LGBT Pride is replacing Patriotism as America's Civil Religion in Places

Sociologists like to talk about the American civil religion, the sense in which patriotism serves the role in America that a state church used to hold in a lot of more traditional countries. Figures like George Washington and Abraham Lincoln (and now also MLK) take on a quasi-prophetic significance. Independence Day becomes the sort of festival that ancient Greece or Rome would have held in honor of the gods. The troops become martyrs, the Constitution becomes Scripture (with the Bill of Rights’ Ten Amendments replacing the Ten Commandments) and the Pledge of Allegiance becomes the Lord’s Prayer.



This is painted in the Rotunda of the Capitol Building. It shows George Washington ascending to heaven.

Now LGBT Pride. Look at the parade in San Francisco. They treat LGBT Pride the way many used to treat the 4th of July. In fact, this large city doesn't even have an official 4th of July celebration. But man, do they celebrate Pride.

It starts on the subway going from wherever you are to the parade route. All the subway stations are decorated with rainbow flags. Most of your subway-mates are obvious revelers. Most of them are teenagers. They’re dressed in rainbow facepaint, rainbow clothing, rainbow jewelery. Some of them have rainbow-dyed hair. Groups spontaneously break into song.





The parade itself hits all the requisite notes. Marching bands. Celebrities. Floats. Adorable children. Charitable organizations. The Governor drove by in his shiny black car. The Mayor, surrounded by adoring supporters. Public streetcars and sightseeing buses, festooned for the occasion.





Then came the professional sports teams ...



and then the corporations ...









then the civil service ...





then the youth ....





and the campaign trail ...





and then the families ...