June is Gay Pride Month

Gay pride or LGBT pride refers to a worldwide movement and philosophy asserting that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals should be proud of their sexual orientation and gender identity. Gay pride advocates work for equal “rights and benefits” for LGBT people. The movement has three main premises: that people should be proud of their sexual orientation and gender identity, that sexual diversity is a gift, and that sexual orientation and gender identity are inherent and cannot be intentionally altered. Marches celebrating Pride (pride parades) are celebrated worldwide. Symbols of LGBT pride include the rainbow flag, the Greek lambda symbol, and the pink and black triangles reclaimed from their past uses.

During World War II, as Nazi Germany began its domination of Europe, many people found themselves being rounded up and sent to concentration camps. Genocide or the mass murder of numerous groups was undertaken. Homosexuals were one of these groups, with gay men being marked with a pink triangle badge, while lesbians were most often designated with a black triangle.

On June 27, 1969, a group of men rioted following a police raid on the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar at 43 Christopher Street, New York City. The late Miss Stephen Whittaker, a transgender rights activist and founding member of both the Gay Liberation Front and the Gay Activists Alliance, is credited by many with being the first to actually strike back at the police and, in so doing, spark the rebellion. Additional protests and rioting continued for several nights following the raid. The Stonewall riots are generally considered to be the beginning of the modern gay rights movement.

(Taken from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gay_pride)

Welcome, new Foundation Governors

Two new members have been elected to serve on the Board of Governors for our Sunshine Community Foundation. They add valuable expertise to help the Foundation with its Mission: “To Raise Capital & Endowment Funds in support of the Projects, Ministries, and Outreach of the Sunshine Cathedral Community and its Congregation.”

Gregory Ullman is the owner and manager of Plus Medical, LLC in Delray Beach. His company supplies medical equipment and home health care products to the retail and medical communities in South Florida. In an earlier career he was a Partner for White & Case, an international law firm in Miami. While in Dade County, he also served as Councilmember and Vice-Mayor of Miami Shores, and acted as Managing Director of the Miami-Dade Steering Committee for the 2000 Al Gore Presidential Campaign. Greg has attended the Sunshine Cathedral for several years. He graduated from Columbia University School of Law after getting his undergraduate degree from the University of Florida.

J. Coleman Prewitt lives in downtown Fort Lauderdale and works in Boca Raton. He is partner for a law firm and consulting company that specializes in corporate transactions and commercial litigation. Coleman is a former director of Hope House in Palm Beach. This past year he helped found UNITE Fort Lauderdale, which voiced opposition to Mayor Jim Naugle in its “Flush Naugle” campaign. Coleman graduated from University of Miami School of Law after attending both the University of Florida and Florida Atlantic Universities. Two months ago, Coleman announced his candidacy for District 4 Commissioner in Fort Lauderdale. Our campus is part of District 4. Please wish him best of luck in his campaign.

When you see them at church, please help welcome these new Foundation Board Members. Also, let’s thank them for the services they provide to our Cathedral family by volunteering their time, talents, and treasures.

Narthex gets a facelift

Narthex you say? Yes, it’s name of the lobby entrance to the Worship Center. As part of the renovation taking place in the Worship Center, the Narthex gets a new paint job.

For a short while, the naming letters over the inside doors “Walt Lawrence and Stephen Lewis Worship Center” will disappear. But Walt’s & Stephen’s names will appear again after the painting is completed. And, when they reappear, their names will be in a new and updated design to better reflect and complement the transformation that has taken place on the inside.

Narthex. Now you know.

Keep us informed

Each week when you register your attendance, we ask for any updates to your information. Now that hurricane season is upon us (June 1^st through November 30^th), it is more important than ever that we have your current information for our database. Please make sure we have your up to date telephone numbers which include home, office, and cellular. Additionally, it is a great idea for us to have the name and number of an emergency contact. First and foremost, the information it keeps us in touch with our members and congregants. Second, we will have emergency numbers to contact someone should you need us to, in cases such as a hospital emergency or visitation need. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Rev. Deacon Joel Slotnick in the church office at 954-462-2004 ext. 207 or via email joel@sunshinecathedral.org.