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A Maryland church helps members of a black gay street gang reshape their lives
A Maryland church helps members of a black gay street gang reshape their livesBy Courtland Milloy Columnist October 7 at 7:40 PM
For members of the Community of Hope AME Church in Hillcrest Heights, Md., having former members of a black gay street gang participate in the Sunday morning service was no big deal. And that’s why it really was a big deal.
“You have done so many things to help us,” said Travon Warren, 23, who had started the gay gang, called Check It, in 2005. Organized for self-defense against attacks from homophobic bullies, Check It members went on to achieve notoriety in 2010 and 2011 for their ferocious flash mob fights in and around the Gallery Place Metro station in downtown D.C.
Check It members would have to change. Or die. In a spiritual sense, they did both.
“You don’t hear anything about Check It anymore,” Warren told the congregation. “Thanks to your help, we are no longer on the streets. Many of us now have jobs, or we have gone back to school.”