First Christian Church Katy Celebrates Marriage Equality Anniversary

This June marks ten years of marriage equality in the United States. In 2015, the Supreme Court ruled on Obergefell v. Hodges and officially granted same-sex marriage rights nationwide. In honor of that landmark decision, the First Christian Church of Katy, Texas—the only LGBTQ affirming church in that suburban town—is hosting Put A Ring On It, where 10 queer couples will receive a free wedding in the church’s sanctuary. The event will include a professional photographer, a cake-and-champagne reception for up to 25 guests, and a chance to win a honeymoon in Costa Rica.

After couples submitted applications, the winners were announced on May 31 for the June 21 ceremony. Put A Ring On It is co-sponsored by The Woodlands Pride and the Greater Houston LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce.

Rev. Heather Tolleson has been the lead pastor at First Christian Church Katy since 2012. As a member of the Disciples of Christ denomination, the church adopted an open and affirming resolution in 2017.

“We had always been affirming, but it wasn’t rubber stamped,” the pastor says. “We wanted to be absolutely clear about who we were and what we were about.”

Rev. Tolleson, who identifies as pansexual, grew up as an Army brat who wound up in suburban Cypress for high school. She headed to Texas Christian University (TCU) to study religion and psychology, then got her Master of Divinity degree at TCU’s Brite Divinity School. She is currently working on her doctoral degree. After serving as a pastor at congregations in Arizona and Kentucky, she wasn’t wild about returning to Texas—at first.

“My family were founding members of this church in the ’70s,” she recalls. “I don’t really have any memories of being here as a child. But this was the church that called me, and I do think we’ve made a difference in Katy for the LGBTQ+ community. Katy Pride was borne out of this church.”

Katy’s First Christian Church continues to advocate for inclusion, joy, and queer community.

Rev. Tolleson admits that they have their Pride flags stolen a couple of times a year, and also face negative comments on social media—particularly during June, which is why she wanted to celebrate their community with Pride events and the wedding ceremony.

The church made national news three years ago when a large crowd (including heavily armed Proud Boys) showed up to protest drag bingo night, a regular event that raises money for the church’s Transparent Closet, a safe space and free clothing boutique for youth and teens exploring or transitioning.

“The police came and had to tear-gas some of the protestors,” she says, “I don’t know if we were really in danger, but no matter what they throw at us, we survive. And we become more vocal.”

Rev. Tolleson has two school-age children in Katy ISD, a school district known for book bans and anti-trans rules. This might cause a lesser person to keep their head down, but the activist pastor speaks out at school board meetings and has sat on several committees. She is quick to point to the recent school board election when voters rejected uber-conservative Katy ISD board member Victor Perez in favor of less-partisan newcomer James Cross. 

“Because we still function as a small town, the school district board is very important to our politics, so this was a very favorable outcome for us,” she says.

But what’s not so favorable these days is the fate of Obergefell v. Hodges. In recent years, the Supreme Court has issued a string of conservative rulings, including the 2018 Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission decision, which upheld a business owner’s right to deny service to same-sex couples. And most recently in 2022, the court struck down federal abortion rights in the Dobbs v. Jackson ruling. In his Dobbs opinion, Justice Clarence Thomas called on the court to reconsider the Obergefell ruling and the basis for marriage equality.

“I 100 percent think it’s coming,” she admits, “that they will overturn marriage equality. And the day we know it’s coming, we will be standing outside the church marrying everyone who comes by.”

What: Put A Ring On It: Celebrating 10 Years of Marriage Equality
When: Saturday, June 21, 2025
Where: First Christian Church Katy
Info: fcckaty.org/our-pastors