I’ve spent a lot of time listening to the stories of my LGBTQIA2S+ friends and reading the Bible through fresh eyes. One thing has become so clear to me: God’s love is bigger and more inclusive than we can imagine.
I know that for too long, parts of the Bible have been used to wound rather than to heal, to divide rather than to bring together. That breaks my heart. As a cisgender, heterosexual ally, I want to be clear: you are loved. You are whole. You belong.
Let me share some of the Scriptures that have given me hope and the conviction that every LGBTQIA2S+ person is a beautiful reflection of God’s image.
📖 Created in God’s Image (Genesis 1:27)
“So God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them.”
This verse reminds me that every person—every orientation, every gender identity—is created with sacred worth. When people misuse this verse to uphold rigid gender roles or binaries, I see it as missing the point entirely. The beauty of God’s creation is found in its diversity, not in uniformity.
📖 The Greatest Commandment (Matthew 22:37-40)
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart… and your neighbour as yourself.”
Jesus didn’t say, “Love your straight neighbour” or “Love your cisgender neighbour.” He said, “Love your neighbour.” Full stop. Any interpretation that excludes LGBTQIA2S+ people isn’t just a misreading—it’s a betrayal of the heart of the gospel.
📖 The Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23)
“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”
I see these fruits so clearly in the lives of my LGBTQIA2S+ friends. Their lives are marked by courage and faithfulness, even when they face rejection. That’s evidence of the Spirit at work—not sinfulness, not brokenness, but holiness and wholeness.
📖 Peter’s Vision (Acts 10)
“God has shown me that I should not call anyone profane or unclean.”
This story is a powerful reminder that God’s welcome is always bigger than our human prejudice. When people use Scripture to shame or exclude LGBTQIA2S+ folks, they’re ignoring the very heart of God’s message: no one is unclean or unworthy in God’s sight.
🚫 Addressing Misused Scriptures
I know some verses—like Leviticus 18:22 or Romans 1—are often thrown around to justify exclusion. But these verses are taken out of context and used to harm rather than heal. They were never meant to condemn loving, committed relationships. When I read them in light of the entire story of Scripture—of a God who loves and liberates—I see that they cannot overshadow the overwhelming message of grace and belonging.
A Message of Belonging
To my LGBTQIA2S+ siblings:
You are fearfully and wonderfully made. You are a reflection of the God who is love. You are not an “issue” or a “debate.” You are beloved. Your love, your identity, your story—these are gifts to the church and the world.
To my fellow Christians:
Let’s be known by our love. Let’s be a church that listens, that learns, and that builds a table wide enough for everyone.
I’d love to hear how Scripture has spoken to you, or what has given you hope on this journey. Let’s keep the conversation going, in grace and in love.