Statement of Faith

Just-As-You-Are Rainbow Sanctuary: Spiritual Statement

🕊️ Our Statement of Faith

Just-As-You-Are Rainbow Sanctuary is a multi-faith ministry rooted in the deeply held belief that every person possesses inherent worth and dignity. This belief, drawn from Universalist principles and echoed in spiritual traditions around the world, forms the foundation of our sacred work.

We affirm that:

Every human being is sacred and beloved, regardless of their sexuality, gender identity, or gender expression.
Love is never a sin.
Queer identities are not aberrations—they are part of the divine tapestry of creation.

We stand in alignment with the call to care for "the least of these"—those most vulnerable in our society—not out of pity, but in recognition that justice, compassion, and love are holy responsibilities. LGBTQ+ people, especially those who are transgender, disabled, poor, or otherwise marginalized, have been cast out by religious institutions, families, and systems of power. We believe it is our sacred duty to provide sanctuary, affirmation, and community for those who have been denied it.

Our ministry is not about converting others to a specific belief, but about cultivating a space where people of all or no faiths can heal, grow, and be reminded of their sacredness. We honor a wide variety of spiritual expressions—including Christianity, Judaism, Islam, First Nations spiritualities, Hinduism, Buddhism, ancient polytheisms, and secular humanism—so long as they affirm the humanity and dignity of queer people.

We reject theologies that dehumanize. We reject spiritual teachings that rely on shame, fear, or exclusion. Instead, we embrace a faith that is expansive, liberating, and rooted in radical love.

You are welcome here. You are sacred here. You are loved—just as you are.

📜 Affirming Teachings from World Faiths

✝️ Christianity

Galatians 3:28 declares: "There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." This verse speaks to the erasure of human-made divisions in favor of unity and equality.
Jesus himself practiced radical inclusion—welcoming outcasts, healing the marginalized, and affirming the dignity of those cast aside by religious elites.
The greatest commandment, according to Jesus, is to love: "Love one another as I have loved you" (John 13:34). There are no exceptions.

✡️ Judaism

Jewish values emphasize chesed (loving-kindness), tzedek (justice), and tikkun olam (repairing the world), all of which affirm LGBTQ+ inclusion.
Progressive rabbis and denominations openly affirm queer people, performing same-sex marriages and ordaining LGBTQ+ clergy.
The concept of being created b'tzelem Elohim—"in the image of God"—is applied to all people, regardless of gender identity or sexuality.

🔮 Paganism and Ancient Polytheisms

Many pagan paths view gender and sexuality as sacred forces. Deities themselves often transcend binary categories.
Norse, Greek, and Roman myths include gods and heroes who shift gender, love same-sex partners, or embody queerness—like Loki, Hermaphroditus, and Artemis.
Modern pagan movements such as Wicca and Druidry often celebrate diversity in love and identity as part of honoring nature and the divine feminine and masculine in all forms.

🐍 Sumerian Faith and Inanna’s Legacy

The goddess Inanna, honored by many as a deity of love, war, and transformation, is a central figure in Sumerian mythology and a patron of gender nonconformity.
Her descent into the underworld and return is a story of death, rebirth, and personal transformation—a sacred journey mirrored in many queer lives.
Inanna’s clergy included gala priests and others believed to be gender-diverse, demonstrating that trans and nonbinary people held religious authority and sacred roles in ancient Sumerian culture.

☪️ Islam

The Qur’an emphasizes dignity and justice, with many scholars arguing that its overarching moral vision supports inclusion.
Surah 49:13 says, "We made you peoples and tribes so that you may know one another." This is seen by many as a celebration of diversity.
Progressive Islamic thinkers emphasize that acts of love, consent, and mutual care align with divine will more than rigid gender norms.

🌱 First Nations / Indigenous Spiritualities

Many Indigenous cultures recognize gender diversity through the sacred role of Two-Spirit people, who were honored as spiritual leaders, healers, and cultural mediators.
These identities were respected as expressions of balance and spiritual insight, not deviation.
Colonialism imposed rigid binaries that erased these sacred roles, but many Indigenous communities are actively reclaiming and honoring them again.

☸️ Buddhism and Eastern Spiritual Traditions

Buddhism emphasizes non-harming (ahimsa), compassion, and the path to liberation for all beings—regardless of identity.
The Buddha did not establish rules based on sexual orientation or gender identity.
In Mahayana traditions, the bodhisattva ideal of universal compassion includes embracing all beings without judgment.
In Taoism, the concept of yin and yang is fluid, and harmony arises from balance—not conformity. Many Taoist texts speak of transformation and change as spiritual truths.

These faiths—and many more—hold rich legacies of inclusion, affirmation, and sacred queerness. We honor these truths and reclaim them as part of our spiritual heritage.

💔 Reclaiming Faith After Trauma

We recognize that for many LGBTQ+ people, faith has been a source of deep pain. Religious institutions have caused immense harm—inflicting shame, silencing identities, and severing people from their own spiritual roots. We honor that pain and do not minimize it.

Here at Rainbow Sanctuary, we do not ask you to forget or to trust easily. We only invite you to imagine: What if spirituality could be safe again? What if you were allowed to reclaim the sacred on your own terms, in your own time? We are here to hold space for that journey—whether it’s beginning, resuming, or being reimagined.

🌈 Your Beliefs Are Welcome Here

Whether you follow a sacred text, light candles at an altar, commune with ancestors, sit silently in meditation, or don’t believe in anything spiritual at all—you belong here. We honor doubt, we welcome curiosity, and we bless every sincere path that affirms the dignity of all people.

✨ A Call to Sacred Action

Together, we are weaving a new sacred story—one where queer people are not just included, but revered. Where love is abundant, justice is holy, and community is our most sacred rite. You are not an outsider to the sacred. You are a living part of it.

Let us move forward in joy, in tenderness, and in collective transformation.