LGBTQ-friendly Katy church sees massive growth despite online hate over its drag shows

The first-ever drag show at First Christian Church Katy saw rousing success and sold-out ticket sales last month, lead pastor Rev. Heather Tolleson says, with the performance marking another example of the church's ongoing efforts toward LGBTQ+ inclusivity. The church has been openly accepting of LGBTQ+ people since its inception in 1979, but church leaders decided to take a more proactive approach around 2006. That's when they voted to become an "open and affirming congregation" that is "expressly open to and affirming to the LGBTQ+ community," Tolleson said. "This congregation has always been a place where what they value most about the teachings of Christianity is an openness and willingness for all people and the idea that Jesus came to love all," she explained. "We're a representation of that love."

Like most churches, First Christian shifted to an online worship platform during the pandemic. Since then, it has seen membership triple, Tolleson said, adding that she believes that time of web-based devotion caused some Christians to look into other churches. But as the congregation exploded, she said, so did the vitriol from the broader Christian community. The church's stance on the LGBTQ+ community has always garnered hate speech from other Christians, Tolleson said, but new events like "Drag Bingo" or "Drag Fashion Show" have spurred more intense and frequent hostility, including acts of vandalism and theft. Facebook users, almost all of whom openly identify as Christians, post cruel messages and send direct messages of condemnation, Tolleson said. The church has received so many angry calls that it no longer answers the phone. In a voicemail message sent to the Chronicle by the church, one person said of Drag Bingo, "So disgusting to see this. Another false church leading people to hell instead of heaven."