AWAB is thrilled to be featured in the 2025 USA TODAY Pride Edition, which hit newsstands this week just in time for Pride Month. The special print and digital edition uplifts powerful stories from across the LGBTQ+ community—and this year, it includes a national spotlight on queer people of faith.
The article, titled “Finding Faith,” is written by journalist Matt Alderton and explores how LGBTQ+ Christians are reclaiming their place in religious spaces. From inclusive churches to grassroots faith movements, the piece highlights how queer people are not just participating in faith—they’re transforming it.
The story begins on page 40, and AWAB’s own Communications Coordinator, James Rice III, is quoted on page 43, speaking boldly about the intersection of queerness and spirituality in Baptist life.
This national recognition is both humbling and energizing. At a time when LGBTQ+ people—especially trans and nonbinary folks—are under increasing political and spiritual attack, it matters deeply that a publication like USA TODAY is elevating our stories, our sacredness, and our right to belong.
Why This Feature Matters
AWAB (the Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists) is the only national organization dedicated to helping Baptist churches become fully LGBTQ+ inclusive. Being included in USA TODAY’s Pride Edition reminds us: this work is visible, vital, and reaching far beyond our network. Representation matters—especially when it shows queer people as whole, holy, and loved.
Read the USA TODAY 2025 Pride Edition (Digital PDF)
Click here to open the full issue
(AWAB appears on pages 40–43)
Grab a physical copy from your local newsstand to support the journalists and editors making this coverage possible.
Join the Movement of Radical Welcome
Whether you’re a longtime supporter or just learning about our work, this moment is a reminder of why we do what we do. AWAB exists because it needs to exist—to ensure LGBTQ+ people are not just welcomed in Baptist life, but celebrated, affirmed, and empowered.
Stay tuned throughout Pride Month for more updates, resources, and reflections from our community. And from all of us at AWAB: Happy Pride!