On the day of Linford Cunningham's swearing in as a citizen of the United States - June 11, 2014 - this co-founder of the LGBT Asylum Support Task Force at Hadwen Park Congregational Church, UCC in Worcester proudly wore the UCC red comma and the rainbow comma on his lapel. He stood on June 8th during worship and thanked Hadwen Park Church for saving his life when he arrived in Worcester in 2008 as a gay man seeking asylum from abuse based on his sexual orientation in Jamaica. 

Pastor Judy Hanlon and Linford co-founded the LGBT Asylum Support Task Force, lgbtasylum.org, which is grateful for prayers, financial support and attendance at monthly meetings at the church. 

Read the national UCC article on Linford's citizenship story here.