CNN's Don Lemon's interview with Shane Tomlinson's parents is heartbreaking.

[aikoaiko]

Shane Tomlinson was one of the murder victims in Orlando.

Many emotional things were said, but I shuttered when she said she worried she would t be able to find a church for a funeral service because he was gay.

And then in a sweet mother's voice she said, "he so loved the lord".

[csziggy]

1. From what I've heard many churches are offering facilities

But she needs to check with the Family Assistance Center that has been opened to help the families and victims:

Family assistance center opens for Pulse victims, family
By Jerry Hume, Reporter
Last Updated: Wednesday, June 15, 2016, 3:53 PM
ORLANDO --

Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs on Wednesday officially announced a family assistance center for the family and victims of the Pulse nightclub shooting.

<SNIP>

Services available include:

Air Travel
Child And Family Services
Consulate Services
Counseling/spiritual Care
Crime Victim Services
Funeral Services
Ground Transportation
Health Care Assistance
Identification Documents
Language Translation
Legal Aid
Lodging
Medical Examiner
Senior Services
http://www.mynews13.com/content/news/cfnews13/news/article.html/content/news/articles/cfn/2016/6/15/family_assistance_ce.html

In addition the fund raising for Pulse victims and families has broken all records:
https://www.gofundme.com/PulseVictimsFund

[aikoaiko]

2. I would think so. Orlando is south of the Deep South.

I would expect more openness and compassion from Christian churches in the Orlando area.

[csziggy]

3. I just looked up the family - apparently they are from Charlotte, NC

So there might be a problem if they want to bury their son in his home town. I hope they can find a compassionate pastor to help them.

[octoberlib]

6. There will be no problem in Charlotte.

I live here and we're the city which passed laws protecting transgenders (before the state legislature invalidated it). I don't know which church they belong to but there are many pastors and churches in the area that support LGBTQ.

[csziggy]

7. OK, good. Thanks for posting that info nt

[B2G]

8. Charlotte has a large gay community

and is very supportive of them.

I don't know where you are getting your information.

[csziggy]

9. General negative feelings about Southern Christians

With absolutely no evidence for it in any specific city, just from experiences growing up in the South and having a very biased and hateful uncle who was a Baptist preacher.

I was not aware of the gay community in Charlotte. Already thanked a previous poster for setting me straight.

Thank you for providing me with more information. I will try to adjust my bias.

[eastwestdem]

4. I saw it. Breaks my heart. nt

[Jakefix]

10. CNN interview

Shane Tomlinson's parents are African American and may well appreciate a service familiar to their religious, cultural experience. I lived in NC for many years and served as a contact in the welcoming church movement. My lgbt friends who grew up in more spirited-style religious traditions (African American & white Pentecostal) have shared with me how alienating worship is in the very cerebral, less overtly emotive, predominantly white, euro-centric, mainline Protestant churches that have lgbt welcoming congregations in the Charlotte area. Shane Tomlinson sang gospel music in black churches from the time he was 4, according to his mother. There are 2 faith communities, both of which are small & have smallish facilities that serve lgbt faith communities of color: the Metropolitan Community Churches and Unity Fellowship Churches. I have contacted East Carolina University re this interview, as Shane graduated from ECU & was in their gospel choir. ECU had more than a thousand attend a vigil a few days ago. They will be reaching out to the family - a memorial service could be held at ECU with private interment elsewhere. The gospel choir could help in the service. There are 2 well known African American lgbt affirming pastors in NC (and several others serving MCC & Unity Fellowship churches, not as well known). Both the Rev Dr William Barber, who leads the NC NAACP & the Moral Monday Movement, and the Rev Dr James Forbes, retired lgbt affirming pastor of NYC's famed Riverside Church, live within 30 minutes of ECU. I'm fairly certain that ECU was reaching out to the Tomlinsons. Hope this info helps

[aikoaiko]

11. That's really nice to hear. Thank you.