Habitat Greensboro hosted our inaugural Pride Build this October 5-12, 2024. At the event kickoff, First Baptist Chaplaincy Intern James Dolph shared, “It is a basic human right to have a secure place to live. Yet, there are many challenges the queer community faces to obtain a place that could become home. As a Christian, I believe that Jesus wants every person to have a physical place to call home. Jesus lived a life where he lifted others up met them where they were, served them, and loved them unconditionally. He calls each of us to walk through life similarly.” (find James’ full message below)
Pride Build is an opportunity for Habitat Greensboro to share God’s love for all of God’s children and to highlight the decades of systemic discrimination that have prevented LGBTQ+ families and individuals from achieving homeownership, creating persistent biases and inequities. Sadly, 22% of LGBTQ+ adults live in poverty in the U.S., compared to 16% of non-LGBTQ+ people.
Pride Build Opening Message
by James Dolph, First Baptist Church Collegiate Ministry Intern
I would like to begin by saying “thank you” to Habitat for their generosity in inviting me to speak today. I am honored to speak at the onset of such an amazing and inaugural event. Isn’t this Pride Build amazing! It is so important to participate in events like this, especially when we all know there are a lot of things in this world that hold people back from having everything they need in order to live a full and happy life.
When I look at the world around me, I see a lot of inequity and injustice. Of all the ones I see, the two that break my heart the most are food insecurity and housing insecurity. Both of these are basic rights for all people by virtue of being human, just like love and belonging.
For too long, minority groups have endured systematic oppression, hate, and exclusion based in fear, bigotry, and grasps for power. Our queer community knows this all too well. Because of this fear of what’s different and this hatred toward the Other, many have had to go through life with less than what they deserve. And, at this exact moment, I’m not even talking about the love and care that each one of us so rightly deserves based on our shared humanity. I’m talking about each and every person’s right to have shelter, a place to live, a place to call home.
It is a basic human right to have a secure place to live. Yet, there are many challenges the queer community faces in order to obtain a place that could become home. As a Christian, I believe that Jesus wants every person to have a physical place to call home.
Jesus lived a life where he lifted others up, met them where they were, served them, and loved them unconditionally. He calls each of us to walk through life in the same way. Jesus spent his time with people who were considered beyond repair (even if that was a faulty way of viewing them). He intentionally reached out to people who needed some extra love, care, and support.
Love carries us farther than we could ever imagine. It might even be fair to say that many of us here understand what it’s like to walk through life feeling unloved. Those moments in which life is so complicated that it seems like nobody is in your corner. I hope everyone here knows that they are loved. You are loved by a divine power that sees its light in you. You are loved by those standing next to you. I love you. And I’m just some random person who has been tasked with speaking in front of you. You are loved.
It is clear that Jesus saw people exactly as they are: as people, as human beings. It didn’t matter what their profession was, what bad things they may have done, or who they hung out with. Jesus loved and cared for everyone. He advocated for the least of these. He knew the bad things the government and others in power were doing, and worked to combat those injustices. He wanted a world where everyone was cared for. Those people who were cast aside by society were taken by the hand and told they deserved better than what they were getting. For Jesus, being human was enough. Being human is enough.
Being human is the only requirement needed to be loved. Being human is the only requirement needed for safety and security. A person’s gender or sexual identity should not determine whether or not they can obtain housing. Yet, based on the reality of our country and our world, the obstacles are greater for those of us who identify as queer compared to our fellow cis, straight, and heterosexual community members.
That’s why this Pride Build is so important! This build may only be one event in one city, but it’s a step that creates opportunity for bigger change. One more housed person, one more housed family is one step closer to housing for all. One step closer to a more fair and equitable society. Everyone deserves safety, security, and shelter. Especially those of us who are brave enough to step out into a world that doesn’t always accept us for who we are. We are all human. As humans, we all deserve respect, care, and love. Our world can be a beautiful place if everyone chooses love over all else. With that, let’s build!