By Erica Rucker | June 5, 2025
Published originally on Louisville Independent News
To listen to political rhetoric and the plethora of right-wing Christian evangelicals and politicians about the LGBTQ+ community and communities of faith, the picture of both would be wrong. Those in the LGBTQ+ community are thriving, and communities of faith are not only supportive but also led and attended by members of the LGBTQ+ community.
On Friday, June 6, over 200 members from 15 welcoming and affirming faith congregations in Louisville will gather at Lynn Family Stadium for Racing Louisville FC’s annual Pride night. This multi-denominational show of support and unity will share a bold truth: love, inclusion, allyship, and hospitality are issues of faith and uncompromisable values for Christians.
Participating congregations include:
Watkins United Methodist Church
Central Presbyterian Church
Kentuckiana Association, United Church of Christ
Covenant Community Church
Middletown Christian Church
Christ Church Episcopal Cathedral
Crescent Hill Baptist Church
Strathmoor Presbyterian Church
Highland Presbyterian Church
Buechel Park Baptist Church
The Justice Center at All Peoples
Broadway Baptist Church
Ridgewood Baptist Church
Unity of Louisville
Highland Baptist Church
Calvary Episcopal Church
Louisville Independent asked some of these faith communities about their participation in Pride Night.
Louisville Independent: What is the message that you hope this event sends to Louisville?
There is a prevailing line of thinking that says that religion and the LGBTQ+ community are incompatible. I hope that the churches’ support of this event sends a message to Louisville that there is a strong faith community in this city that is extravagantly welcoming to all people, regardless of sexual orientation or identity. Showing up at the Pride game is an intentional message to Louisville that we support Pride and all the people encompassed by it. (Jennifer Fantoni — Immanuel UCC)
If you are gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, or queer, or love people who are, there are a number of religious communities in Louisville where you and the people you love are welcome Come join us! (Rev. Dr. Ann Deibert / Pastor, Central Presbyterian Church)
The message is simple, powerful, and overdue: All are truly welcome. Not just welcome to attend—but welcome to lead, to love, to live out loud, and to be celebrated. We hope this event tells Louisville that faith and queerness are not mutually exclusive—that you can be spiritual, joyful, gay, trans, questioning, or anything else, and still belong. As we cheer together from the stands, we’re also cheering for a city becoming more just, more loving, and more whole. (Rev. Bobby Kyser, Senior Minister (he/him Unity of Louisville)
How can events like this repair what has been a strained relationship at times with this community?
Churches have caused real harm to LGBTQ+ people. That’s a truth we have to name. And yet, the reality is that Queer folks have always been part of the Church. There have always been people who did not fit neatly into culturally constructed gender categories, like the Ethiopian Eunuch in Acts 8. This event gives us a chance to say publicly what has always been true: Queer people are of sacred worth. Scripture says we are “fearfully and wonderfully made”—and that includes every Queer person.
As a gay kid growing up in Kentucky, I would have loved to have seen churches at events like this. Churches have been late in showing up for the Queer community—but maybe, by finally showing up, future generations will grow up knowing that there is a witness of Jesus Christ who will love them, and embrace them just as they are. That’s the welcome we all find in God. (Jordan Conley, Crescent Hill Baptist Church)
What would you say to those who might be skeptical of the faith community participating in Pride?
Religious communities show up, observe, honor, and celebrate lots of events in people’s lives. There are lots of queer church members and queer church leaders in our congregations. Why wouldn’t we show up for one another as a way of sharing God’s love and care for one another?
Jesus hung out with, ate with, listened to, took seriously, and was changed by people that the “respectable” people of his day deemed to be “unrespectable.” Jesus recognized the image of God and the belovedness in each person he encountered, even when some religious leaders were scandalized by his connection with “those people.” As Christians, our call is to follow the way of Jesus. (Rev. Dr. Ann Deibert / Pastor, Central Presbyterian Church)
Why did your congregation choose to show up?
We showed up because it matters. Especially right now, when violence and political attacks on LGBTQ+ people, particularly our Trans siblings, are rising here in Kentucky and across the country. We believe the Church should be among the first to say: no more harm.
At Crescent Hill, we’re committed to showing up with our words and our presence. We will keep speaking out against hatred. We will continue building a church where Queer people are embraced as God’s beloved. And, for me, it’s not abstract. It’s deeply personal. As someone who grew up longing for a Church where I could be myself, I want this next generation to know the story is changing. As we sing at Crescent Hill, there is a place “For everyone born” at the table of God. (Jordan Conley, Crescent Hill Baptist Church)
At Middletown Christian Church, we believe that just saying we support the LGBTQ+ community is not enough. Our actions have to match our words. It’s easy to assume that there aren’t very many LGBTQ+ inclusive churches in Louisville, but we hope that this partnership with the other congregations is a visual reminder that there are more churches out here than people realize.
We will continue to create a safe and inclusive environment for LGBTQ+ people to explore and
practice their faith. We will continue to educate our congregation about LGBTQ+ rights andways to show up for the queer community in tangible ways. We will continue to show up at local LGBTQ+ focused events. And we will continue to preach an expansive and inclusive message that God’s love is for everyone, no exceptions. (Rev. Rachel Freeny, Associate Minister, Middletown Christian Church)
