Southern Havens for LGBTQ+ People & Families
By Jason Koon
Lauri Yeargin said it had been nearly five years since she had seen her child Jack’s face.
“Shortly after we moved here, something changed in them,” she said. “They got really quiet and started covering their face … and then the pandemic happened, and they started wearing a mask all the time.”
Jack, who is non-binary, finally came out to their mother last year, although Lauri said she already knew. On July 8, they, along with Jack’s close friend Brooke Wright were among the few dozen LGBTQ+ individuals, family members, and allies who attended the second annual LGBTQ+ Family Day at Lake Logan Conference Center in Western North Carolina. Set aside by the Episcopal Diocese of Western North Carolina, it is a special day for queer individuals, family groups, and allies to enjoy a day at camp, play and eat together and then share the eucharist. Lauri said it was hard for her not to get emotional when she realized Jack had chosen to come to the event with no mask and their hair pulled back from their eyes.
“I drove separately,” Lauri said. “When I saw them drive up. Jack showed up today without the mask on, and I was like, ‘Oh, my God, don’t make a big deal. Don’t make a big deal.’”
Jack said knowing the diocese had set aside a day specifically for them and other LGBTQ+ individuals made them feel safe and accepted.
“I think this is great,” Jack said. “Even in a religious space, it shows that people are accepting.”
“I grew up around a very Christian household,” Wright added. “There was always this, ‘don’t stray from the path.’ So be able to have events like this to show that I’m loved and to show that no matter who you are or what you are into, you’re still going to be loved no matter what, that’s what I really like.”
Eden Lewis, Interim Director of Lake Logan, piloted the idea last year and said she was excited to bring it back again this summer…
Jason Koon (he/him)