News
La iglesia en Cuba donde Dios ama a los gais
Iglesia de la Comunidad Metropolitana acepta a personas LGBTI
La Iglesia de la Comunidad Metropolitana en Cuba apoya a miembros de la comunidad LGBTI. (Foto de Claudia Padrón/Tremenda Nota)
Esa nota salió originalmente en el sitio web de Tremenda Nota.
LA HABANA — Son las seis de la tarde del lunes dos de septiembre del año dieciocho. Al interior de un pequeño departamento del Vedado, la pastora Elaine Saralegui oficia el culto de una denominación cristiana que acepta a las personas no heteronormativas, a las poliamorosas, a las que creen en otros dioses.
La sala de la casa no es demasiado grande. Aun así caben 12 personas repartidas entre dos butacones y las sillas plásticas que se amontonan en una esquina. Frente a los asientos se levanta un espejo de casi dos metros que refleja la cruz colgada en la pared del frente. Al centro, un cirio y una Biblia, el pan y el vino de la comunión, reposan sobre una pequeña mesa cubierta con la bandera arcoíris.
Algunos fuman y esperan con calma a que comience el culto; otros conversan apasionadamente sobre las reuniones de barrio para discutir el Proyecto de Constitución. Miguel Ángel ― un mulato delgado que usa ropa deportiva ― inició el debate diciendo que “los derechos no se plebiscitan.”
Aunque el país sea tan homofóbico como presenta la cobertura de la televisión, él, un hombre unido con otro hombre, “debería tener los mismos derechos patrimoniales y reproductivos que los demás.”
Justo al frente de Miguel Ángel, una mujer lesbiana ― Niurka ― se pregunta si en Cuba serán mayoría quienes no aceptan el matrimonio igualitario. A su lado, Ana ― madre de una niña de 5 años y pareja de un hombre trans ― no tiene dudas de que “es así.”
Elaine enciende el cirio y da play a una canción cristiana que ocupa la atmósfera de la pequeña sala desde una laptop. Es la señal, el debate debe ser pausado para comenzar el culto. Todas las personas se aproximan y forman un círculo alrededor de la Biblia. Cierran los ojos y ruegan a Dios en una oración que evoca a Cristo junto a deidades yorubas.
Miembros de la Iglesia de la Comunidad Metropolitana en Cuba oran (Foto tomada de la página de Facebook de “Somos ICM en Cuba.”)
Otros grupos de cristianos tradicionales tienen muchas “razones” para criticar a la Iglesia de la Comunidad Metropolitana: ICM acepta a miembros con sexualidades no heteronormativas — desde lesbianas hasta personas queer ―, ordena pastores trans, promueve el activismo LGBTI+, y no condena las religiones afrocubanas.
“Dios tiene muchos nombres y se presenta de innumerables formas,” explicará más tarde Elaine.
En 2012, al interior de la Primera Iglesia Bautista de Matanzas surgió el grupo “Somos” apara apoyar a las personas gais, lesbianas y bisexuales que asistían al templo. El proyecto sobrevivía con discreción, desde el anonimato: salvo el pastor y unos pocos miembros de la congregación, la mayoría de las personas ignoraban su existencia o misión.
Poco a poco fueron sumándose otros creyentes de distintas comunidades de fe hasta que el grupo se convirtió en una especie de refugio para las personas que habían sido excluidas o marginadas por su condición de no heterosexuales.
Tres años después de la creación de “Somos” viajó a la Isla Troy Perry, el obispo fundador de ICM, y reconoció en el proyecto cubano los mismos principios que profesaba su denominación. En ese viaje, el reverendo Perry propuso que Cuba tuviera su propia Iglesia Metropolitana. Así, el 20 de agosto de 2015 nace “Somos ICM” en la ciudad de Matanzas con Elaine Saralegui, una lesbiana, como su pastora.
La primera — y hasta ahora única — pastora de ICM en Cuba tiene 41 años. Luce el cabello oscuro en un corte conocido como garzón; tiene el ichtus — la silueta de un pez usada como símbolo por los primeros cristianos — tatuado en la muñeca derecha. Una cruz de plata le pende del cuello.
Elaine nunca ha ocultado su orientación teológica liberal. Unos años atrás, con su tesis de licenciatura aseguró que las iglesias podían ser más inclusivas hacia la diversidad sexual.
Ahora, con su ejercicio de maestría, llega más lejos: aborda la Teoría Queer ―base de la Teología Queer, en la cual se sustenta ICM ―, que enfatiza que el género, las orientaciones e identidades sexuales no son una verdad biológica, sino el resultado de una construcción social.
Desde que se graduó del Seminario Evangélico de Matanzas, las actitudes desprejuiciadas de Elaine han escandalizado a los cristianos fundamentalistas. La pastora ha sido noticia por bendecir la unión entre personas homosexuales, oficializar la boda simbólica de dos jóvenes mujeres, y participar en las jornadas contra la homofobia y la transfobia junto al Centro Nacional de Educación Sexual (Cenesex).
