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PRIDE MONTH is over, but the struggle for equity and justice for all LGBTQIA+ people everywhere continues, particularly in faith communities. This powerful testimony from an Open Table member who experienced threats from a member of another church based on beliefs about sexuality shows that we still have much to do to make our faith communities safer spaces for all of us, without exception.

A COMPLAINT against the leader of the Open Table London community has been dropped, according to the Church Times.

AS Pride Month, dedicated to celebrating LGBTQIA+ communities around the world, comes to an end, our last reflection from OTN Co-ordinator Kieran Bohan looks beyond the ‘rainbow capitalism’ of companies cashing in, to a deeper meaning of far greater value.

OTN Trustee Lucy Berry was born in 1957, the year that the UK Government published a report which led to the partial decriminalization of sexual expression between men over 21 in England and Wales ten years later. 1957 was also the year that her grandmother’s cousin, actor Esmé Percy, died. Here is his story.

I wish that Pride was all year round: that every day LGBTQIA+ people could feel safe enough, free enough, and affirmed fully enough to lift up our lives and our voices to proclaim our authentic God-given truths, to protest the injustice that we experience every day, and to pray for justice and peace.

THE BISHOP of Liverpool, Right Revd Paul Bayes, a Patron of the Open Table Network, has said the Church of England should recognise marriage between people of the same sex and allow such ceremonies in church.

THIS MORNING, BBC local radio’s Sunday faith programmes were talking about the upcoming vote at the Methodist conference about whether they’ll agree to allow same sex weddings to be held on Methodist premises. We heard from Rev Sonia Hicks, the new President of the Methodist conference, then our Coordinator gave a response.

THIS SUNDAY 27th June, OTN Coordinator Kieran Bohan will speak to BBC local radio stations about our work with LGBTQIA+ Christians, how it makes a difference, and the significance of this year’s Methodist Conference for same-sex couples.

‘There were parts of the LGBTQIA+ community that I didn't realize that were there. Like, I didn't realize that I was asexual until I started talking to all the members in Open Table and I thought: “That sounds like me!” So I discovered another part of my identity; and that gave me more self-confidence.’

‘…we are so glad to have been able to celebrate our love and commitment with our church community and, in some small way, provide a witness to the love of God.’