KENT, Wash. — For decades, church has been a cornerstone of culture, support and identity for many in the Black community – but for many members of the Black LGBTQ+ population, those church doors have been shut.
However, these days, it’s becoming more and more common for people who are gay and religious to be able to find their place.
Zhanea June calls herself a singer/songwriter, a worship leader, wife and mother. She always knew she liked both women and men, but growing up, she didn’t feel ready to embrace that part of herself.
“Growing up in the South, a Black, Christian household – it’s kind of taboo,” June said. “The bible says being gay is a sin, you’re going to hell, you’re going to be condemned for it no matter what, so we’re not even going to talk about it.”
But after moving to Washington from New Orleans, June said her exposure to a broad array of people with different sexualities gave her a new perspective.
“This is just who I am, but how do I still live in my truth?”
June came out to her community through a post on Facebook.
“I expected a little bit of pushback,” she said.
Dr. Jelani Ince from the University of Washington noted that rejection from their church community is something that many Black LGBTQ+ individuals face.
“Historically, Black church is not just a space where worship happens, it is also a space where Black identity can be affirmed, where your beliefs and your practices are supported,” Ince said. “Black church has been like a social and community center for Black folks – major vehicles for political activity.”
In a study, Black LGBTQ+ individuals were more likely than their white counterparts to have been raised in the church, and less likely to leave Christianity after coming out.
For June, what she found at her church was a welcoming space – one where she, her wife and daughter are welcome with open arms.
Dr. Leslie Dave Braxton is the senior pastor at New Beginnings Christian Fellowship in Kent. He’s known June since she was in middle school.
“Zhanea grew up in this church,” Braxton said. “Her and Josie’s wedding was the first same sex marriage that I attended.”
In his capacity as a church leader, Braxton has made his stance clear that everyone is welcome in the congregation.
“The deacons were saying to me, ‘What are you going to do if someone asks you to officiate a same sex marriage?’ And I said, if they’re a member, I’m going to do the same thing I would for any other couple.”
Braxton said he has dealt with some pushback for her stance on LGBTQ+ inclusion.
“There’s some churches that I don’t get invitations to speak, locally and nationally,” he said.
Some members of New Beginnings’ congregation have even left because of the church’s acceptance.
“I’m not going to alter my stand to hold on to this position,” Braxton said.
Furthermore – he encourages everyone in her congregation to show up as their true selves.
“How do I provide support and guidance for LGBTQ+ couples within the church? I encourage them to come out of the closet. There are enough people out here in this world now who are going to love you and support you for who you are.”
June said at New Beginnings, she and her family are part of a community that accepts and loves them.
“They hug my wife, they hug my daughter, they say, ‘Hi, Josie, hi, Shiloh. We love you guys. You guys look so beautiful,’” she said.
Ince said inclusion toward the LGBTQ+ community within churches is also playing out on a broader scale.
“There were certain leaders who were outwardly affirming and say, ‘We need to be more supportive,’” Ince said.
Leaders like Braxton.
“My role is to, upon every opportunity that I have, to continue to be what Martin Luther King called a ‘drum major for consciousness,’” Braxton said. “For justice, for inclusion, for continuing to teach people about us being one common humanity.”
For June, her church community allows her to be the most complete version of herself.
“Nothing has changed except for me openly expressing who I am,” she said. “Now I’m free to worship in the congregation with my wife and daughter. It’s like, I can embrace who I am in all areas of my life.”
Watch more of KING 5's Facing Race coverage: