<\/p>\n
A photograph titled \u2018Christlike\u2019 is featured in a new art exhibition hosted at Coral Gables United Church of Christ and curated by artist David Gary Lloyd. The show \u2018The Reach of Light\u2019 explores how queer art shown in a religious setting can be used to foster dialogue and acceptance.<\/p>\n
Josh Aronson<\/p>\n
What happens when a place long associated with shame for the LGBTQ+ community becomes the backdrop for unapologetic queer visibility?<\/p>\n
It\u2019s a question local artist and director David Gary Lloyd is asking people to ponder in a new art exhibit hosted at Coral Gables United Church of Christ \u2014 a progressive Christian church with a long history of welcoming those that have often felt rejected by organized religion.<\/p>\n
Opening Thursday, \u201cThe Reach of Light\u201d incorporates religious iconography \u2014 references to halos, baptisms and resurrections \u2014 and includes original work from a host of local LGBTQ+ artists, including Lloyd, who helped curate the exhibit. The goal of the show, which is produced in partnership with networking group \u201cGay in the Gables,\u201d is to expand queer visibility and foster dialogue between two communities that are normally \u201cpitted against\u201d each other, Lloyd said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s a spectrum of spirituality and queerness in this show. I really wanted it to feel very humanity based,\u201d Lloyd said.<\/p>\n
By including art that invoke queerness \u2014 an image of a trans person posing proudly after top surgery and a video of a drag performance filmed in the same church \u2014 Lloyd said he wants people to walk away gaining a deeper understanding of the LGBTQ+ community.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe takeaway I want from the show is for people to feel like they can embrace the queer community. It\u2019s not a community that needs to be feared,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Among the artists featured in the show are Florida photographer Josh Aronson, Celeste Burns, Ricky Cohete, Michael Zimmerer and Juicy Love Dion \u2014 an R-House drag queen who went on to compete on Ru Paul\u2019s Drag Race, and recently shot a music video inside the church\u2019s sanctuary.<\/p>\n
Lloyd points to work from Aronson\u2019s collection \u201cFlorida Boys\u201d as an example of art that plays with the idea of gender identity while incorporating elements of nature and spirituality.<\/p>\n
In a piece called \u201cChristlike\u201d three boys are depicted playing on a Florida beach and one boy looks as if he\u2019s on a cross.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt looks like he\u2019s almost being drowned \u2014 so there\u2019s this very interesting dialogue there with childhood and religion,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
A photograph titled \u201cMyles\u2019 Homecoming\u201d is featured in a new art exhibition hosted at Coral Gables United Church of Christ and curated by artist David Gary Lloyd. The show \u201cThe Reach of Light\u201d explores how queer art shown in a religious setting can be used to foster dialogue and acceptance. Celeste Burns <\/p>\n
Part of Lloyd\u2019s inspiration for the show came from his experience as an openly gay artist himself.<\/p>\n
Last year, Lloyd was commissioned for a solo show at a well-known real estate development office in Coral Gables, which he said was later censored. The art show paired portraits of animals that exhibit same-sex behaviors, like peacocks and flamingos, and was meant to be a commentary on how queerness has been hidden throughout history, leaving artists to use symbolism to communicate their point of view. After some of the building\u2019s tenants complained, Lloyd said he had to physically cover up some of the art \u2014 a move that he said further highlighted the point of the exhibit.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat made me realize how essential queer visibility really is, especially here in Florida,\u201d Lloyd said.<\/p>\n
At a time when Florida legislation has targeted the LGBTQ+ community, Lloyd said his show is meant to be a reminder that queer presence has always existed, despite centuries of societal resistance.<\/p>\n
\u201cQueer people have always been here. We\u2019ve been contributing to even religious institutions for centuries,\u201d Lloyd said.<\/p>\n
A photograph titled \u201cCorona del Sol\u201d is featured in a new art exhibition hosted at Coral Gables United Church of Christ and curated by artist David Gary Lloyd. The show \u201cThe Reach of Light\u201d explores how queer art shown in a religious setting can be used to foster dialogue and acceptance. Ricky Cohete Queer art \u2018on full display\u2019<\/p>\n
When \u201cGay in the Gables\u201d founder Steven Littlehale heard about Lloyd\u2019s solo exhibit getting censored in the Gables last year, he felt inspired to help.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis burning just ignited within me, and it was like, okay, gloves are off. That\u2019s not acceptable,\u201d he said. \u201c I can\u2019t live in a community and not say something about that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Littlehale launched the social networking group \u201cGay in the Gables\u201d in 2025 as an effort to create more public spaces for the LGBTQ community in Coral Gables, a place that he says has a vibrant gay community, but not many gatherings aimed at fostering meaningful connection between members.<\/p>\n
