identities known to the wider community, while also being able to teach the community of issues such as misogyny, homophobia, transphobia, transmisogyny, and so many systems of oppression that exists not just here, but throughout the world.” Furthermore, he says “When we send these students out [into the world] we are able to send them out with a better understanding of different identities and cultures and sexualities other than themselves.”

“More than one in ten LGBTQ+ young people attempted suicide.” This staggering statistic was discovered in research conducted by the Trevor Project in 2024, an organization that raises awareness for young persons in the LGBTQ+ community internationally. Vice President of Research at the Trevor Project, Dr. Ronita Nath says, “The results of this survey clearly identify a need for adults and allies to create more affirming environments for LGBTQ+ young people, and better support them in being their true selves.” 

Fostering an environment where the whole St. Benedict’s community can love one another without judgment or prejudice based on identity and preferences is what the community has historically strived for. “You can’t choose who you love.” This phrase is a part of one of the songs that are sung often at Convocation. Yet, the community has seen bullying and open prejudice over the years against the LGBTQ+ community. 

The launching of the Pride Society is an action that demonstrates St. Benedict’s is broadening the community’s perspective and stance on love. The faculty and students involved in the Pride Society, and supporters of this new initiative expressed that they believe this group is imperative for the betterment and greater good of the community. Abdus-Sabur says, “The whole point of St. Benedict’s is that we are supposed to be one community, but due to these various experiences we build microcosms…it leads to a sense of isolation especially from a lot of my peers.” It seems the Boys Prep Division at the school can learn from their Girls Division counterparts. Michael Lambert-Bracewell ’25 says, “The girls are more comfortable; I express myself more. But when it’s with guys, they look at me a certain way and it’s understandable because they never had people like me growing up …”

Queer persons face a numerous amount of challenges in modern society and discrimination in the workplace, educational environments, and even within their families. Throughout history, the LGBTQ+ community has been ill-treated, with the government outlawing and banning same-sex marriage and queer expression, allowing discrimination based on sexual orientation.

The pride movement was not initiated until the 1970s. Before this, it was common for a person or group of people to hide their sexual orientation due to persecution that often included violence. It was not until 2003 that the Supreme Court decriminalized “homosexual” behavior and it wasn’t until 2015 that the Supreme Court ruled that states were required to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, which officially legalized same-sex marriage in all 50 states. Presently, 64 countries around the world still criminalize the expression of LGBTQ+ members and gay marriage. According to NPR, as of May 2024, it is still illegal to give medical treatment, including mental health therapy, to transgender young persons in over half of the United States. Many use religion as a basis to discriminate against the LGBTQ+ community. But, the Pope allowed priests to bless individuals in same-sex unions beginning in 2023.

The Stonewall Riots, a crucial turning point in the history of the LGBTQ+ community, transpired in 1969. The New York Police Department raided and shut down a gay bar by the name of Stonewall Inn located in Greenwich Village, New York claiming that the employees of the bar were selling alcohol without a license. Many queer persons went to this bar to escape the harassment that they would get out in public due to their sexual orientation and expression and the Stonewall Inn was a safe place for them to be among friends. This police raid on the Stonewall Inn led to the Stonewall Riots on June 28, 1969. The riots lasted for five days when people went to protest outside of the bar and barricaded the police in. This started the modern LGBTQ+ movement and those who did not have the confidence to express themselves found confidence through this sense of unity. Catalyzing change, these riots allowed queer persons to find unity and protest against wrongful political oppression and laws that obstructed people’s rights as United States citizens.

Dr. Glenn Cassidy ’90 asserted to a full-school Convocation on October 11, 2024, that if St. Benedict’s tolerated prejudice against the LGBTQ+ community, he would not have had the opportunity to build a 30-year-long career and a life at the school. Adding that even still today, he would not be able to work at other Catholic schools. The Rule of St. Benedict, the foundation of the St. Benedict’s community, emphasizes the importance of loving one another. Fr. Albert Holtz, O.S.B. ’60, says “The Rule of Benedict is really big on community and says in there among other things that you shouldn’t be worried so much about yourself, but about your brothers…If it’s all about community and being one as Christians then there’s no room for any kind of judging other people that way.”

Over time, concerns have risen at St. Benedict’s regarding faith and people who don’t fit societal “norms” of sexual orientation. Historically, the Catholic Church has been at odds with the queer community, it is easy to recognize that this cultural shift to unity and acceptance has been uncomfortable for many who identify as part of the Catholic faith. But, Lambert-Bracewell emphasizes, “God loves everybody. I feel like people should look into the Bible more because God is love. You can twist it around whatever you want but God is love. For me as a queer person, Christianity it’s just a part of my life. I’ll walk, God walks with me. If I’m struggling, God is there with me. If I’m happy, God is there with me.”

Correction (10/17/2024): This article previously stated that Pope Francis allowed Catholic priests to start blessing same-sex unions, which is incorrect. Pope allowed priests to bless individuals in same-sex unions independent of their union.