The list of Christian denominations affirming LGBTQ people lists denominations that consider LGBTQ people to be equal to other people and to have the same human rights in society and in the Church, or that leave it up to each local church to determine its position on the subject. This recognition manifests itself primarily in support for LGBTQ rights, the ordination of LGBTQ ministers and the blessing or same-sex marriage.
On May 1, 1972, the United Church of Christ in the San Francisco Bay Area approved the ordination of William R. Johnson, an openly gay seminarian. He was ordained as a pastor at the Community Church San Carlos (United Church of Christ) on June 25, 1972. In 1974, with the help of San Francisco State University professor Sally Miller Gearhart, he published the book Loving Women/Loving Men: Gay Liberation and the Church, which argues, among other things, that marriage is a covenant relationship, regardless of gender.
In the context of the gay liberation movement and the declassification of homosexuality as a disease by the American Psychiatric Association in 1973, these studies prompted various Progressive Christians churches and denominations to abandon discriminatory interpretations for LGBTQ people and offer equal recognition within their churches. In some denominations, this recognition has come through the development of affirming networks of churches, universities and seminaries. These include American Baptists Concerned for Sexual Minorities in 1972 (replaced by the Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists in 1993) by members of the American Baptist Churches USA, UCC Coalition for Lesbian/Gay Concerns in 1972 (renamed Open and Affirming Coalition UCC in 2014) by members of the United Church of Christ, Lutherans Concerned for Gay People in 1974 (renamed ReconcilingWorks in 2012) by members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Presbyterians for Gay Concerns in 1974 and More Light Churches Network in 1992 (merged and renamed More Light Presbyterians in 1999) by members of the Presbyterian Church (USA), Affirmation: United Methodists for Lesbian/Gay Concerns in 1975 and Reconciling Ministries Network in 1984 by members of the United Methodist Church, Brethren Mennonite Council for LGBT Interests and Supportive Communities Network in 1976 by members of the Mennonite Church USA. Some of these networks have become international, such as the Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists and Reconciling Ministries Network.
In the context of the legalization of same-sex marriage in various US states and countries during the 2000s, conceptual research into the meaning of marriage commitment in biblical texts prompted various churches to consider that the basis of Christian marriage and sexuality is to remain faithful in a covenant with one's spouse, regardless of gender. After national reflection, some Progressive Christian denominations then began to allow the blessing or same-sex marriage, usually leaving it to each local church to decide.
Affirming denominations generally have one or more of the following commitments:
Affirming network: ReconcilingWorks
Affirming network: Harmony
Affirming network: Supportive Communities Network
Affirming network: Affirm United/S'affirmer Ensemble
Affirming network: Harmony
Affirming network: Alliance Q
Affirming network: ReconcilingWorks
Affirming network: Supportive Communities Network
Affirming network: More Light Presbyterians and "Covenant Network of Presbyterians"
Affirming network: Room for All
Affirming network: Open and Affirming Coalition UCC
Affirming network: Affirm
Affirming network: Harmony