By Bishop Durrell Watkins, D.Min.

February is named for the ancient Roman festival Februra, which means to cleanse or purify. 

In Roman Catholicism, February is still marked as a month of purification in the name of St. Mary. In the United States, February is Black History Month. And February also gives us St. Valentine’s Day.  Saint Valentine was a 3rd-century Roman priest who defied the restrictive marriage regulations of the day to bless couples who weren’t allowed to marry. He wasn’t gay, but his ministry of affirming forbidden love makes him a good role model for Queer people today. 

In February, we might remember and celebrate African American Queer heroes such as Storme’ DeLarverie (present at the Stonewall Uprising), or Marsha P. Johnson (also at Stonewall), or Bayard Rustin (“out” gay social justice advocate and organizer who helped Dr. King organize the 1963 March on Washington), James Baldwin (essayist and playwright), or Audre Lorde (Black, Lesbian, feminist poet) or we might simply celebrate love. Whether we focus on love of justice or love shared with a romantic partner, February is for love. 

Theologically, we say that God is love. So, whenever we are focused on, motivated by, or sharing Love, we are participating in divinity. 

I wish you a blessed and loved-filled February. Love cleanses, refreshes, empowers, and heals. May Love bless you richly. Amen. 

Bishop Durrell Watkins, D.Min., is the Senior Minister of Sunshine Cathedral in Fort Lauderdale and an Auxiliary Bishop for the Global Justice Institute. SunshineCathedral.org