What started as an impromptu gathering at a hotel bar during a 2021 workshop in Nashville has officially blossomed into an anticipated annual tradition for deathcare professionals. Funeral director Tim McLoone and thanatologist and suicidologist Dr. Sara Murphy had done their first live, in-person presentation about supporting LGBTQ+ families
“We just decided at the end of the workshop to put the feelers out and say, ‘Listen, join us later at this hotel bar, we just want to continue the conversation,” McLoone said. “We thought we’d have like five or ten people, and we had over 30 people from that one workshop.”
Following that initial success, the gatherings quickly gained momentum, moving from city to city across the country. The following year brought the group to Baltimore, where attendance jumped to over 70 people without formal planning. By the time the event reached Las Vegas, McLoone and Murphy officially branded the movement as Deathcare Proud, complete with custom artwork t-shirts for everyone in attendance.
Subsequent gatherings in New Orleans and Chicago continued to draw crowds of roughly 120 to 125 attendees, cementing its place as a vital community touchpoint. This year marks the sixth overall gathering and the fourth official Deathcare Proud event, showcasing steady growth and an expanding network of supportive professionals across the industry.
“Every year we have people that were like, ‘We had no idea,’” McLoone said. “So the more ground we can cover, the better.”
McLoone emphasizes how much the night means to industry members seeking authentic camaraderie, particularly for LGBTQ+ professionals navigating the industry.
“I think especially for folks in the business who are LGBTQ+, maybe they’re not out, maybe they are, but they’re a little trepidatious about being accepted in the business,” he said. “They find so much joy and support in this event.”
The evening creates an electric atmosphere of pure joy that keeps organizers coming back despite the heavy logistical workload.
“It’s just a really electric evening. People are just … they’re happy, it’s joyful,” McLoone said. “I just, I wouldn’t miss it every year. Last year, I think I came home and said, ‘Listen, I might just have to hang this up, and then I can’t. I just, I wanna be there. I wanna be with these people every year.”
Sponsors Fueling the Mission
As the event has expanded in both size and visibility, it has also attracted dedicated corporate backing that aligns with its core values. The year the gathering was officially branded as Deathcare Proud also marked the introduction of its very first sponsors. TerryBear Urns & Memorials and Return Home served as the foundational sponsors, remaining on board together for three years.
This year brought a slight shift, prompting organizers to welcome a new partner into the fold: Parting Stone stepped in as a sponsor for the first time this year. Having trusted partners who deeply understand and appreciate the ethos of the community helps make the large-scale event possible.
A Night of Community and Celebration in Charlotte
The upcoming celebration takes place on Monday, Oct. 26, at Bar Argon in Charlotte, located just a short distance from the main convention center. The venue offers a dynamic setup featuring a main club space for dancing and drag performances alongside an adjoining sports room called Sidelines, which will stay open before and after the main festivities for those looking to unwind.
“We try to find establishments that are LGBTQ+ friendly and owned, and we’ve been really lucky,” McLoone said. “Every year we’ve done this on the bigger level we’ve just tracked down these amazing venues with people that really love the mission.”
Attendees can expect a casual, high-energy atmosphere complete with local specialty sandwiches, a local pizza vendor, a live DJ, and three professional drag performers hired through the venue. Unlike many traditional conference events, Deathcare Proud isn’t networking-centric beyond the fact that everyone there works in the industry. It’s more of a touchstone, an opportunity to stay in touch while also being visible as a person as well as a deathcare professional.
To that end, they’re also running a fundraiser for The Trevor Project, which addresses suicide among LGBTQ+ teens. Each donation also acts as a raffle entry for a chance to win a full-access pass to the 2027 NFDA convention. You can find more information here.
