Anne-Marie was ready for an interview on the podcast 'Living My Faith'. Ten minutes after the scheduled start time came the message: the interview was cancelled. The reason was clear. She is gay.

Anne-Marie is an experienced preacher with many years of experience. She studied at Yale, a top university. She came out at 52 after a long marriage and still believes in the importance of faith. All this was easy to find online. She had introduced herself honestly. Yet the podcast makers first said yes, then said no.

In their message, they admitted it concerned 'conflicting views' around LGBTQ+. They offered her a different programme, 'Making a Difference', as if that would be better for everyone. But what they really meant was: you are welcome, but not here. Not on our main programme.

Anne-Marie sees the pattern clearly. Conservative faith groups like to say they are inclusive. They like having gay people on their podcast. But only on their terms. Only if it stays small. Only if it does not attract too much attention. That is not inclusivity. That is excuses.

For Anne-Marie, this moment was exactly why she had decided to be more visible in faith spaces this year. To show that gay people and believers are not necessarily opposites. This interview was a step in that direction. Until it was no longer allowed.