We don't need the church, dogma, doctrine, a pope, a preacher or a priest. We only need to acknowledge the free gift of grace that Christ came to bring us. In that acknowledgement we see that we are God's precious children, and that nothing else, no other qualifier in our life, matters. Grace cares not if you are black, white, lesbian, gay, straight, bisexual, transgendered, male or female. Grace covers, without conditions, anyone who accepts it.
Grace is the sole basis of our salvation.
Jesus came to say that we are saved. We are forgiven. God's forgiveness lies within us. We are loved. God's embracing love lies buried within us underneath a load of guilt and fear.