ICM ha recibido la anuencia del Cenesex para expandirse y darse a conocer en Cuba. La propia Mariela Castro ha apoyado públicamente a la congregación desde sus inicios e, incluso, ha asistido a varias ceremonias religiosas. Aunque no se conozca que la hija del expresidente Raúl Castro profese ninguna fe religiosa, en mayo pasado acompañó a Elaine en una ceremonia de bendición a familias cubanas y parejas homosexuales.
La Iglesia de la Comunidad Metropolitana en Cuba, fundada en Matanzas en 2015, ha logrado extenderse a La Habana y Santa Clara. En la imagen, Elaine Saralegui se prepara para oficiar un culto en Santa Clara. (Foto cortesía de Maykel González Vivero/Tremenda Nota)
Argelia, una transformista encargada de coordinar la Red de Mujeres Lesbianas y Bisexuales de Cuba, lee un versículo que habla del amor por encima de miedos y rechazos. Una hora antes, Argelia había llegado al apartamento número 20 junto a su novia. Es una de las primeras veces que está en el culto.
Cinco días después ambas se irán al festival de música electrónica en el Castillo del Morro como activistas por los derechos de la población LGTBI+. El grupo de ICM en La Habana es un colectivo esencialmente militante.
“En nuestras comunidades de fe trabajamos el activismo desde el respeto al otro y el debate,” explica Elaine mientras fuma un cigarro después del culto. “No respondemos con violencia, no aspiramos a imponer nuestros códigos espirituales o sexuales a los demás, pero sí defendemos nuestro derecho a vivir con dignidad.”
La comunidad metropolitana fue la única denominación religiosa que respondió públicamente a la carta firmada por cinco iglesias protestantes cubanas en contra del matrimonio igualitario, en junio de 2018.
En ese momento ICM dijo: “A nuestros hermanas, hermanos con identidades sexuales y de género no heteronormativas, gays, lesbianas, bisexuales, transgéneros, transexuales, queer, a las personas heterosexuales que defienden estas causas, a las familias diversas, a quienes han perdido la fe por causa de teologías medievales, queremos decirles: ¡Dios existe y les ama! Es poliamoroso y radicalmente inclusivo.”
A esta congregación han llegado personas que no conocían la palabra de Cristo, como Argelia o su pareja. A lado de ellas también hay protestantes de tradición que encontraron por primera vez un espacio donde no son rechazados.
Algunos de las personas que hoy asisten a ICM, antes de conocer la Iglesia Metropolitana, tuvieron que dar testimonio de su “pecado” frente a una congregación radical. En muchos casos fueron sometidos a un rito de exorcismo hasta que pudieran asegurar que Dios los había “curado,” que ya no eran homosexuales.
Si no existiera ICM, Argelia y Ana y Miguel Ángel y Niurka e incluso Elaine no serían aceptados plenamente por otra iglesia cubana. Ninguna de las cinco denominaciones cristianas opuestas al matrimonio igualitario y a la ideología de género les hubiera permitido comulgar sin aludir al “pecado.” Ni la Iglesia Católica hubiera bendecido sus uniones.
Cada lunes, el culto termina con la comunión, sobre las siete de la noche. Las 12 personas que hay en el salón se abrazan mientras escuchan a su pastora. Elaine parte la hostia para colocarla sobre la lengua de una mujer mayor que se adelanta.
Marisabel, la primera persona que recibió hoy “el cuerpo y la sangre de Cristo” es maestra de niños, presbiteriana de formación y madre de un joven rechazado por su antigua denominación. “Vengo aquí porque recibo un mensaje de amor hacia mi familia — dice —. Yo tengo un hijo gay y estoy orgullosa de cómo es.”
“Mi labor como pastora de esta denominación — explica Elaine — es sensibilizar a la comunidad en general con las problemáticas LGTBI+ y también mostrar que se puede ser inclusivo, y no por ello dejar de ser Iglesia.”
District of Columbia
D.C. Pride flag raising ceremony set for June 1
Mayor, council members to participate
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser’s Office of LGBTQ Affairs is inviting the LGBTQ community and friends to attend the city’s annual Pride flag raising ceremony scheduled for 4 p.m. Monday, June 1, outside the John Wilson Building that serves as the D.C. City Hall.
Like in prior years, members of the D.C. Council and officials with the Office of LGBTQ Affairs were expected to join Bowser in delivering remarks on the front entrance steps at the Wilson Building before raising the Pride flag atop one of the tall flagpoles next to the building’s entrance.
