The core Christian message is about love and acceptance” – James recounts his and his family’s journey as he comes to terms with being a gay man whose mum is a minister in the Church of England.

"It’s not about how we can promote a healthy relationship between Islam and LGBTQ people – it’s how we promote a healthy relationship between humanity and LGBTQ people.” Shahbazz, a Sunni Muslim and Hamas, a Shia Muslim reflect on the acceptance of LGBTQ people in the Islamic faith.

“You can be a good Muslim and also be gay”. Our interviewee – a Muslim man who we have called Ahmed - is not out to his family or colleagues and so his words are spoken by an actor. He describes a long and painful personal journey to reconcile his faith and his sexuality and how he finally found peace and inner strength with the help of a national organisation called Hidayah.

“There are areas where I still don’t know what the answer is – I’m still on a journey.” Osama talks about how his identity as a Muslim man and his attitudes to LGBTQ colleagues and friends has evolved since he arrived in the UK from a traditional Bangladeshi upbringing in the Islamic faith.

“I could let go of pretending to be something society was telling me to be.” Scott tells of the strength he draws from being a Nichiren Buddhist and how that helped him to come to terms with his own sexuality.

“I think Jesus is someone very much concerned with the hearts of people as well as their minds.” Carol – Christian and bisexual – reflects on the struggle within the Church of England to accept and welcome LGBTQ people into the church.

"I wear a rainbow lanyard at work because I feel quite passionately that, as a Muslim, I should be a supporter of the LGBTQ community.” Ameena reflects on her upbringing, where traditional Bangladeshi culture, Islamic teachings and Western values all influenced her personal values, beliefs and her determination to be true to herself.

“I’ve had a number of Christian friends who are gay and there’s such a variety of different experiences out there…” Josh talks about the importance of Christianity in his life and how his scientific, analytical personality shapes his exploration of faith and sexuality

“There’s a trend in using language that contributes to a dehumanisation of people.” Alice from Minnesota talks about being part of a progressive, inclusive Christian community and how her sense of her own bisexual identity evolved over a period of time.

“I had a relationship with God - if He had made me gay, it must be ok to be gay.” David - raised in a Catholic family – recalls how the inner conflict between religious teachings and sexuality became too much for one of his friends who tried to take his own life

“The way that you have been raised doesn’t have to be the way that you continue with your life.” Jim was raised as a Mormon but now embraces Pagan beliefs. He describes how the male and female aspects of the Pagan deity he worships helped him to accept his own sexuality and inform his view of the world.