San Diego Pride recognizes Metropolitan Community Church Pastor Dan Koeshall

The Metropolitan Locality Church is one of the oldest running LGBTQ organizations in the nation It was founded in prior to Stonewall to be an affirming safe spiritual home for LGBTQ people The Metropolitan District Church San Diego known locally as The Met was founded in as a church by queer people for queer people It became the first LGBTQ organization in the region to own property Currently it meets weekly in Bay Park under the leadership of Pastor Dan Koeshall who has served in various capacities at the church for years This year Koeshall was named the Light of Pride recipient The award coincides with the th anniversary of Light up the Cathedral the interfaith Pride facility hosted by St Paul s Cathedral in Bankers Hill where the award is handed out As Koeshall prepares to retire in a sparse months receiving the Light of Pride award which is given out to a spiritual leader who advocates for the LGBTQ society is a sweet sendoff to his life s work I hope that our light my light has helped others through the years Koeshall revealed in a phone call When we are ourselves we can shine Beyond his work at the church he has served on the LGBT Advisory Board to the Sheriff s Department and San Diego Police Department Before trans women were integrated into the general population they were housed in the curative wing of the jail where Koeshall learned the pastors visiting them were not affirming The spiritual people that were coming to them were giving them services like God loves you but you got to change And we just mentioned That is harmful Koeshall reported He began organizing his own congregation to host weekly services for transgender prisoners where they could have their proper names and pronouns used while being treated with respect Koehsall knows the damage non-affirming religious teachings can do Twice he went through a -week lesson at Exodus International a defunct Christian conversion therapy venture A year of their operation left damage that took a decade to heal Following his failed conversion therapy he came out and got kicked out from his longtime faith district After he was excommunicated he unveiled out about MCC in a book Afraid of being tracked he drove to a car wash phone booth to call them and find out how to get connected At The Met he exposed a society that accepted him I m just so grateful to be my authentic self Because I ve gone through that experience it s really significant for me for people to no matter what they ve gone through to realize that they are wonderfully created There is no mistake They are God s children I really strive for people to be reassured in their authentic self Koeshall commented The late nights phone banks sweat and work as a pastor have all been worth it to him because this award shows he made a difference He described being part of San Diego s LGBTQ group as the ecstasy of a lifetime