Thank you, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, for your willingness to welcome the 2SLGBTQ+ community into your churchcommunity. It is such a necessary and positive step.

I was baptized, confirmed and married in the Lutheran Church. My relationship with the church and many of its members irrevocably changed when I came out as a lesbian in my early 20s.

Being 2SLGBTQ+ wasn’t really talked about in our church as far as I remember, but somehow, we all knew it wasn’t safe to be our authentic selves. We subsequently left the church, but the church left us first because it didn’t create a safe, welcoming space for us.

After my experiences of coming out, I never would have imagined I would see the day that the Lutheran Church would become affirming and welcoming. I can’t begin to explain how important and validating these acts of love are for me.

We are still the targets in an ongoing war of hate that society doesn’t even acknowledge is real. This is why we need your love and support. We experience homophobia and discrimination every day.

Please continue making apologies and acknowledgements and working towards reconciliation. Continue making affirming statements and educating and challenging yourselves. Continue writing policies and procedures that welcome all of us because these are actions of love. Actions of Christ. Our lives may depend on it because we are at risk from those who hate us or who think that God hates us.—Name withheld to provide safe space