From the outside, there is little to distinguish the Metropolitan community church from the many other evangelical houses of worship in Rio’s Zona Norte. But as Marcos Lord prepares for an evening sermon, it soon becomes clear that this church is not like the others.

It takes the pastor about an hour to prepare for the pulpit: donning false eyelashes, a wig and a pair of vertiginous heels to transform himself into the drag queen Luandha Perón. In a country where evangelical Christians have become increasingly influential – and outspoken in their homophobia – the church provides a space for gay, bisexual and transsexual believers.

This evening, Luandha is hosting a recital of lesbian poetry. “This story isn’t erotic enough for my liking,” she jokes with the congregation, before reading a touching poem that one member has written about the first time she met her partner. Watching this confident character command an audience, it is hard to imagine that Lord once believed he was possessed by demons, and felt unable to come out until he was 26.

At 19, he fell in love with a fellow member of his church who described himself as an “ex-gay”, believing that his faith had cured him. The episode caused family tensions and Lord stayed away from religion for many years until he discovered the Metropolitan community church.

“At first, I resisted it. I didn’t want a church just for gays; it should be everyone,” he says. “But it seemed normal to me, there was a traditional service. No drag queens in those days!”

Now a pastor for the church, Marcos gives services and takes part in gay pride marches as Luandha.A teacher by day, Lord says the character of Luandha, who is more outspoken and forthright than he can be, waits “like a genie in a bottle” for her turn to appear.

There are 14 Metropolitan community churches across Brazil, each with about 70 members. The church was started in Los Angeles in 1968 by the Reverend Troy Perry, specifically for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Christians.

The gay rights movement in Brazil has not always been supportive, seeing religion and gay rights as mutually exclusive, while evangelical Christians with influence in public life have frequently used their religion to campaign against laws such as the proposed criminalisation of homophobia in Brazil.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Pastor Marcos Lord prepares his drag queen persona Luanda Péron at Bethel metropolitan church in Rio. Photograph: Antonio Franco

Presidential candidate Marina Silva, a pentecostal evangelist, was forced to backtrack on proposals for same-sex marriage, despite being viewed by many as a liberal, progressive figure.

Since she became candidate after the death in a plane crash of Eduardo Campos, religion and issues such as gay rights have been put centre stage.

A homophobic rant by fringe candidate Levy Fidelix this week overshadowed a TV election debate and caused a storm on social networks in Brazil.

“Fundamentalists say the Bible says homosexuality is a sin, but the same text says children who defy their parents should be killed,” says Lord, 40. “They choose which parts they want to believe. But why can’t I be gay and be a Christian? I just want the same respect as everyone else.”

Teacher Leia de Carvalho, 45, is like many of the congregation here. She grew up in a strict religious family, but left formal religion when she discovered her sexuality.

“My dad was a Baptist pastor,” she says. “When I realised I was gay, I put myself in exile from the church for many years, but there was always something missing in my life. To my family, I was assexual. Then, in 2010, we had the first wave of civil partnerships in Brazil and I was on TV with my partner. My mother saw it.”

At first, De Carvalho’s family told her she was defying God but they gradually learned to accept her sexuality. When she discovered the Metropolitan community church, eight years ago, the final part of the puzzle fell into place. “I felt like I was coming home,” she says.