Gaby Vincent, a spokesperson for the LGBTQ Affairs Office, said attendees of the flag raising ceremony will be invited to attend a reception immediately following the ceremony in the main lobby of the Wilson Building, which is located on Pennsylvania Avenue at 14th Street, N.W.
She said the reception will feature a DJ, dancing, and refreshments provided by the D.C. LGBTQ bar and café Spark Social House.
Vincent said the flag raising event will also mark the 20th anniversary of the opening of the D.C. Mayor’s Office of LGBTQ Affairs.
In its official announcement of the flag raising event the LGBTQ Affairs Office also announced it is hosting the 7th annual District of Pride Showcase event to be held Friday, June 17, at 7 p.m. at the Lincoln Theater.
The announcement says LGBTQ community members, families, and allies are also invited to walk with Bowser in the Capital Pride Parade scheduled for Saturday, June 20. It says the mayor’s parade contingent will assemble at 2 p.m. at the parade’s starting location at 14th and U Streets, N.W.
“As we also celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Mayor’s Office of LGBTQ Affairs, we invite residents, community members, families and allies to join us throughout June for moments of pride, connection, visibility, and joy,” the announcement says.
National
Still marching: Rev. Troy Perry and the ongoing fight for liberation
MCC founder reflects on Pride’s beginning, ongoing power of radical representation
Long before tone-deaf Target swag and rainbow-scented hashtags lit up the very queer month of June, Rev. Troy Perry was helping the LGBTQ community create space where it did not yet exist, and he did so with little more than faith and perseverance. This Pride season, as communities around the world fight once again with rising attacks on LGBTQ rights and democratic freedoms, Perry returns to the movement he helped build for a conversation rooted not only in history but in survival. The unveiling of Steps to Liberation at Founders Metropolitan Community Church serves as an uplifting reminder that Pride is not just a parade but also serves as a commitment to continue to advocate for our community.
Joined by original rainbow flag co-creator Lynn Segerblom, Perry looks back on the legacy of the first Pride marches, the spiritual and political power of real representation, and why the rainbow flag still matters nearly fifty years after its creation. As Founders MCC transforms its front steps into a vibrant rainbow pathway, the symbolism feels especially timely — freedom is not a destination, it’s something communities continuously build together, step by step. In our interview, Perry speaks candidly on activism, faith, and his continued belief that even in difficult times, hope remains an unwavering act of resistance.
You’ve been at the forefront of LGBTQ history for decades. What does this moment, unveiling Steps to Liberation, mean for you? You’ve often spoken about visibility as an act of courage. Why is that still not only true but also essential today?
I will be 86 years old in another month. Not in the best of health and in a wheelchair, but still a LGBTQ activist at heart. I tell my husband, Phillip De Blieck, that I never thought I would live this long. He and I will be celebrating our 41st anniversary this year.
In the early days of our struggle for our liberation, I used to cut up and tell people there’s just nothing like a good demonstration to get my heart pumping. This is what I feel as we dedicate the Steps of Liberation! Another symbol of our freedom. We’re here, we’re queer, and we’re gonna fight to our last breath, to win all the rights that the colors on the steps represent.
When you think back to organizing the first Pride march in Los Angeles, what emotions or memories visit you?
Having the guts to follow through on our vow to hold a pride parade, no matter what! We did follow through and sued the city of Los Angeles for the right to hold that parade. We won! Thank God for the ACLU. The next thing I thought was, my God, look at all the people who have come out to be in the parade, and to watch it. I was also thankful that no one was hurt that day, and the pride I had of being a part of that demonstration.
How does this new installation reflect the spirit of those early days of activism?
The steps of liberation tell all who see it that we are still here and not afraid after 56 years have passed since our first Pride parade.
The theme of IDAHOBIT 2026 is “The Heart of Democracy.” In your view, how has the LGBTQ movement played its part in influencing our country’s democracy?
I think that most of us have played by the rules and use the cards dealt to us to make a difference in our democracy here in the USA. The LGBTQ community has changed so much in 56 years. Today, members of our community are serving in every political office in our country. We have gay and bisexual city council members, lesbian governors, and trans state legislators. We have a gay man who has run for president of the United States. The heart of democracy is a right given to all of us to work to change our country so that all of us are treated the same. Nothing more, nothing less!
You’ve often spoken about visibility as an act of courage. Why is that still not only true but also essential today?
I tell groups of young LGBTQ people to be yourself. Flaunt it! Coming out of the closet is the best thing you can do. Whether you come out fast or slow, just come out. If you are going to do it, now is the time. I am so proud of young people who are using the Internet, TikTok, and YouTube to make a difference for us. Your siblings are looking for you!
What do you hope someone feels the first time they walk up the Rainbow Steps?
God, does this feel good! Why didn’t I do this a long time ago?
How has faith intersected with activism in your life?
