Marriage, for many, is an essential part of the life experience, forming the bedrock of their faith, representing a deep level of commitment, and symbolising their union to the world. Over the centuries, the concept of marriage and unions has shifted from something that was once more a personal commitment to now something performed in a more faith-based setting, with people making a public declaration before friends, family, and God. Traditionally, marriage was only seen as a union between a man and a woman; however, as more countries globally recognise same-sex marriage and many major denominations slowly change their positions, let us explore the history of marriage, what it looks like today, and what it might look like in the future.

When we feel different, we often search for information, connections and people who might think the same way we do. Societies which suppress expression, as well as persecute people based on their gender or sexual identities, make the journey of self-discovery much longer and more challenging. When it comes to how a person chooses to identity, it is their narrative, their life, and only they can define how they think and feel, who they love and any labels they might want to use. A key stage in the journey of self-discovery, especially in relation to a person’s mental health, is self-acceptance, which is often made much easier in environments that encourage people to be themselves and share their truth. Explore what the journey of self-discovery looks like for many, the challenges many face and the most important factors for anyone coming to terms with who they are.

From ancient multi-deity religions to modern progressive faith, not all have viewed and approached the community in the same way. From a time when many of the multi-deity gods would be defined as having LGBTQIA+ attributes using modern standards, to centuries of persecution, the relationship between many of the world’s main denominations and the community is often complicated and fraught with challenges. Given intersectionality and the way many individuals identify as both LGBTQIA+ and believers in the many faiths that exist today, let us explore how regions have evolved and how the positions of these religious institutions are changing in their interactions with and approaches to the community.