LGBTQ-inclusive church in Cuba welcomes all in a country that once sent gay people to labor camps

Rev. Elainene Saralegui wearing a rainbow-colored clergy stole and her clerical collar, leads a service at the Metropolitan Community Church, an LGBTQ+ inclusive church in the Cuban port city of Matanzas.

Proudly adorned in a rainbow-colored clergy stole and a rainbow flag in her clerical collar, the Rev. Elaine Saralegui warmly welcomed all to her LGBTQ+ inclusive church in the Cuban port city of Matanzas.

“We’re all invited. And no one can exclude us,” Saralegui assured same-sex couples holding hands in the Metropolitan Community Church where she recently wed her wife.

Such words and gatherings would have been unthinkable before in the largest country in the conservative and predominantly Christian Caribbean, where anti-gay sentiments still prevail.

Same-sex couples stand in prayer with outstretched hands inside the Metropolitan Community Church, an LGBTQ+ inclusive house of worship, in Matanzas, Cuba, Friday, Feb. 2, 2024.

Cuba oppressed gay individuals after the 1959 revolution led by Fidel Castro, sending many to labor camps. However, in recent years, the communist-run island outlawed anti-gay discrimination. A government-backed “family law” approved in 2022 through popular vote granted same-sex couples the right to marry and adopt.

For Cuba's LGBTQ+ community, this marked a significant milestone, enabling them to embrace their gender identity and practice their faith more openly in a country that was officially atheist for decades post-revolution. Over the past 25 years, Cuba has gradually become more tolerant of religions.

Rev. Yileyvis Cruz stands by as congregants embrace during a service at the Metropolitan Community Church, an LGBTQ+ inclusive house of worship, in Matanzas, Cuba, Friday, Feb. 2, 2024.

“It’s monumental. There aren't enough words to express what an opportunity it is to realize the dream of so many,” said Maikol Añorga, who stood with his husband, Vladimir Marin, near the altar during a Friday service where congregants laid offerings of white and pink wildflowers to thank God.

“It’s an opportunity for everyone to be present here,” he continued, “to gather and participate regardless of gender, race, or religion.”

While the Catholic Church doctrinally rejects same-sex marriage and deems any sexual relations between gay or lesbian partners as “intrinsically disordered,” Pope Francis has made significant efforts to make the church more inclusive for LGBTQ+ individuals.

Mariela Castro, director of Cuba’s National Center for Sexual Education, waves from a convertible classic car during a parade marking the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia, in Pinar Del Rio, Cuba, May 17, 2018.

In December, the pope officially approved the blessing of same-sex couples by Catholic priests, aiming to foster inclusivity while maintaining the church’s strict stance against gay marriage.

Despite opposition from Cuba's Catholic Church and the growing number of evangelical churches across the island, the family law was overwhelmingly supported by nearly 67% of voters. This support came after an extensive government campaign with nationwide informative sessions and widespread media coverage amid economic challenges prompting many to immigrate to the United States.

Mariela Castro, Cuba’s prominent advocate for gay rights and daughter of former President Raul Castro, has been a driving force for LGBTQ+ rights. She welcomed the progress, emphasizing that “love is now the law” in Cuba.

Mario Amilcar, center left, prepares to give Holy Communion to a fellow congregant during a service at the Metropolitan Community Church, an LGBTQ+ inclusive house of worship, in Matanzas, Cuba, Friday, Feb. 2, 2024.

“This brings immense joy. It makes people feel truly worthy, respected, loved, considered – genuine citizens with rights and responsibilities,” Castro affirmed.

The new law surpasses marriage equality, expanding rights for children, the elderly, and women. It signifies a substantial step forward for LGBTQ+ individuals in Cuba, creating an environment of acceptance and celebration.

Saralegui’s congregation, which began in a house terrace over a decade ago, has grown into a close-knit family. The church, now housed in a converted building with wooden pews and a stained-glass cross, serves as a sanctuary for people seeking a safe space.

Posters featuring church members with a message that reads in Spanish: "Christ loves my colors", are displayed on a wall at the Metropolitan Community Church

“This church is a family,” Saralegui said. “It’s a sacred space, not just because there’s a cross or an altar, but because it’s the most sacred space for these people to come to — it's where they come to have a safe space.”

After receiving Communion, congregant Nico Salazar, 18, expressed gratitude for finding acceptance in the church after facing rejection from an evangelical church when he embraced his gender identity.

“It’s the essence of the Bible: God is love, and other churches should emphasize that instead of repressing and harming others with a supposed sin,” Salazar remarked, reflecting on the church's message of love and acceptance.

“Sin and love are not the same,” Salazar asserted, wearing an earring in the shape of a cross. “And to love," he added, "is not a sin.”