Every year hundreds of thousands of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and trans people march in pride parades. Most major cities have pride parades. A person reading this proverb might wonder if pride parades are appropriate, because one might feel pride is a sin.

One meaning of the word translated pride in the King James Version is arrogance.¹ The word arrogance has a different meaning that we might associate with the word pride.

While some people who March in pride parades might be feeling arrogant, Proverbs 16:18 is not a condemnation of pride parades. When queer Christians take part in non-erotic pride celebrations, they are expressing respect for God, respect for God’s creation, respect for the queer temple in which the Spirit lives. So by all means be involved in pride this year, because your Christian participation in pride is an act of worship to God.