Metropolitan Community Churches was the first denomination to perform same-sex marriages (though they were not legally recognized at the time) and was at the forefront of LGBTQ rights battles. Started in 1968 by the Reverend Troy Perry, MCC at one time had two churches in San Francisco, and in 1974 its fifth annual conference was held in the city. The Bay Area Reporter's front page article (no date is listed) welcomed the confab and reported on local church officials preparing for the event. One of the goals of the conference, organizers said, was to show the straight community that LGBTQs were involved in "many other activities besides fun and frivolity." To see the issue, click here.
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