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Reverend hopes
Gay Pride Day gets people talking Spirit advisor to bless parade A United church minister hopes Saturday’s Gay Pride Parade will encourage dialogue within families and promote understanding of the gay culture. Reverend Bill Peacock, who is blessing the Peterborough parade, says Gay Pride Day could result in families exploring their feelings. “I’m a huge fan of discussion,” he says. “I realize for some people it’s a painful discussion and I try to deal with that empathetically. Ideally, I’d like to see discussions happening with families.” Rev. Bill hopes dialogue also occurs between families whose members are heterosexual but may have different opinions on the subject. For example, someone, confident with their heterosexuality, may be supportive because of “what’s appropriate within a sense of human rights,” Rev. Bill explains. “It’s interesting we as a country say all people are valued and have the same rights…but do we really believe that (at a personal level)?” “Hopefully with an increased understanding there’s a decrease of fear.” Rev. Bill is also a spirit advisor, similar to the role of a chaplain, at Sir Sandford Fleming College. He was approached by a student requesting his presence at the city of Peterborough’s first formal event celebrating gay culture. “I see it as my way of supporting (students’) work in the community,” says Rev. Bill, who also teaches part time. He describes his role as spirit advisor as “a pseudo-counselling support role” for people “needing someone with whom to talk.” He is entering his second year of a pilot project in that capacity. Throughout the past year, the reverend has listened to people discuss their faith, church groups and individual crises. He has also assisted people facing struggles with their sexual orientation. “Often it’s the turmoil of trying to figure out ‘who I am’ in the context of family origin and where they came from.” Rev. Bill notes he helps people “develop strategies” to handle emotions, family, their upbringing and both supportive and resistant individuals in their lives. He also listens as they debate whether the timing is appropriate to take action on those issues. In relation to Gay Pride Day, the reverend says he has the impression people in the college community are generally supportive. “I don’t have a sense of resistance to it. My sense is that generally people are supportive of the event.” Although being so early in the school year, there are some people who are likely unaware of the event, he adds. |
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