There are many ways that LGBTQ+ people have tried to make sense of their faith in light of church teachings and practices that exclude them from spiritual community. Some have reinterpreted religious texts to find affirmation of same-sex love within them. Others have turned away from organized religion altogether. Still others have sought out queer-affirming communities that welcome both their gender identity and their spiritual beliefs. But for some, the search for reconciliation is an ongoing process of wrestling with difficult questions about God's will and human morality. One such question is whether it's possible to experience divine love while being excluded from institutional structures like marriage and church membership. This article explores this question through stories of three different individuals who share their experiences of reconciling their LGBTQ+ identities with their Christian beliefs.
Sarah is a bisexual woman who grew up in an evangelical church and found herself attracted to other women at a young age. She struggled with feelings of shame and guilt for years before finally coming out as gay and leaving her church community behind. During this time, she often wondered if God could still love her even though she wasn't living according to her church's rules. "I felt like I was broken," Sarah says. "I thought maybe there was something wrong with me." After years of searching, however, she came across queer-friendly theology and began to understand that God loves all his children regardless of their sexuality or gender identity. Now, Sarah has joined a progressive church where she feels accepted and loved for who she is.
John is a gay man who was kicked out of his conservative Catholic parish after coming out. He describes feeling abandoned by the Church but continues to believe in God's love despite this rejection. "God loves me just as much as he loves anyone else," John says. "It doesn't matter what my orientation is. What matters is how I live my life and treat others." John has since found support within the LGBTQ+ community and attends a non-denominational church where he can worship openly without fear of judgment.
Mary is a lesbian who converted from Judaism to Catholicism and now serves as a priest. Her church community initially rejected her because of her relationship with another woman, but Mary refused to give up on her faith. "God has been with me every step of the way," she says. "He hasn't abandoned me even when people have turned their backs on me." She now sees herself as a messenger of God's inclusivity and hopes to bring other LGBTQ+ Catholics into the fold.
Despite these varied experiences, each person shares a common desire to reconcile their identities with their beliefs and find meaning in both their spiritual lives and their sexual/romantic relationships. For some, it may be necessary to leave behind traditional religious institutions altogether; for others, queer-affirming communities offer a path forward.
All three agree that God's love is available to everyone—no matter what kind of life they lead or what kind of relationship they are in.
How do queer believers reconcile experiences of divine love with institutional exclusion or moral condemnation?
Queer believers often face challenges when it comes to finding acceptance within their religious communities due to the belief that homosexuality is a sin. Despite this, many queer individuals continue to believe in God and seek spiritual fulfillment through religion. To reconcile these conflicting experiences, some turn to alternative interpretations of scripture or focus on personal relationships with God rather than the judgment of others.