DC's Metropolitan Community Church

Rev. David North (left), guest pastor, and Dwayne Johnson (right) in the sunlight at Tuesday morning's service at the Metropolitan Community Church in DC, July 24. (Alison Klein/VOA)

The MCC is a denomination that was formed in the 1960s, back when most churches rejected homosexuality. It still focuses its outreach on LGBT people. (Alison Klein/VOA)

Reverend North, who is HIV+, was a guest pastor at the DC MCC on Tuesday during the week of the International AIDS Conference. (Alison Klein/VOA)

A portion of the AIDS quilt lines the walls of the MCC. (Alison Klein/VOA)

Also along the walls are photos and information about congregation members whose lives were taken by AIDS. (Alison Klein/VOA)

(Alison Klein/VOA)

Rev. North's regular congregation is the Holy Redeemer MCC in College Park, MD. (Alison Klein/VOA)

A girl touches a dolphin during a dolphin therapy session at the Nemo Dolphinarium in Kyiv, Ukraine.

MCCDC is two blocks from the AIDS conference and held daily devotional services during the conference. (Alison Klein/VOA)

(Alison Klein/VOA)