5,000 Plus Gays & Lesbians Help Local Communities Nationwide

Roughly 5,000 volunteers attended The Empowering Spirits Foundation’s “Proud Hearts Reach Out” service events held across the nation on Saturday, October 10, 2009.

The ESF partnered with Habitat for Humanity, MyOutSpirit.com, the American Cancer Society, the Lymphoma and Leukemia Society, and others to engage in service oriented events designed to allow LGBT individuals to work side-by-side with non-LGBT members in an effort to open up communication between both sides.

“This was a great opportunity to help others in need, and in doing so we engaged in dialogue with our non-LGBT neighbours through this non-divisive manner in an effort to promote understanding of the issues that affect the LGBT community,” said A. Latham Staples, President and C.E.O. of the ESF. “The response from the other side was overwhelming. I haven’t heard of a negative response yet. In fact, many commented that we helped them under stand the LGBT viewpoints, and they appreciated all that we were doing.”

Empowering Spirits Foundation Proud Hearts Reach Out event. Habitat build in Birmingham, AL

Empowering Spirits Foundation Proud Hearts Reach Out event. Habitat build in Birmingham, AL.

“Whether you’re Jewish, Christian, or Buddhist, every spiritual tradition requires you to serve the community,” added Clayton Gibson, founder of MyOutSpirit.com, a social networking site for LGBT spiritual individuals. “It’s no different for the LGBT community. We are a part of this community, our families are here. Our well-being and our lives are intertwined with everyone else in the community. And our spirituality demands that when we can help, we do so, while our integrity demands that we aid without hiding who we are.”

Lead Picture : Empowering Spirits Foundation Proud Hearts Reach Out event. Trail renovation in the Gonzalez Canyon – San Diego, CA.