We believe everyone deserves joy.
Why we chose the name Sac Queer Church
While working on creating the concepts for our organization, we reflected on our past experiences with churches. Our understanding of what a church was vs what we personally experienced were polar opposites. We wanted to create a community that actually provided support to its members. Church to us means to be of service to the community however possible. A church should always be willing to offer aid and support to those in need. So we chose to reclaim the word and create our own church. Sac Queer Church is the culmination of our desires to build a space for LGBTQIA+ individuals like ourselves, who are searching for a place to belong.
Shann Kathleen
co-founder (she/her)
Shann is a Sacramento, CA native, as well as being a disabled, cis-gender, bisexual artist and writer. Born in the 1980s, she was raised within Christian religious organizations and was even a Sunday school teacher for six years. However, she recognized that being her true self was not welcomed within the walls of religion and eventually left. Decades of deconstructing the indoctrination that caused depression and anxiety lead her down the rabbit hole of self discovery. In her 30s she met her biological father, explored her sexuality, and began to build a new identity.
By 2020, her father had become a widow and Shann a divorced single mother of two. Due to these circumstances they would end up living together for the first time. COVID lockdowns then forced them to spend time together while Shann went back to college for Illustration and Digital Media. During this time, Shann took an online course on Women’s and LGBT history. To make small talk, she would share what her class discussed with her dad each day. What she didn’t know at the time was her dad was apart of that very history, and would finally feel safe enough to share the story. Her father contracted HIV in 1984, before Shann’s birth, and went untreated until 1997 due to the stigmas around AIDS during that time. Her father hid being bisexual and trans, and finally at 60 years old, Momma Jo came out of the closet because she had a daughter who would give her the freedom to do so.
As her primary caretaker, Shann quickly sprung into action to provide all the gender affirming care she could access. And she was able to get her name and gender markers legally changed before Momma Jo passed in 2024. Their relationship is Shann’s reason for creating Sac Queer Church.
The generational trauma rooted within a religion kept Momma Jo and Shann locked in masks neither wanted to own. She recognized it only takes one person, one place where you feel safe, to be able to be yourself. Without that community, Momma Jo and Shann continued to hide in order to survive the pressures they felt. She wanted to make a better future for her two children. To her, everyone deserves joy, support and community.
Hale Graves
Hale Graves is a trans, gender nonconforming, disabled man from Placerville. Hale was born and raised within a fundamentalist Christian cult, which forced him to conform to an identity that wasn’t his. This toxic and controlling environment lead to struggles with mental and physical health. It wasn’t able to escape until his mid-twenties.
Leaving a cult allowed him to be free, but he was still seeking a place to belong. Hale’s past experiences have molded his aspirations for community being built for those who are LGBTQIA+. Hale’s story is just like many others within our community, and he wants to create an inclusive safe space in which we can foster connections beyond a screen. To have a community that stands strong as we support each other and fight against those who are actively trying to take away our rights.
Through therapy and witchcraft, Hale has been able to find solace and start to heal. He is now a Hellenic Polytheist (follower of the Greek pantheon) allowing him to combine the use of his faith and witchcraft in the fight against fascism. He now resides in Sacramento, Ca with his partner and their naughty kitty, Galaxy Destroyer. He enjoys rainy days spent curled up reading a good queer romance novel.
Co-founder (He/Him)
Sac Queer Church’s mission
Equality for All
We believe everyone deserves equal civil rights and to have their needs met, no matter their financial status, race, religion, sexuality or gender. We are all humans and believe everyone should be treated with respect and kindness. Everyone should have the freedom to be their authentic selves and have access to community.
Fostering Community
We believe community should last beyond the events. We want to build a community that will support and uplift one another. We host monthly events so we can provide opportunities for LGBTQIA+ individuals to have a safe place to gather. As we grow, we intend to offer more frequent events and services to our community members.
all Spiritual Views Welcomed
You will not be turned away based upon your beliefs, we welcome all religious and/or spiritual practices at our services! We simply ask that everyone be respectful and mindful of others.