After suffering rejection at the hands of churches, LGBT Catholics sent a formal letter to the pope Francisco at the Vatican to talk about what goes on behind the scenes in relationships with priests and other Catholics.
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In a report by Laurie Goodstein, from The New York Times, they reveal that, contrary to what Francis says, the doors of churches are not always open or welcoming to the group.
Lui Akira Francesco Matsu, who is a trans man, claims that he was removed from the communion line at his church in Detroit for being a supporter of same-sex marriage. He says that, after rejection and embarrassment from other believers, he never returned to his parish.
In the letter he sent, he requests a meeting with Pope Francis during his first visit to the United States in September. "I want him to reach out openly, especially to the transgender community," he said. "I'm practically a Catholic, I just don't have a parish I can call home."
The group also seeks that Francis recognizes that LGBT people are rejected by the church and that he fights for it to receive them as full members, with equal access to sacraments such as baptism and marriage. "We see many people we love leave the church because of the indignities and pain they are subjected to," said DignityUSA Executive Director, Marianne Duddy-Burke.
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President of GLAAD, Sarah Kate Ellis states that the pope "has an opportunity to change this narrative (of prejudice), and bring people and the Church with him." "This is a really powerful platform and it would actually save lives," he said.
Francisco, however, has a controversial stance. At the same time he has said "who am I to judge?" and has already received a transgender man at the Vatican, he has already opposed same-sex marriage and has at times spoken in favor of the traditional family.
