Above the Fold: Creating an affirming church environment for LGBTQ+ members

Leaders at LGBTQ+ affirming churches share the importance of acceptance in their places of worship.

Natalie Dunlap, Assistant Digital Editor

March 6, 2024

Several churches in the Iowa City area have made a conscious effort to not only welcome LGBTQ+ people in their congregations, but to actively affirm their identity and show them allyship. Hear from a few of the church leaders who share how they make their place of worship safe for queer members.

Above the Fold is hosted and produced by Natalie Dunlap. Reporting from Roxy Ekberg contributed to this episode.

About the Contributors

Natalie Dunlap, Assistant Digital Editor

(she/her/hers)

Natalie Dunlap is the Assistant Digital Editor at The Daily Iowan. She is the host and producer of the Above the Fold news podcast. She has previously worked as a news reporter, news editor, politics reporter, politics editor, and digital producer for the DI. She is a senior majoring in journalism and minoring in English and gender, women's, and sexuality studies. In her free time, she enjoys crocheting while listening to pop culture podcasts.

Ava Neumaier, Photojournalist

(she/her/hers)

Ava Neumaier is a first-year student at the University of Iowa, majoring in English & Creative Writing. She was the Editor-in-Chief of her high school yearbook in New York, and has interned for a New York Times photographer. She enjoys taking pictures of performances and student life.