June ended the way it always does, with the Pride flags coming down just as the Stars and Stripes went up. 

On July 4th, America throws itself a party. There are parades, fireworks and speeches declaring us the land of the free—along with hamburgers, hot dogs and more (if you’re like me, you probably had your fair share!)—even if it’s nearly 100 degrees outside. It’s a tried-and-true ritual, and this year it marked 250 years of independence.

But if we are going to celebrate honestly, let us remember honestly. This country was built by a lot more than the myth of rugged individualism. Indigenous wisdom, enslaved labor, immigrant grit, and the relentless hope of people who refused to accept no for an answer—that is the real scaffolding behind the red, white and blue. 

To celebrate that scaffolding, let’s turn back the clock to Pride month.

Pastor Eric Jackson of Eliot Church of Newton at Pride event.

June 3rd brought perfect weather and a crowd to Newton City Hall for the Pride flag raising. Pride was not just visible, it was loud, colorful and unmistakable with everything from rainbow tutus on dogs to information tables from local congregations and community groups. It was a celebration, yes, but it was also a statement.

The national backdrop was impossible to ignore. While some places are busy rolling back rights and protections for LGBTQ+ people, Newton’s leaders made their stance clear. As quoted in a Newton Beacon article about the flag raising, Mayor Marc Laredo told the crowd, “We raise the Pride flag today because Newton is and will remain a welcoming city where every resident, and I mean every single resident, has the right to feel safe, live openly, love whom they love and be treated with dignity, respect and fairness.” 

For many in attendance, those words were not just rhetoric. They were a line drawn in the sand. This is a city that refuses to go backward.

That clarity was matched by the increased presence of faith communities. At the Community Resource Fair was a strong representation of congregations gathering independently and together as members of the Newton Interfaith Leadership Association. These include Eliot Church of Newton, UCC, First Baptist Church of Newton, First Unitarian Society of Newton, New City Church, Newton Presbyterian Church, United Parish of Auburndale, Union Church of Waban, and many more. 

What does this say about religious life in our city?

Representatives of Newton congregations at interfaith table.

The Rev. Cheryl Kerr, president of the Newton Interfaith Leadership Association and senior pastor at United Parish of Auburndale, said it best:

“While the City of Newton and its residents are not, by any means, politically or socially (or religiously) homogenous, I have found that we are curious and we care to learn. Humility that opens hearts to wondering about all that we can be as God’s created is what I saw in the celebration of Newton’s Queer and Trans community at the raising of our city’s Pride flag. This is what I see again and again as I work with the many varied faith communities of Newton. 

“We are all, despite our various theologies and ideologies, grounded in a sense of being beloved as members of creation. From this foundation we can then show up for one another with a joy that is curiosity out of which then flows the possibility of unity that requires the inclusion of our differences.”

Inevitably, whenever Pride Month rolls around, someone will ask why we need to talk about Pride. In some religious traditions, you might hear the reactive questions: “Isn’t pride one of the seven deadly sins?” “Why do you need to be so public about who you love or your identity?”

Here’s why Pride Month matters: Pride Month is about refusing to be erased. It is about acknowledging the beauty of God’s creation in all its diversity. Especially those who are marginalized for being part of the LGBTQ+ community.

This year, the increased presence of churches was not just about numbers. It was about visibility and a public witness that there are religious communities in our city that make up a growing force for good. Celebrating the fullness of gender and sexual identity is sacred.

The flag above City Hall became more than a symbol. It became a social contract to go forward in expanding our city to be a Newton for all people. We must never go backward on dignity, on inclusion, on the right of every person to belong. This is how we keep Newton great and make Newton greater!

Pride Month in Newton is not just a feel-good tradition. It is a glimpse of what religious life and civic life can be when belovedness truly means everyone.

As the country marks 250 years, the work ahead is clear and urgent. This nation was not built by the privileged alone. It was built on the backs of Black and Brown people, Indigenous communities, immigrants (authorized and undocumented), women, the poor, LGBTQ+ people, and so many communities that are too often being brutalized by the climate of 2026.

Let us remember, their toil and sacrifice laid the foundation for everything we claim to stand for. Honoring that history means refusing to let democracy rest or settle for half-measures. We must keep fighting to hold America to its highest ideals and its social contract. Pride Month in Newton this year in conjunction with the 250th anniversary of America was more than a celebration. It was a call to keep showing up, keep demanding justice, and keep building a country where everyone truly belongs.

This Pride Month, Newton didn’t just raise a flag. It issued a clarion call for us to raise the bar for what faith and belonging can look like in America today.

The Rev. Dr. Eric C. Jackson is pastor of Eliot Church of Newton, UCC. He welcomes your feedback at pastoreric@eliotchurch.org or invites you to join him for coffee and conversation after the 10 a.m. service each Sunday.