Answering a question that many may be asking at this point, the signage outside one of the churches participating in Glitter + Ash, Commonwealth Baptist Church Alexandria, made it clear: ‘Glitter and Ash: why? Ash = a reminder that death and suffering are real. Glitter = a symbol of hope and celebration to LGBTQ folks and allies.’

‘Glitter and ash = a symbol of the gritty, glittery, scandalous hope that exists within all of us.’

“The outside world has gotten this view of Christianity that Christ is against the LGBT community,” Rev Vance Haywood Jr, senior pastor of one of the participating churches told local media in Raleigh, North Carolina.

“When Christ died, he died for all people, not just for some.”.

“There are churches that say, ‘It’s okay to come and be a part of us. We’re gonna love you, but we still think you need to change some things,’ and then there are churches that truly embrace God’s love,” said Haywood.

We’ll be at the Braddock Metro station from 6:30-9:00 AM tomorrow with our friends from Good Shepherd Lutheran Church for the imposition of ashes or glitter ashes. Here’s why we’re doing glitter ashes. #glitterashwednesday

A post shared by Commonwealth Baptist Church (@cbcalexandria) on Feb 28, 2017 at 6:40pm PST

“So, I think it’s important for us to continue fighting that fight to show that that love is for all people.”

This is the second year of Glitter+Ash, an initiative launched by Parity, a New York-based group which supports LGBT+ pastors and encourages LGBT+ young people to integrate their spiritual, gender and sexual identities, reports Newnownext.

Some churches added liturgical-themed purple sparkle to the ashes while others opted for rainbow glitter.

Ash Wednesday derives its name from the practice of blessing ashes made from palm branches blessed on the previous year’s Palm Sunday, and placing them on the heads of participants to the accompaniment of the words “Repent, and believe in the Gospel” or “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return” (Wikipedia).