As a little girl, I never liked the color pink. It was too girly of a color for me.

Now I embrace the color pink. And, one thing you will find me wearing at times is a pink bracelet. These bracelets were created by and for Pink Mennos. I respect their vision and strategy statements:

Vision– To achieve healing and hope for the Mennonite Church through the inclusion and welcome of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) individuals and their supporters.

Strategy – Pink Menno will remain a visible, vocal presence supporting, sustaining and furthering genuine dialogue. Pink Menno will be a nonviolent, loving, welcoming presence. Pink Menno will provide social, spiritual and emotional support for those experiencing exclusion or spiritual violence because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Pink Menno will use laughter, music, poetry, color, artwork, quilts, fun, film, food, books, and whatever else is positive and uplifting to communicate our message.

When I’m not wearing the bracelet it will be resting on my computer speaker. It serves as a reminder for me to speak up and turn up the volume in my own efforts at inclusion. One way I have tried to speak up recently is by writing Charmed with courage