Is leaving really an option when we number in the millions?
Not long after the new U.S. president spent his first day back in office signing a raft of executive orders that were designed to inspire shock and awe, I had first-hand evidence that he’d managed to severely rattle the LGBTQ+ community, especially trans people.
In text after text, I heard from folks who were scared, angry and confused about what was going to happen to them.
One text asked what we were going to do. I responded that we were going to have to ride it out. To which the sender replied, “Yea right! Easy for you to say, tell that to our Trans friends!”
I then responded that we had no choice, and I got the reply, “Yes there is: leave the country!”
What? Leave the country? Where are we going to go? What country is going to take in 13.9 million adult LGBTQ+ folks, not to mention millions of kids?
In case you’re wondering where I got that number: The Williams Institute of the UCLA School of Law, whose research indicates we’re about 5.5 percent of the nation’s people. In releasing their December 2023 study, they highlighted the following:
- LGBT people reside in all regions of the U.S. More LGBT adults live in the South than in any other region.
- Washington, D.C. has the highest percentage of LGBT adults in the U.S.
- LGBT identification varies by age. Nearly one in six young adults 18 to 24 identifies as LGBT.
While I’m not sure I agree wholeheartedly with these numbers — in my heart of hearts I think they’re probably still low for the age-old reason that plenty of folks still conceal their true orientation or identity — their magnitude makes it clear to me that a mass emigration isn’t on the table for us.
So then, what are we going to do? And for LGBTQ+ people of faith in particular, where do we find answers, solace, affirmation?
Finding affirmation in the Psalms
In my moments of anxiety, nervousness or fear, I’ve always turned to the Psalms. This moment was no different, and on this occasion it was the 145th Psalm that the Spirit put before me.
Beautifully capturing the essence of divine presence, affirming God’s unending love and steadfast companionship in every facet of our lives — whether in moments of joy, sorrow, victory, or struggle — I find that this psalm serves as a resounding reminder that God is far from distant or detached, but rather is intimately involved with God’s creation.
For LGBTQ+ Christians, seekers of truth and spiritual enthusiasts, Psalm 145 offers both reassurance and a call to notice the rich beauty of God’s abiding presence.
For starters it declares, “The Lord is near to all who call on God” (Psalm 145:18). So no matter where we stand in life’s vast landscape, whether navigating turbulent seas or enjoying calm waters, God is close, attentive, and reachable. God’s presence isn’t conditional or fleeting; it is steadfast, an anchor for the soul.
This is a profound truth to hold onto in today’s landscape, where uncertainty often clouds the path forward. God’s nearness ensures that none of us walks alone.
When the powers to be threw us out of their churches, God provided a Church for us to go to. Remember the early days of the UFMCC (Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches)?
For the LGBTQ+ believer, Psalm 145 serves as a glowing affirmation of the depth of God’s commitment to God’s children. For those less certain or only beginning a spiritual journey, this verse is an invitation to explore the vibrant and tangible reality of God — a reassurance that they who call on God never go unheard.
A central message of this psalm is that God’s affirmation of the Creation is not only verbalized in God’s word but alive in God’s actions. Verse 14 proclaims, “The Lord upholds all who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down.”
Here we find a gentle, loving depiction of God as one who not only sees but also acts. God affirms our worthiness not by our perfection, but by being present with us in our failures and weakness.
As humans we falter; we inevitably stumble as we struggle under the burdens of our world. Yet Psalm 145 reminds us that God’s affirmation is unchanging. God redeems us from self-doubt and dismantles the heaviness of fear. God’s example is a calling to mirror that same affirmation to others — human to human — reflecting this grace in our relationships.
The foundation of this psalm is love — overflowing, unconditional and eternal. Verse 8 declares, “The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love.” God’s love isn’t transactional or limited. It’s an enduring river that flows continuously, nourishing even the parched corners of our lives.
It’s this divine love that empowers LGBTQ+ believers to trust in God’s sovereignty and perfect timing. Through this love God provides for creation, opens doors we cannot see, and answers prayers with unfathomable wisdom. Just look how far we’ve come since 1968 alone.
The promise of God’s love means LGBTQ+ people are cherished, not as strangers or outsiders, but as beloved children. For the LGBTQ+ spiritual enthusiasts seeking hope, Psalm 145 acts as a gentle whisper reminding us that love is the definitive language of God. To experience God fully is to experience a connection that sustains, redeems and lifts us.
Psalm 145 ultimately invites us to live actively in the presence of God, recognizing God’s affirmation, faithfulness and love in all aspects of our lives. It challenges us to cultivate gratitude and awe for the divine fingerprints evident in creation and in our own stories.
For the devout LGBTQ+ believer, this psalm is a call to reaffirm faith and move forward with confidence in what God has promised. To the LGBTQ+ spiritual seeker, it stands as a doorway into deeper conversations with the Creator. And for all who read it, Psalm 145 reflects well what it means to live a life rooted in the assurance of God’s presence — to love and be loved by a God who never fails.
May we lean into the God who draws near, who upholds, and who loves fiercely. May we strive to carry this presence to a world that so deeply needs it.
We will not be bullied into silence
I assure you my friends, I will not be bullied into silence, I will not stand by and do nothing and allow my community to be pushed back into the closet. I and the editors of this magazine will step forward with the same profound courage of the Right Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde, Episcopal bishop of Washington, D.C., who during her sermon spoke directly to the president of the United States:
In the name of our God, I ask you to have mercy upon the people in our country who are scared now… There are gay, lesbian, and transgender children in Democratic, Republican, and independent families. Some who fear for their lives.
Then she added:
They may not be citizens or have the proper documentation, but the vast majority of immigrants are not criminals. They pay taxes and are good neighbors. They are faithful members of our churches and mosques, synagogues.
This difficult work is truly a matter of choosing life over death. It’s not about leaving, but rather about staying and fighting. If there were ever a “stand your ground” theology, this is it. It’s a journey that requires dedication and commitment from LGBTQ+ people in all sectors of society: individuals, communities, governmental bodies.
By standing our ground, we’re challenging ingrained societal norms and working toward dismantling oppressive systems that hinder progress. We are making progress and cannot stop now.
By standing our ground, we’re fighting at every turn the practice of so-called Christian nationalism.
By standing our ground, we’re fostering environments of open dialogue and collaboration, and we can encourage the understanding and acceptance that is needed to move forward.
So now is not the time to leave, hide, or give up. It’s the time to stand firm. It’s the time to stand up. It’s time to walk the talk of inclusivity and fairness, remaining vigilant and motivated in our pursuit of a world where they’re the standards, not just aspirations.
The clarion call to protect, support and affirm trans people is a call to recognize and celebrate the innate value of every human being. It’s a rallying cry for justice, equality and love, a fierce reminder that neither trans people nor anyone else in the LGBTQ+ firmament are mistakes — that in fact, we’re far from it: We’re essential members of our diverse global family, of the human family.
Together we can create a world where everyone, regardless of gender identity or expression, is free to live authentically and without fear. In doing so we honor not just our LGBTQ+ siblings, but the best of what humanity has to offer. And that makes us all better, no matter what our elected leaders may do or say.

Editor-in-Chief of Whosoever and Founding and Senior Pastor of Gentle Spirit Christian Church of Atlanta, Rev. Paul M. Turner (he/him) grew up in suburban Chicago and was ordained by the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches in 1989. He and his husband Bill have lived in metro Atlanta since 1994, have been in a committed partnership since the early 1980s and have been legally married since 2015.