Belonging and longing to belong: being LGBTQ+ in the Church

Belonging is an essential human need commonly understood to be the experience of being a valued part of a group or an insider. A sense of belonging, or belongingness, has been found to be influenced by structural, relational as well as cultural factors. However, despite the importance of this inherent need, not all humans experience belonging equally, and many suffer high risks for emotional and physical health issues as a result of loneliness and social isolation. These challenges to belong are particularly notable in historically socially marginalised cohorts including those who identify as lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgender people (LGBTIQ+). Attaining a deep sense of belonging based on sexual orientations and gender identities is especially challenging in religious contexts including Christian churches where entrenched cultural and systemic forces such as heterosexism and cissexism act to contextualise the experiences of LGBTQ+ Christians and their faith. This paper seeks to raise the awareness of the precariousness of LGBTQ+ Christians in belonging within the Church and to invite further reflection and research on transforming faith communities in becoming more hospitable where all can flourish.