McQuaig soon discovered Rainbow Promise, now called Christ’s Promise, an Auburndale church whose congregation is predominantly LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer/questioning). Her late mother, Lois McQuaig, was not gay but left the Baptist church and attended Christ’s Promise until her death in 2008.
“I felt welcome the minute I walked through the door, and my mother did, too,” said McQuaig, 65. “It’s just the weird way that God led me to a church where I felt like I belonged.”
Mainstream acceptance of the LGTBQ population has grown markedly in the past two decades. Same-sex marriage has been legal since 2015, and corporations now routinely recognize Pride Month in June.