A day when we can all feel pretty
On Ash Wednesday, Glitter Ash project marks the inclusion of LGBT people *
Smearing her thumb across 6-year-old Genevieve Dalton’s forehead, the Rev. Robin Anderson repeated the solemn words of Ash Wednesday: “From dust you came. To dust you shall return.”
Then Genevieve whirled away from the pastor, her forehead twinkling. “I really like glitter,” she proclaimed.
Genevieve, like thousands of other Christians nationwide, got her ashes on this Ash Wednesday with a side of sparkles. The Glitter Ash project, created by New York nonprofit Parity, encouraged clergy to mix glitter into the ashes this year, to represent the inclusion of LGBT people in Christian life.
Now ashes on the forehead on Ash Wednesday is a fine very commendable tradition. We note that Ash Wednesday is not a Holy Day of Obligation and as far as we know the project above was not done at RC churches. But does anyone doubt the willingness of some bishops, priests, and maybe a certain Pope to look the other way?
So maybe the idea has merit, after all, who are we to judge. However, in thinking about it more, we find even the good pastor’s approach to be way too limiting, dare we say exclusionary.
There should be a row of bowls to select from so as to make the event truly inclusive. These would be a step in the right direction:
- Don’t neglect the undocumented! Perhaps a certification that the ashes are from burned passports or US birth certificates would show solidarity with the “undocumented”
- Instead of ashes (it’s all about the statement after all), how about a bowl of COEXIST bumper stickers to draw from and wear on ones forehead. Maybe a bowl of lick and stick temporary tattoos of a rainbow flag?
- The cross thing is arguably religiously bigoted. The symbolization should include easy to use stencils for drawing a star and a crescent, a ying and a yang, whatever.
- We also find the idea of a visual statement too limiting, indeed “sensist”. We think all offerings should have something for the olfactory inclined. Among them should be the scent of chili powder perhaps or oregano or curry and so many more if the concern is inclusion.
- And what about blind gay people, how will they know of your statement without something noticable. We suggest ashes treated with (pick your gay or lesbian proclivity) pheromones.
- Indeed why be “specieist”, why not ashes treated with, we don’t know, use your imagination, but that dog you are walking should know that you care.
A bit more serious reading here. R Mall
*Thanks to Vincie Metcalf for forwarding the article
