Darlene Garner facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Darlene Garner
|
|
|---|---|
Garner at the D.C. Gay Pride Parade, 1996.
|
|
| Born | September 28, 1948 |
| Education | Ohio State University Lancaster Theological Seminary |
| Occupation | Minister |
| Organization | National Coalition of Black Lesbians and Gays Human Rights Campaign |
Darlene Onita Garner, born on September 28, 1948, is an American minister. She is also a well-known activist for LGBT rights. She helped start the National Coalition of Black Lesbians and Gays (NCBLG).
Garner was the first African-American elder in the Metropolitan Community Church (MCC). She also helped create and now leads the MCC's special meeting called the Conference for People of African Descent (PAD). From 2008 to 2009, she was the MCC Vice-Moderator. She is a recognized speaker on religious issues for the LGBT community. For example, she helped announce the "American Prayer Hour." This event offered a welcoming alternative to other prayer gatherings. Her work has been praised for making the LGBT community more visible. In 2010, Capital Pride named her a "Capital Pride Hero."
Contents
About Darlene Garner
Her Early Life and Faith
Darlene Garner is the oldest of five children. Her family background includes African, Cherokee, and Irish roots. She grew up in Columbus, Ohio, and was raised in the National Baptist Convention. At age 7, she was baptized at Union Grove Baptist Church.
As a child, Darlene went to public schools. She was an active Girl Scout. She also played in the All-State Orchestra. She graduated from East High School in Columbus, Ohio, in 1966.
Garner studied at the Ohio State University, Samaritan College, and Lancaster Theological Seminary. After being raised Baptist, she later attended the Episcopal Church. In 1976, she joined the Metropolitan Community Church.
Her Family Life
Darlene Garner was married and had three children. In 1973, she moved to Washington, D.C. with her young children. She later moved back to Ohio. There, she married her second husband and had her fourth child.
On March 3, 2010, Garner and her partner, Rev. Lorilyn Holmes, were among the first same-sex couples to apply for a marriage license in the District of Columbia. They were married on March 9, 2010. The ceremony took place at the Human Rights Campaign building. Garner and Holmes now live in St. Petersburg, Florida. They share their home with their dogs, Joey and Micah.
Darlene Garner's Career and Activism
Founding the NCBLG
From 1977 to 1980, Darlene Garner helped create the NCBLG. It was first known as the National Coalition of Black Gays (NCBG). She explained that at that time, the needs of African Americans in the LGBT community were not being met. Other national groups did not focus on their issues.
She said they created the National Coalition of Black Gays and Lesbians (NCBGL). They organized many local groups and turned them into a national organization. They knew they were making history. What they were doing could change how history looked. Their youth and new ideas helped them be bold. They felt if they did not do it, no one else would. So, they took on the challenge.
Work in Public Service
Before becoming a professional minister, Garner worked in public service. In 1987, she became the Executive Director of the Philadelphia Mayor's Commission on Sexual Minorities. She also served as a chaplain for an AIDS hospice. She was President of the Board of Northern Virginia AIDS Ministry.
Darlene also served on the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations. This group heard complaints about unfair treatment based on things like sexual orientation, race, and gender. She also worked on the West Hollywood Business License Commission.
Ministry and Leadership
Darlene Garner became an ordained minister in the Metropolitan Community Church in 1988. She has served as an associate pastor in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She was also an MCC pastor in Baltimore, MD, and northern Virginia from 1991 to 1998. During this time, she was a source for U.S. News & World Report on LGBT issues.
Garner served MCCDC as Church Treasurer and Lay Delegate. Later, she was an assistant district coordinator for MCC's former Mid-Atlantic District. Today, she leads MCC Region 6. This region covers Latin America and the southwestern United States.
Garner is also a member of the Diversity & Inclusion Council. She also sits on the Religion Council of the Human Rights Campaign.