After seeing Lloyd\u2019s art and the artists he curated for the exhibition, Littlehale said hosting the show at a local, historic church was a \u201cperfect response\u201d to the censorship incident that happened last year.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re going back into this not only sacred space but historic sacred space in Coral Gables, and we\u2019re on full display for everyone to experience what this very unique expression of spirituality looks like,\u201d Littlehale said.<\/p>\n
Littlehale knew from firsthand experience that Coral Gables UCC would welcome the exhibition with open arms.<\/p>\n
Littlehale\u2019s late husband Howard, who was a rabbi and longtime activist for same-sex marriage equality, had a close friendship with Gables UCC senior pastor Laurie Hafner. Members of Hafner\u2019s church often credit her leadership as being key to cultivating a church known for its inclusiveness that welcomes all people \u2014 no matter their background.<\/p>\n
The church itself has been a hub for community and worship since it was established by George Merrick \u2014 the founder of Coral Gables \u2014 in 1923, and belongs to the United Church of Christ, a denomination with 1.6 million members in the U.S.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s always been a forward-thinking denomination. The United Church of Christ was the first to ordain a woman and an openly gay man. It was the first denomination to take a stand against slavery in 1700, and the first to ordain an African American person in 1785. Keeping up with that tradition, Gables UCC was the first congregation to have a float in the Pride Parade in Miami Beach over 15 years ago, an action that contributed to the church\u2019s significant LGBTQ population today.<\/p>\n
![\"Rev.](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/MIA_03REVLAURIEHAFNER.JPG\" "\\"MIA_03REVLAURIEHAFNER.JPG\\"")
Rev. Laurie Hafner, the pastor of Coral Gables Congregational church, has found creative ways to address contemporary issues, the challenges of faith, and the building of community. Pastor Hafner is photographed in the tower where she stays to raise awareness and food for the hungry at Coral Gables Congregational on Wednesday, June 12, 2024, in Coral Gables, Florida. Carl Juste cjuste@miamiherald.com <\/p>\n
Hafner said that welcoming The Reach of Light exhibit is a part of the church\u2019s calling.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese works of art reveal LGBTQ+ spirituality, identity, and resilience not as something outside the sacred, but as one of the ways God\u2019s light shines in our world,\u201d Hafner told the Miami Herald. \u201c A truly welcoming church doesn\u2019t just tolerate difference; it celebrates it.\u201d<\/p>\n
READ MORE: For pastor at Coral Gables\u2019 oldest church, fighting for social justice is \u2018living the Gospel\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n The show doesn\u2019t shy away from the elephant in the room. Lloyd said he had many conversations with people from different religions \u2014 Mormons, Catholics and Jews \u2014 whose queer identity was suppressed at the expense of spirituality.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve seen many gay individuals that have struggled \u2026 because a part of them might be Catholic, and that is part of their identity, but there\u2019s also part of that religion that\u2019s telling them that they\u2019re sinful and that they\u2019re wrong,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n The identity struggle can create mental health issues and has caused many to leave organized religion altogether. But ultimately, Lloyd said the exhibit acts as a blueprint for a world where both queerness and spirituality can coexist.<\/p>\n Although he feels that religion has, in many ways, rejected the LGBTQ community, Littlehale said there are also religious communities \u2014 like Hafner\u2019s church \u2014 that have shown up for queer folks.<\/p>\n He said the show can help people \u201crealize they have this resource, they have a part of them that they don\u2019t need to cut off, that it can be celebrated, be it in a religious institution or not.\u201d<\/p>\n If you go:<\/p>\n WHAT: Pride Art Exhibition \u201cThe Reach of Light\u201d<\/p>\n WHEN: Opening Reception: 6-9 p.m. June. Open June 4\u20137<\/p>\n WHERE: Coral Gables United Church of Christ, 3010 Desoto Blvd., Coral Gables<\/p>\n COST: Free<\/p>\n INFORMATION: Eventbrite<\/a> or gablesucc.org\/event\/the-reach-of-light-art-exhibit\/<\/p>\n This story was produced with financial support<\/a> from Trish and Dan Bell and donors in South Florida\u2019s Jewish and Muslim communities, including Khalid and Diana Mirza and the Mohsin and Fauzia Jaffer Foundation, in partnership with Journalism Funding Partners. The Miami Herald maintains full editorial control of this work.<\/p>\n This story was originally published June 4, 2026 at 5:34 PM.<\/p>\n
![\"Profile](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Newsroom_Headshots_MJO_47.jpg\")