A Southport man is is calling for inclusiveness and diversity, with events aimed at the town’s LGBT+ religious community.

Aaron McManus, 32, says he has had an interesting and sometimes challenging journey, being both gay and Mormon, but wants to make people aware that there is an LGBT+ religious network they can be a part of.

He said: “I’ve lived in Southport all my life, I’ve always been a member of the Mormon church and I am gay.

“There are some conflicts, but the two can absolutely work together.”

Over the past few years, Aaron has run an organisation called Affirmation - LGBT Mormons, Families and Friends.

He continued: “We provide a loving, inclusive community for all LGBT+ people of any religion, and those who love them, regardless of how they identify in their sexual orientation, gender identity, or faith.

“The group is mainly LGBT+ Mormons, but I have found many LGBT+ people of a variety of faiths.

“ We are all in the same boat, with the issues we face, and the group is spreading into a multi-faith group.”

Aaron, who runs Aaron Mark Floral Design in Cambridge Arcade, says Affirmation hosts a number of events around the country; including social gatherings and awareness-raising occasions to help further people’s understanding of the religious LGBT+ community.

The group will host two events this weekend.

On Saturday (April 29), the group will meet at 10am at The Gateway Conference Centre on London Road, Liverpool. Anybody interested in learning more about being LGBT+ and religious is welcome. There will also be the opportunity for people to tell their stories, in a safe, non-judgemental space.

On Sunday, the group will meet at Southport’s Mormon church (on Preston New Road) at 10am.

Aaron continued: “The event is called ‘Sit with us on Sunday’ and everyone is welcome.

“A lot of LGBT people don’t feel comfortable at church any more, but miss that sense of community and spirituality it brings, so we offer the opportunity to all go to church together, in support of each other, and who we are.”