To the Church: Let’s Talk About Pride Month and Loving Our LGBTQ+ Neighbours

For a lot of people—especially in the LGBTQ+ community—the idea of stepping into a church feels impossible. And honestly? That reaction makes sense. The Church has hurt people. Sometimes still does. For years, LGBTQ+ individuals have been ignored, judged, or outright rejected by Christians—not because of Jesus, but because of how poorly we’ve reflected Him.

So how can we say “God is love” when the Church hasn’t always acted like it? That’s a tough question. But it’s also an important one—and it’s one we need to wrestle with if we’re serious about following Jesus.

Step one? Own it. We don’t get to skip to “sharing the Gospel” without first acknowledging the pain some Christians and churches have caused. Real love starts with honesty. Even if your church is doing better now, the past still matters. People carry scars—and pretending they don’t exist doesn’t bring healing.

We have the chance to do better. To show up differently. To be the kind of followers of Jesus who actually look like Jesus.

He didn’t avoid messy people. He didn’t yell from a distance. He came close. He listened. He challenged, but never without love.

Jesus met people where they were—but He never left them there. That’s the kind of love we’re called to: one that welcomes without condition, but also calls us into something deeper and better.

So what does that mean for Pride Month?

It means showing up—not to argue, but to serve. Not to shame, but to love. Hand out water. Offer prayer if someone wants it. Be a quiet, steady presence that says, “You matter. You’re loved. God hasn’t forgotten you.”

Evangelism isn’t about fixing people or debating sexuality in a crowd. It’s about pointing people to Jesus with our lives, not just our words.

And no, loving someone doesn’t mean you have to agree with everything about them. But real love always looks like kindness. Always makes room for conversation. Always puts people above being right.

So this Pride Month, let’s ditch the signs and megaphones. Let’s stop acting like we have all the answers and start being people who ask better questions, listen more, and reflect a God who loved us while we were still a mess.

Because that’s what grace looks like. And that’s what people remember.