This is my testimony. Most of my relatives would tell you that I have been deeply spiritual all my life. I have had the opportunity to live a very interesting life. I started preaching when I was 13 years old. I was licensed to preach in the Southern Baptist church at age 15. I married heterosexually at age 18. I started pastoring my first church at age 19. I am the father of two children. I am a Vietnam-era veteran. I was divorced at age 26 and founded Metropolitan Community Church at age 28. I have been slapped in the face, spat on, had some people try to murder me, and cursed by some throughout my life, all because I dare call myself a clergyman as a gay man. Has it been worth it? Absolutely. I would not change my life for anything. I try to always keep my faith intact.
In moments when progress feels uncertain or under threat, what keeps your hopes up?
I have my husband, Phillip, and friends that I can talk to. I also have a favorite scripture that keeps me going: though God slay me, I will trust in God. Job 13:15
How do you see younger folks carrying forward the legacy you helped build?
Don’t give up the fight. Organize, organize, organize!
The launch of Flag50 looks ahead to the 50th anniversary of the rainbow flag. What do you think folks should be reflecting on as that milestone approaches?
I love the Pride flag! It gives us hope that there can be a tomorrow. I love the colors and what they represent. Hopefully, we will be able to teach this in our schools one day, along with the American flag and how each of those colors is meant to give us dignity, as well as hope.
How do art and public installations like this one shape cultural change in ways that perhaps policy can’t?
Laws are important because they protect us, but art touches the heart first. A public installation like the Steps of Liberation tells our story without anyone having to say a word. A young person can walk up those steps and realize they are not alone. Families can see our colors and remember that LGBTQ people are part of every community in America. Art creates visibility, and visibility changes hearts and minds. Sometimes culture changes before politics catches up. I believe symbols matter. The rainbow flag matters. These steps matter. They remind us that liberation is not just something you read about in history books. It is something we continue to live every day.
What threats facing our LGBTQ community today concern you more than others?
I worry when people try to erase us, especially our transgender brothers and sisters and LGBTQ young people. I have lived long enough to know that fear and hatred can grow when people stop seeing each other as human beings. We cannot go backward. I also worry when people become discouraged and think their voice no longer matters. That is exactly when we must organize, vote, speak out, and stand together. We have survived attacks before, and we will survive them again, but only if we refuse to be silent. Silence has never protected our community. Courage and love have.
What does it mean to you to take that next step, and how would you advise our readers to take it?
Every generation has its own next step to take. For some, it means coming out. For others, it means speaking up when someone is being mistreated. It may mean marching, voting, creating art, serving your community, or simply learning to love yourself exactly as God made you. The important thing is not to stand still. Keep moving forward. Keep believing that change is possible. I have spent my whole life taking one step after another with people who dreamed of a better world. My advice is simple: do not wait for someone else to do the work. Take the next step yourself, and bring somebody with you.
District of Columbia
‘Queer Love’ campaign launched to address domestic violence
D.C. event set for LGBTQ+ Domestic Violence Awareness Day on May 28
The D.C.-based Wanda Alston Foundation, which provides housing and support services for homeless LGBTQ youth, announced earlier this month that it has joined partner organizations to launch a Queer Love Shouldn’t Hurt campaign aimed at addressing domestic violence within the LGBTQ community.
In a May 18 statement, the Alston Foundation said the campaign involves a public awareness initiative leading up to LGBTQ+ Domestic Violence Awareness Day scheduled for May 28.
“Domestic and family violence in LGBTQ+ communities is real and too often invisible,” Cesar Toledo, the Alston Foundation’s executive director, said in the statement. “As a community, we do not talk about it enough, and that silence can leave survivors feeling isolated and alone,” he said. “We must break that silence.”
He added that culturally competent care for those impacted by domestic violence is available through a newly launched website, queerlove.org, “where people can safely access vital resources, educational toolkits, and support networks they need on their healing journey.”
The website announces one of the project’s first events, a Queer Love Community Social, was scheduled for Thursday, May 28, from 6-8 p.m. at the D.C. LGBTQ+ Community Center at 1827 Wiltberger St., N.W.
“Join us this LGBT+ Domestic Violence Awareness Day for a community social dedicated to visibility and survivor resilience,” the website statement says. “Let’s gather to strengthen our bonds, honor the path to healing, and share free resources,” it says of the May 28 event.
The website also announces a June 1 workshop called Empowering Survivors of LGBTQ+ Intimate Partner Violence, which it says will be presented by Jesse Wedell, an official with the D.C. LGBT+ Counseling Collaborative. The website provides an online form to register for the workshop upon which its location would be disclosed.
It identifies the partner organizations working with the Alston Foundation on the Queer Love Public Awareness Campaign as the LGBT+ Counseling Collaborative, Whitman-Walker Health, the D.C. LGBTQ+ Community Center, and Equality Chamber.
The resources and information provided by the project can be accessed at www.queerlove.org.
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