MCC ST. LOUIS HOSTS MID-CENTRAL DISTRICT CONFERENCE:
PRELUDE TO TROY PERRY’S VISIT JUNE 9TH
(from Prime Time, June, 1977, p. 20.)
Memorial Day Weekend saw gay pride as part of the Human Rights Movement as the Metropolitan Community Church of Greater St. Louis hosted the Mid-Central District Conference of the U.F.M.C.C. [United Federation of Metropolitan Community Churches] The theme of the conference was “Christian Social Action"; the keynote speaker was Mr. Adam De Baugh, gay lobbyist on Capitol Hill and Director of the U.F.M.C.C. Washington Field Office.
Ten states sent their ministers and conference delegates, as well as other congregational members, to confer in such workshops as Human Rights, Publications, Ageing, Handicapped, Drug Abuse, Alcoholism and other social programs affecting the homophile community.
At the Saturday Evening 8anquet, Rev. Elder Carol S. Cureton, Pastor of the St. Louis MCC, introduced three dinner speakers: Ms. Gwyn Harvey, Director of Life Crisis Services, Ms. Betty McLaughlin, an Executive Producer for local television, and Mr. De Baugh.
Metropolitan Community Church of Greater St. Louis is well-known for its support of social action movements in St. Louis. Working closely with the Task Force for Human Rights, MCC has been lobbying for gay rights in Dade County, Florida. Rev. Elder Troy Perry, Founder of U.F.M.C.C. , is presently in Dade County, seeking support for the retaining of the gay referendum. Rev. Perry will leave Dade County immediately after the referendum and speak in St. Louis at MCC on Thursday, June 9, at 8:00 P.M., at 5108 Waterman Avenue.
The largest district in the United States, the Mid-Central District, finished its twelve workshops at 1:00 on Sunday, May 29. The ministers present at the conference, the delegates, and members from the churches joined in a special worship service.
Strains of the majestic "We Shall Overcome" reverberated throughout the church as two hundred gay brothers and sisters reaffirmed their belief in the value of the human condition.
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