Lighthouse Church of Chicago, 2335 N. Orchard St., will host an event, Racial Justice Summit: Boystown & Beyond, the morning of July 13 to address the pervasiveness of racism within the LGBT community.
The meeting, aimed at forming a locally-based coalition to tackle the issue, is intended for clergy of LGBT-welcoming churches and their parishioners, as well as anyone who considers themselves an ally of LGBT persons of color, said Lighthouse's Pastor Jamie Frazier.
His announcement comes weeks after a large-scale controversy erupted after the owner of Progress Bar issued a dictum that rap and hip hop music would be banned in the bar, an edict that has often been regarded as a tacit ban on persons of color in other locales. Allegations of racism were also leveled against the store Beatnix in Boystown.
"We believe that our white allies are going to want to stand up and speak," said Frazier. "Many churches are looking for a way to make real that commitment. Lighthouse is going to create a way for them to do so."
The meeting will be held from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. at Lighthouse. For more information, see lighthousechicago.org .