We light our chalice flame

For those who lived their lives in closets of shame;
For those who furtively visited the bars, where nobody knew your name;
For the Stonewall riot—and the fierce transwomen who fought;
For the plague, which still takes far too many, too young, too soon.

So many gone. So many never lived to see
Out gay kids singing on TV
Out gay people serving in the military
Marriage equality
Families formed by intention

We light our chalice flame for all these,
and for all our siblings of the rainbow,
surviving,
living life out,
in the open,
with Pride.