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copyright 2010 Jonathan L. Owens/Chameleon Red Photography (chameleonredphotography.com)
DENNIS MEREDITH
Church membership might have gone down when Pastor Dennis Meredith started preaching that it was okay to be gay (as he discovered he was), but that didn’t stop the leader of Tabernacle Baptist Church. His recent denouncement of Bishop Eddie Long drew praise and he continues to be a leader in addressing the issue of homophobia in the black church.
How would you define your role in Atlanta’s LGBT community?
I would define my role in Atlanta’s LGBT community as a Spiritual Activist.
What do you forecast for Atlanta’s LGBT community in the next 5 to 10 years?
Within the next 5 to 10 years, I believe that the LGBT community is going to have greater access to human rights. I believe this will be the case in the area of legislature, community and within the church. More and more people will become accepting of same sex lifestyles and relationships which will also lead to more states passing laws allowing same sex marriages.
We learn from all our experiences, both good and bad. Tell us about a negative life experience you’ve had that you learned a valuable lesson from.
A few years ago, I was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma cancer which is now in remission. Battling this terminal illness has opened my eyes to how important it is to leave a mark on society and contribute to humanity as a whole. This negative experience brought me to a point where I knew that I wanted to take up a cause for what I believed in and be known as more than just a Baptist preacher, but a Spiritual Activist for the LGBT community.
How has being LGBT shaped your outlook on life?
It’s helped me obtain a broader view of God’s diversity. I am now more appreciative of the diversity in the world and have discovered the diversity within the LGBT community. I have been enlightened and educated to understand what it means to be part of the LGBT community.
Tell us a little more about yourself. What are your hobbies? What are your goals?
One of my favorite things to do is to ride my Harley motorcycle. A goal that I would like to reach is to help build a church, community and a world that is inclusive of all people where we all understand that we are one humanity
If you were stranded on a desert island, what’s the one book you would want with you?
I would want the book Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle.
