Never give up. It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light. And it will light the way…
Photo by Sasha Freemind on Unsplash
Answering a great need
Many LGBTQIA+ people are isolated and marginalised at the best of times. They can suffer from poor self-esteem, depression and anxiety. Whereas some people can turn to faith groups for support during difficult times, LGBT+ people often cannot. Places of worship are not guaranteed places of welcome for LGBT+ people.
Here are some examples of research which shows why we need to create communities for LGBTQIA+ people:
59% of LGBT+ young people interested in joining a religious organisation have stopped or reduced their involvement owing to their sexuality or gender identity (Youth Chances, METRO 2016).
A third of lesbian, gay and bi people of faith (32 per cent) aren’t open with anyone in their faith community about their sexual orientation. One in four trans people of faith (25 per cent) aren’t open about who they are in their faith community. Only two in five LGBT people of faith (39 per cent) think their faith community is welcoming of lesbian, gay and bi people. Just one in four LGBT people of faith (25 per cent) think their faith community is welcoming of trans people. (LGBT in Britain - Home & Communities, Stonewall 2018).
Members of our communities are significantly more likely to experience poor mental health, which research has shown relates explicitly to discriminatory pastoral practices of local churches, and the Church’s substantial contribution to negative attitudes in society (In the Name of Love, Oasis Foundation 2017).
'LGBQ+ Christians surveyed rated their mental and emotional health and well-being as significantly lower than their heterosexual peers, especially those who had undergone “conversion therapy” in an attempt to alter their sexual orientation' (National Faith & Sexuality Survey, Ozanne Foundation 2018).
Only a third of UK LGBT+ Christians ‘feel safe to be out’ in their local churches, and just one in five feel ‘safe to be out to the wider Christian community’ (Safeguarding LGBT+ Christians Survey, Ozanne Foundation 2021).
Protected Characteristics:
We support people across England and Wales who experience disadvantage because they are living with discrimination around one or more of the protected characteristics as defined by the Equality Act 2010.
These include:
biological sex (female, intersex, and male)
disability (people with disabilities experience barriers to support in the LGBTQIA+ community
gender reassignment (trans & non-binary)
marriage and civil partnership LGBTQIA+ people do not have equal access to these in every faith community
race (LGBTQIA+ people in BAME communities may require additional support)
religion and belief (different Christian traditions)
sexual orientation (bisexual, lesbian, gay).