DALLAS — In May of 2020 we handed over our platform to Black voices in our North Texas community through a series called “While I Have Your Attention.”
Those courageous souls spoke out against racial bias, race based violence, and systemic racism.
Now, as we mark another Pride Month that celebrates the LGBTQ+ community, we are, once again, turning our platform over to our family, friends, and neighbors to amplify even more voices in the struggle for equality in America.
Here are the stories of those we are highlighting this Pride Month:
Pam Gerber
Pam Gerber is a Jewish lesbian feminist vegetarian and a wife about to celebrate 35 years of marriage. Gerber tells WFAA about a time when she was 17 years old, in high school, and navigated through her mom realizing her daughter was gay. She said her mom "was super cool about it," but she overheard her mom locked in her room and crying behind the door.
Gerber talks about how she never looked at her sexuality as something to be "proud" of, necessarily, but simply just a part of who she is as a person.
For Gerber's story, click here.
Roscoe Compton-Kelly
Roscoe Compton-Kelly is a business consultant in Dallas and also a drag queen going by the name Shantae. Compton-Kelly tells WFAA Shantae has given him a wonderful experience of growth.
"I think every day if I can put a little good in the world, then I’ve done something that can have a lasting effect for other people as I move along," Compton-Kelly said.
He talks about the opportunity for people to find themselves in a way that is unique to them.
For Compton-Kelly's story, click here.
Rev. Dr. Neil G. Thomas
Rev. Dr. Neil G. Thomas is the pastor of the largest LGBTQ+ congregation in the world, Cathedral of Hope.
"I got the notion very young in age there’s a difference between 'churchianity' and Christianity. This religion that we talk about really isn’t that doctrine," Thomas said. "Understanding of scripture is not just on the page of the Bible but written on the pages of the hearts of people sitting in their congregations day in and day out. I had heard messages that God didn’t like gay people. That wasn’t my understanding of God."
For Thomas' story, click here.
Callie Butcher
Callie Butcher is an attorney in Dallas who identifies as a transgender woman.
"When stories are told in the mainstream media about the trans community, they focus on struggles on the fact that maybe the trans people are having trouble finding jobs or they're being murdered," Callie said. "All of this, you know, presents a certain image of what people expect the trans experience (to be) like... I think everyone should know that it's OK to celebrate -- and we should celebrate -- trans joy and trans success."
For Callie's story, click here.
Prisilla Arredondo
Prisilla Arredondo, a trans woman working at the Resource Center, one of the largest LGBTQ+ aid organizations in Texas.
"I didn’t know that trans even existed. When I was growing up, I just knew that I was different. I knew that I didn’t want to play with cars. I wanted to play with dolls. But I knew that having the support of my family, my mother, that allowed me to be who I wanted to be. It made it easy. So I never experienced hatred or ugliness or discrimination until I started working in corporate, in the workplace. And it really took me down."
For Prisilla's story, click here.
Jason Thompson
Jason Thompson is a gay man working in healthcare IT and a board member with Black Tie Dinner.
"I was diagnosed with HIV when I was 20 years old, and I shut down. I went into severe depression. I could barely get out of bed because I just assumed, well, you know, this is it. It’s definitely been a journey. I remember having to take five pills a day. My medication cost more than my rent at one point in time. Today, I don’t even take a pill. I get injections every other month. The medical advances have made a huge difference. There’s still a lot of stigma. I’m 41 now. So it’s been 21 years, and I’m still alive and I’m undetectable."
For Jason's story, click here.
Ahmad Goree
Ahmad Goree represents several organizations: Dallas Southern Pride, the Muhlaysia Booker Foundation, and Abounding Prosperity.
"I grew up in Pleasant Grove, and community has always been a part of something that I cherish. People who have experienced issues or adversities always came to me asking for help our how should they handle situations or who they should talk to. I felt like it was a calling for me to enhance that skill on a higher level and be this voice for the community as a whole."
For Ahmad's story, click here.
More While I Have Your Attention coverage:
