Jen Hibben

Pride weekend 2025! Full day of Pridefest and capped it off with Pride Sunday in Ames. We pack so much loving, joyful, justice-oriented goodness into 1 weekend. How lucky am I to be able to belong in these spaces and be with these amazing people?!

I have been so honored to coordinate this event for 3 years now. Last year there were over 400 people in attendance celebrating the LGBTQIA+ community and the gift they are to our faith communities in Ames. This year I'm especially excited to welcome a fellow campus minister, Jean Carlos Diaz from NeonTogether, who is doing amazing things in the Twin Cities. I hope you'll join us this year to experience the love, joy and deep meaning of Pride Sunday in Ames!

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In the midst of grief and returning from a long trip to Costa Rica, I’m not sure I have much more to say other than the names, faces and lives of more beloved qu**rs have entered my life since last year and have continued to show me grace, love, justice and resilience.

From a few years ago:

Most years for pride I want to make sure that I affirm that I don’t believe q***r folx are in conflict with Christianity, that I love, accept and honor them as a pastor.

But I’m kind of tired that. Not because it isn’t true, but because it’s not enough. That power dynamic is still off. The real things I want to say during pride month (which I hope I live and embody the whole year) are:

THANK YOU q***r siblings for accepting me
THANK YOU q***r siblings for showing a clearer picture of the kin-dom of God.
THANK YOU for not giving up and continuing to give me and others your time, attention and acceptance even though you owe us nothing.
THANK YOU for showing me what q***r joy looks like and sharing it so freely.
THANK YOU for showing us what solidarity, intersectionality, mutual aid and chosen family are.
THANK YOU for showing me clearer picture of what I understand as the gospel.
THANK YOU for helping me become a better pastor, mother, spouse, colleague, community member, human.

Q***r folx are a gift. If you need my affirmation, love, acceptance, solidarity: you have it. But I hope you know that you reflect the image of God in the most beautiful ways and I am indebted to you. 💜

In the midst of grief and returning from a long trip to Costa Rica, I’m not sure I have much more to say other than the names, faces and lives of more beloved qu**rs have entered my life since last year and have continued to show me grace, love, justice and resilience.

Most years for pride I want to make sure that I affirm that I don't believe q***r folx are in conflict with Christianity, that I love, accept and honor them as a pastor.

But I'm kind of tired that. Not because it isn't true, but because it's not enough. That power dynamic is still off. The real things I want to say during pride month (which I hope I live and embody the whole year) are:

THANK YOU q***r siblings for accepting me
THANK YOU q***r siblings for showing a clearer picture of the kin-dom of God.
THANK YOU for not giving up and continuing to give me and others your time, attention and acceptance even though you owe us nothing.
THANK YOU for showing me what q***r joy looks like and sharing it so freely.
THANK YOU for showing us what solidarity, intersectionality, mutual aid and chosen family are.
THANK YOU for showing me clearer picture of what I understand as the gospel.
THANK YOU for helping me become a better pastor, mother, spouse, colleague, community member, human.

Q***r folx are a gift. If you need my affirmation, love, acceptance, solidarity: you have it. But I hope you know that you reflect the image of God in the most beautiful ways and I am indebted to you. 💜

We came all the way to the Capitol to speak with Kara Warme, but unfortunately we watched her chat with another senator and then sneak out the back. ISU students want to speak with you Senator!

Very privileged to be able to take the day to protest at the capitol.
Grateful for these students who came along and made a contingency plan if I got arrested.
Grateful to stand with people like Alejandro and Anna and Bishop Betsy in the face of hateful counter protesters.
Deeply saddened that this legislation even exists and that horrible legislators aren’t hesitant to pass it.
Deeply embarrassed to be a part of this state I once took pride in. But so proud to stand among the Iowans who showed up today.
But not deterred, not giving up, not going to stop showing up. (And I hope I see the clergy who came out today continue to come out in such numbers)