This Church Opened Its Doors to LGBT People After Gay Teen's Suicide

Four years ago, the tragic death of gay 14-year-old rocked her small town community. Lizzie Lowe was an "outgoing, fun-loving" young girl who "enjoyed the love and respect of many friends." But when the teen began coming out to her friends as lesbian, an inquest found that she was worried that her church wouldn't accept her as gay. 

After she texted a friend, “...stay strong. I am sorry,” a frantic search began for Lizzie. She was found soon after hanged in a Manchester park. 

"I can’t imagine the pain and anguish that Lizzie was going through," said her father, Kevin Lowe. "And it pains us to know she was going through that alone."

"Lizzie’s sexuality wouldn’t have changed anything about the way we feel about Liz. She was precious to us. And we just wanted her to be happy."

"Our joy left us," added her mother, Hilary. 

Her church, St James and Emmanuel in Manchester, England, decided to take a firm progressive stance to prevent further tragedies like this happening again, reports Manchester Evening News. 

"I used to be someobody that would hold a traditional view," said the church's Rector, Nick Bundock. "But we lost a teenager, at 14, to suicide and that puts everything else in perspective." 

The church began making their institution more inclusive, welcoming everyone, regardless of race, gender or sexuality. Special prayers are offered for same-sex couples who've married. Hymns are oftentimes signed. The church also launched a Youth Cafe for their 200 young people where they are free to discuss their problems in a safe space.

Since these policies began, the church has gained new LGBTQ members and even hosted the first Didsbury Pride.

“We had to change," Bundock added. "We had to make sure this never happens to anyone else."

The new policies haven't pleased everyone in the community. Some parishioners and 25 members of the congregation left the church in protest. Some of St James and Emmanuel 's leaders also received text messages saying they'll 'go to hell.'

But the church understands how important their work is for marginalized people and continues to chug forward in the right direction. 

“I wish we could turn the clock back,” Bundock regretted. “I wish we could have done something ahead of that decision Lizzie took that would have given her the slightest chance to open up, to find a safe place to talk and a way of making a decision that would have saved her life."

Disturbingly, this kind of tragedy still happens far too often. Last year, an Alabama man went viral after he protested a conservative campaign event with the photo of his lesbian daughter, Patti Sue, who he lost to suicide. Just last month, a 9-year-old in Denver, Colorado died by suicide after being bullied for being gay.

Lizzie's parents, Kevin and Hilary, are also calling for churches around England to become more inclusive to prevent what happened to their daughter from happening again. 

"It could easily be your daughter, your son, your grandchild, niece or nephew," said Kevin. "We need to have these discussions to bring these things out in the open and talk about it freely and openly. It’s about accepting people for who they are, not who we want them to be."

If you are a trans or gender-nonconforming person considering suicide, Trans Lifeline can be reached at (877) 565-8860. LGBTQ youth (ages 24 and younger) can reach the Trevor Project Lifeline at (866) 488-7386. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at (800) 273-8255 can also be reached 24 hours a day by people of all ages and identities.