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Metropolitan Community Church of Washington, DC

In the 1970s, LGBTQ+ members of religious congregations advocated for important inclusive steps inside their own congregations, but the 1970s saw the beginning o the largest LGBTQ+-affirming mainline Protestant Christian denomination, the Metropolitan Community Church. Created in 1968 by Troy Perry, the fellowship was created with the inteion of outreach and ministering to LGBTQ individuals and their families. Metropolitan Community Churches (MCCs) spread across the country, and in 1971, the Metrpolitan Community Church D.C. first met in Rev. J.E. Paul Breton's home on Capitol Hill. 

In 1975, the MCCDC met in the First Congregational Church. The years at First Church saw a growth in many activities and join ministry efforts. From 1977-1993, Rev. Larry J. Uhrig was elected Pastor of MCCDC and continued to serve in this position until his death in 1993. 

Dignity/Washington

Protestant groups, however, were not the only ones advocating for change. In 1972, Sr. Jeannine Gramick, Patrick Mills, Fr. Greg Slamone, Joe Cicero and another unnamed individucal identified the need for a queer Catholic ministry and came together to start a chapte of Dignity in Washington, a Catholic ministry to lesbian and gay people. Twelve people attended the first liturgy. Seven years later, Dignity Washington incorporated and established chapter bylaws. Learn more about Dignity and New Ways Ministry, the LGBTQ+ ministry branch of Dignity based in Mount Rainer, Maryland in an oral history interview with Sr. Jeannine Gramick. 

Sunday mass attendance grew to almost 100 persons and later that year worship moved from the Newman Center at George Washington University to the St. William Chapel at Georgetown University. when Pope John Paul II visited Washington, D.C. in October, he was greeted at St. Matthew's Cathedral by 30 members with a Dignity Washigton banner reading, "Dignity Gay and Lesbian Catholics Welcome you."

Hear attorney and activist Barrett Brick discuss Bet Mishpachah in an oral history interview.

Listen to Troy Perry talk about the founding of the MCCDC on WPFW Radio Station.

Bet Mispachah

Queer religious community development, however, was not limited to Christianity. In 1975, Bet Mishpachah was founded by members of DC's LGBTQ+ community as Washington's only Egaliarian synagogue embracing a diversity of sexual and gender identities. Identified as "a congregaton for gay, lesbian, bisexual, asexual, trans and queer Jews," Bet Mispachah has marched in the DC pride parade and houses the Torah in rainbow fabric sleeves.