Responding to news that Pope Francis secretly met with anti-LGBT activist Kim Davis during his recent trip to the United States, GLAAD renewed its call for Pope Francis to meet with LGBT Catholics and families.

"It's nothing short of appalling that the Vatican would turn its back on countless LGBT members and families by lending its support to someone who has brought so much pain to LGBT families," said GLAAD CEO & President Sarah Kate Ellis. "This sends a clear message that the Vatican simply doesn’t care about millions of devoted LGBT Catholics, who wish to be a part of the Church they love. Pope Francis must answer the call of LGBT Catholics and finally hear their stories of faith, family, and affliction."

In July, GLAAD's CEO & President Sarah Kate Ellis and DignityUSA's Executive Director Marianne Duddy-Burke sent a letter, endorsed with 29 additional sign-on organizations and people, directly to the Pope. It explains that LGBT people, including those in the Catholic Church, face "a compelling pastoral need" for "great healing and reconciliation." What the letter and its call to action detail is the gap between support for the LGBT community among Catholic people, and the harmful sentiments and policies of the Catholic hierarchy. 

GLAAD then followed up on that call in September, by launching a Change.org petition with Nicholas Coppola that asked for Pope Francis to sit down and meet with LGBT Catholics like himself. Over 8,000 people signed the petition, with no response or meeting.

TAKE ACTION: Tell Pope Francis to meet with LGBT Catholics and families.