• Abram
    Pride in the Pews founder Don Abram. Photo courtesy of Abram
  • Pewspanel
    The panel at the Pride in the Pews event “‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’: The Black Church and the LGBTQ+ Community.” Photo courtesy of Don Abram
The Pride in the Pews event “‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’: The Black Church and the LGBTQ+ Community” took place July 7 at First Presbyterian Church of Chicago, 6400 S. Kimbark Ave.

Among other topics, the panel discussed the challenges and opportunities regarding bridge-building between the Black Church and the LGBTQ+ community.

According to Pride in the Pews founder Don Abram, M.Div., theologians, pastors and activists explored the ways in which Black churches can advance LGBTQ+ inclusion in the Black Church and in the public square through activism.

Guest panelists included Pastor Stephen Thurston (executive pastor of Salem Baptist Church of Chicago), Bishop Keith Howell McQueen (global pastor of Powerhouse Church), Channyn Parker (director of strategic partnerships at Howard Brown Health) and Abram.