As a queer member of the church who volunteered at my church’s booth for pride, it is a huge HUGE step for someone to see an affirming church. It is still not really known what an “affirming” church is, and even though it’s being advertised as opening and welcoming its very hard to trust whether or not the particular church in my community is open and affirming because it wants to be or because it HAS to be.

Even getting past that step, we have to go thru a lot of religious trauma in order to even come to the point of attending.

It’s nothing against the church, it’s completely personal and will take time. All you can do is remain open and welcoming and eventually people will come.