God Loves Everyone… No Exceptions
At the 2022 Arizona Diocesan convention, Resolution 2022-03 – Creation of a Committee for LGBTQIA+ Inclusion and Ministry was passed. The purpose of this committee is to:
“Educate our neighbors in matters pertaining to the health and physical, emotional, and spiritual safety of LGBTQIA+ identifying persons; Build community with LGBTQIA+ community members and their families; Create a coordinated, courageous, visible presence of supporters within our congregations and in our towns and cities; Identify and name the forces and actions that exclude and marginalize; Engage in healing work, reconciliation, and restoration where the evil we have done, the evil done on our behalf, and the evil we have witnessed in silence have caused harm; Be agents of systemic change working to amend existing church canons, secular laws, policies, and procedures that marginalize the LGBTQIA+ community and their families and for the creation and passage of legislation that upholds greater equity and more full inclusion”
Resolution 2022-03
Interested in Joining Our Committee?
We are looking for new members to expand the LGBTQIA2S+ Pride Committee! This committee is working towards inclusivity and acceptance all across Arizona and is looking to create sub-committees with the following focuses:
- Youth committee (networking with homeless youth, having a retreat, working on reconciliation, hosting a diocesan workshop, connections with EYE, social media (i.e. Trevor Project), parents support groups, and engagement with Chapel Rock.
- Visibility/Outreach committee (events like Pride, Diocesan Convention presence, social media engagement, and connections with supportive organizations
- Spiritual/Welcome committee (retreats, community building, teaching congregations how to welcome, finding out who welcomes, and building best practices around these worshiping communities)
- Education Committee (changing hearts and minds of our community, state legislature day and engagement with the political leadership on local levels, “vote on this” pushes through diocesan communication to support the community when legislation is moving through the government with opportunity for engagement, training that are friendly and accessible.
- Senior/Seasoned committee to assist in specific challenges addressing this demographic including discrimination and rights, retreats, and educational supports (benefits, retirement, partners, etc.).
- Mental Health
To sign up, please fill out the form below
Pride Events
The Episcopal Diocese of Arizona participates in PRIDE events all over the state. Participation and representation are important as a body of faith looking to reconcile with persons so often left out and feeling shame, not pride. At PRIDE events we can minister to seekers and put them in touch with local churches, clergy, and resources. PRIDE events are a great way for LGBTQIA2SP+ members to meet others in the community and tell stories of reconciliation.
This year, The LGBTQIA2S+ Committee of the Diocese of Arizona will be participating in BOTH the Phoenix Pride Parade & Festival and the Tucson Pride Parade. And we want you to join us!
To learn more, visit our events page or click on the links below!
Why Pride?
The Biblical understanding of pride has been a negative and sinful angle. However, within the 2SLGBTQIAP+ community, pride is a sense that we are made in the image of God just as we are. God is well-pleased with who we are and whom we love. Our pride extends to our communities who welcome persons with the same regard God has for members of the 2SLGBTQIAP+ community.
Meet Our Team
The LGBTQIA2S+ Pride Committee is led by a steering council composed of 4 members, two clergy and two lay.
The Rev. Dr. Corey Meier
(they/them)
Chair
Ordained 20 years total, I’ve worked in the church primarily as an interim pastor/priest and in the world as a disability evaluator. I grew up a Pennsylvania German and Welsh Lutheran and served in Northeast Ohio, Grand Canyon/Arizona, and Pacifica Synods of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. In February 2023, I transferred my orders to the Episcopal Church Diocese of Arizona. I reside on the land of Tohono O’odham, O’oham Jewed, and Hohokam; I identify as Western European, genderqueer, and gay; and my pronouns are they/he or with Arizonan church membership he/they. My doctoral dissertation addressed shame as a symptom of moral injury in gender-diverse (transgender, nonbinary, agender) adults from their family and religious communities. I am working toward getting licensed as a psychologist in California intending to serve persons who are gender diverse. I have served on the LGBTQIA committee for the Arizona Psychological Association since 2021.
Jennifer Lopez (she/her)
Jennifer was born on April 23, 1956 in Tucson, AZ. She was active in the Southern Arizona Gender Alliance (SAGA) and Wingspan, the LGBTQ+ Community Center from 1999 to 2005. In 2004, Jennifer was appointed to the LGBTQ+ Commission for the City of Tucson listening to issues from the community and making recommendations to the Mayor and Council. Jennifer was also a member of the Citizens Police Advisory Review Board (CPARB), reviewing citizen complaints about the Police Department and making recommendations to the Chief of Police and the Mayor.
Jennifer’s main hobby is playing music with her band, Too Much Information (TMI). The band has performed at many Pride events including Tucson Pride, Phoenix Pride and Bisbee Pride. She continues performing at different clubs in the Tucson area.
Jennifer was admitted to Deacon Formation, class of January 2026 and invited to join the LGBTQIA2S+ Committee in 2023 and is excited in this new chapter in her life. She attends St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church in Tucson, AZ.
D. Wesley Spencer PhD (he/him)
D. Wesley Spencer, PhD. is a professor of Theater at Glendale Community College. He has been an Episcopalian for over 25 years. He has been part of churches in Indianapolis, IN, Las Vegas, NV, and now he is at Epiphany in Scottsdale, AZ. He has served on the PRIDE board in Indianapolis and has served on multiple Vestries. He lives with his husband and youngest son.
The Rev. Edwin Rodriguez De Jesus, Deacon (he/him)
Edwin was born on September 28, 1990 in Caguas Puerto Rico. Edwin was raised up as Jehovah Witness,
later on he became Roman Catholic and discerned a call for the priesthood. He also discerned a call into
the Franciscan order. He moved to Utah and started attending St. Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral in Salt
Lake City. In 2014, he married Omar Rodriguez and moved to Tucson and attended St. Matthew’s
Episcopal Church. He discerned a call for the diaconate and was ordained in 2022. Edwin is a member of
the LGBTT+ community.