Pride Is The Rising

In this deeply personal and inspiring talk, Rev. Ken recounts his decades-long journey to embracing his true self, powerfully challenging the notion that pride is a vice. Instead, he passionately presents it as a vital antidote to the shame and erasure faced not only by the LGBTQ+ community but by all marginalized individuals. Drawing from his experiences — from a Catholic upbringing and the stages of Broadway to confronting direct discrimination — Rev. Ken illuminates the universal struggle against societal pressures that seek to diminish our authentic identities. He explains that while we've been taught "pride goes before the fall," for those who have been pushed down and told they are less than others, Pride is the Rising. This talk was recorded live at Unity San Francisco on June 1st, 2025