🌈 SaMo PRIDE: Get to Know Supervisor Sheila Kuehl & Reverend James E. Boline

June 13, 2019 4:30 PM
by Christopher J. Smith

In honor of Pride Month, we are celebrating the diversity of our community by asking different members of the LGBTQA community to share their story, ideas and perspective on Santa Monica. 

These bios originally appeared in the June edition of Seascape. 

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Supervisor Sheila Kuehl

Third District LA County Supervisor and Santa Monica resident

1) How do you identify?

Lesbian

2) What are some of the ways LGBTQ people connect or feel a sense of community in Santa Monica?

Santa Monica is a welcoming city and the LGBTQ community has always felt comfortable at the beach, in schools, and in our religious institutions. I went to lots of events at the Church In Ocean Park which has always been very diverse and gay-inclusive.

3)What else can we do to make our City welcoming for LGBTQ people?

While we’ve made tremendous progress on so many fronts with gay marriage and supporting queer young people, there is still work to do. We need more places to gather and socialize. We especially need to provide support to trans youth, who continue to face tremendous discrimination.

Reverend James E. Boline

Pastor of Lutheran Congregation, St. Paul's Lutheran Church 

1) How do you identify?

I identify as gay and married 11 years, together 22, with my husband Christopher.

2) What’s your experience in Santa Monica, and how has it changed since you arrived?

When I first arrived on the scene back in 2000, another local pastor left the Ministerial Association because of an openly gay minister (me) who began attending the meetings! Other than that, my experience as a gay man working in Santa Monica has been one of gracious hospitality and receptivity; since arriving in 2000, the welcome has only widened.

Authored By

Christopher J. Smith
Assistant to the City Manager