HEROES & HISTORY Archives | Page 486 of 500

Is this the end of LGBT churches?

August 25, 2017 compassq Comments Off

As the worship service came to a close at the Metropolitan Community Church of Corpus Christi, Texas, July 30, so too did the official presence of the longest running LGBT-accepting Christian church in the city. Some 35 years after the church opened its doors in this conservative community and offered a haven to queer people, leaders earlier this month announced the doors here would close, that the congregation would disband, and worship materials from altar candles to clerical robes would be made available to other MCC locations.

Gay hero Gloria Estefan to be honored at National LGBTQ Task Force Gala.

August 24, 2017 compassq Comments Off

Two weeks after learning she would be a 2017 recipient of a Kennedy Center honor in December, pop star Gloria Estefan will be honored in October at the 2017 National LGBTQ Task Force Gala. Estefan, the task force said, earned the National Leadership Award for her work to support lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) people.

More than just a gay synagogue.

August 24, 2017 compassq Comments Off

At Congregation Sha’ar Zahav in San Francisco, Rabbi Mychal Copeland leads Shabbat services with a rainbow tallit around her shoulders. The synagogue newsletter is called “The Jewish Gaily Forward.” But the shul that has been known since its 1977 founding as San Francisco’s gay synagogue is now reaching out to a broader community and de-emphasizing its identity as an LGBT-specific congregation.

“What Would You Do” takes on transgender harassment.

August 23, 2017 compassq Comments Off

How would you react to seeing a clothing store employee discriminating against a transgender woman simply for shopping there? That instance of transphobia is exactly what a recent episode of ABC’s What Would You Do? sets out to answer, setting up the situation and seeing how regular, unscripted people would do when faced with the confrontation.

U.S. Soccer supports LGBTQ initiatives.

August 23, 2017 compassq Comments Off

U.S. Soccer will donate more than $65,000 to the You Can Play Project after a series of initiatives celebrating LGBTQ Pride Month in June. The U.S. Men’s and Women’s National Teams wore pride-inspired jerseys with rainbow numbers during their June friendlies and the game-issued kits were autographed and auctioned online. All proceeds from the auction – which was a partnership with the respective players associations – as well as all sales of the jersey and a special commemorative hat have been donated to You Can Play.

Gay man turned down for cat adoption.

August 23, 2017 compassq Comments Off

Alex Andreou is a writer, actor and aspiring owner of a rescue cat. We’ve never met IRL but judging from his online presence, he seems like the kind of person who would give a cat a loving home. But when Andreou recently drove two hours to adopt a cat that “desperately needed rehoming,” he says he was turned down by the cat’s caregiver “for being gay.” How does that affect his ability to care for a cat?? Great question: it doesn’t! It’s called bigotry and sadly it’s thriving in 2017.

Hugs of support from football players at University of Nebraska.

August 23, 2017 compassq Comments Off

When University of Nebraska track and field athlete Jace Anderson found himself alone on a balcony at a campus party last year with three football players he described as “gigantic human beings,” he was nervous. He became even more nervous when one of the players asked him indirectly if he was gay. Anderson, 20, was just coming to terms with his sexual orientation and slowly telling people around him.