Natalie's Everyday Heroes: Hartland church opens its doors to LGBTQ+ teens

 

HARTLAND, Wis. (CBS 58) -- A church in Hartland is opening its doors to kids in the LGBTQ+ community. A parent and a pastor teamed up to create the space.

With help from the community, it's become a place where everyone feels accepted.

Inside the First Congregational Church in Hartland is a room that's become a hot spot for some high schoolers.

"We call this Safe House," said Darcy Sobczak. "They come here, and they chat, and they talk, and they play."

Sobczak is a parent who wanted LGBTQ+ teens to meet and get to know each other.

"I just want them to be happy and feel like they can be themselves," she said.  

Jim Langreder is the pastor who wanted to help.

"It takes everything in me not to cry," he said. "it's important for me to make sure people feel that the church is a safe and welcoming place for everyone."

Sobczak said everything about the project clicked. 

"He was just like, I have the space, and I was like, I have all the kids," she said.

The room needed some renovation.

"It literally was almost like wall-to-wall stuff," Sobczak said of the basement room at the church.

But the kids pitched in to help- decorating and painting.

"You can see some of the paint marks on the floor," she said with a laugh.

Now, a few nights a week, laughter fills the church as they play human Hungry, Hungry Hippos, hold potlucks, sing karaoke and play video games.

"We found it and were like, this is what we need to do," said Arrowhead High School sophomore, Cat Cummings.

Cummings is one of the teens who's been here from the start.

They spoke out last summer against an Arrowhead High School policy banning safe space signage.

"I'm really passionate about who I am, and I feel like you should be who you are," they said.

Safe House has given kids a place to do that.

Cat's mom, Jill:

"I have seen such huge growth and such an increase in Cat's self-confidence just having this place," Jill Cummings said.

Cummings said Safe House provides a place where kids can be themselves.

"You know, it's difficult enough being a teenager and all teenagers are just trying to feel accepted and fit in in some regard," she said.

And that's what Sobczak wants to see, remembering a recent night when she was the chaperone at the Safe House.

"And I just looked over my shoulder because I just heard this large burst of laughter. And I just got chills and I was like; this is what it's supposed to be," Sobczak said.  

A safe house that feels like home.

"Just be able to laugh and cry and share their stories with each other and not be judged," said Pastor Langreder.

 "It's just become such a lovely space where everybody is just so excited," Cummings said.

Community members have donated paint and furniture. A Go-Fund Me campaign raised $3,800 for Safe House, and they are planning to hold their own prom this month with an enchanted forest theme. For more information, click here. 

If you'd like to nominate an Everyday Hero, send Natalie a message at [email protected].