A hint of dread highlighted the conversation Thursday at a forum held at Dallas' Cathedral of Hope where members of the LGBTQ community talked about maintaining their rights in a fraught political climate.

"I think we need to brace ourselves as a community for what's coming next," the Rev. Neil Cazares-Thomas, senior pastor, said of issues the LGBTQ community may face in the 2020 elections. "We need to find a way to have a collaborative influence."

About 70 people attended the forum, including representatives of groups such as the North Texas LGBT Chamber of Commerce and Rainbow Roundup, which provides activities and resources for LGBT families.

The notion of a forum came up after the congregation found wide-ranging opinions about the community's gains and goals as planning began for the cathedral's 50th anniversary next year.

"We realized we had a real difference of opinion about how far we've come and where we go next," said longtime community advocate Jerry Calumn, who moderated the loosely organized event. "It felt like we needed a real discussion."

What everyone could agree on was the need for unity, sensing that LGBT rights gained in the workplace, marriage and end-of-life decisions were in danger of being eroded.

"We're within inches of everything being rolled back," said the Rev. Pepa Paniagua of McKinney, vice president of the Gay and Lesbian Alliance of North Texas. "We have to stick together now more than ever."

1 / 4Jerry Calumn-Leavitt speaks Thursday during community forum about the future of LGBTQ rights at the Cathedral of Hope in Dallas.(Jason Janik / Special Contributor) 2 / 4Jaime Morales takes the microphone at Thursday's forum at the Cathedral of Hope in Dallas.(Jason Janik / Special Contributor) 3 / 4About 70 people attended the forum, including representatives of groups such as the North Texas LGBT Chamber of Commerce and Rainbow Roundup.(Jason Janik / Special Contributor) 4 / 4Leo Cusimano, publisher of the Dallas Voice, speaks at Thursday's community forum to address the LGBTQ issues in the coming election year.(Jason Janik / Special Contributor)

That being said, it will take some work to get done. The discussion unearthed barriers to community inclusion that members vowed to address. For instance, one participant suggested that the cathedral offer a separate service for transgender people, led by a transgender celebrant, for those who don't feel comfortable in the larger group.

Some argued that a better solution would be for the church to amp up its outreach efforts, but Samuel Jones of United Black Ellument, a group supporting young gay black men, suggested it wasn't such a radical idea.

"Sometimes it's necessary to create a separate space in order to promote inclusion," Jones said, noting that as a gay black man he sometimes has to mute certain parts of his identity to fit into one group or the other. "Don't look at that as a threat to the community. Small groups can strengthen their identity so they can come to the larger group and contribute something of themselves."

Attendees were shown results, released last year, from a national LGBTQ community survey in which 76% of respondents agreed with a statement predicting a rollback of equality gains. Last month, the Trump administration asked the Supreme Court to make it legal for private employers to fire individuals on the basis of sexual orientation.

"When we argue for employment rights, people think we're arguing for extra rights," said transgender advocate Leslie McMurray. "We're just asking for equal rights. Things are being stripped away day by day. We have to look out for each other."

The panelists also addressed the importance of corporate support. The national survey asked respondents to note corporations that go above and beyond to support the LGBTQ community. Among those ranking highest were Target, Starbucks, Apple, Google and Nike.

That means more than simply sponsoring a float at the annual pride parade, said Tony Vedda, president of the North Texas LGBT Chamber of Commerce.

"We're lucky to have so many local corporations that really do support us," Vedda said. "Corporate America usually leads the way when it comes to diversity and inclusion."

Kimberly Kantor, Rainbow Roundup's founder and executive director, said that while she sensed progress among larger companies in hiring and other workplace issues, many smaller businesses have been slower to act, a dynamic she said was driven not by opposition but a lack of awareness.

As a result, she said, it is incumbent upon community members to prod them along.

"Businesses may be open to changing things, but they may need you to speak up and educate them," Kantor said.

In addition to urging attendees to exercise their right to vote, some pushed for heightened activism, which people like Susan Veasey, a 13-year church member who owns a local hospice, defined in their own way.

"My contribution as a community member is through education and involvement with other community organizations," Veasey said.

For instance, even though she's Christian by faith, Veasey said she participates in Hadassah, a Jewish volunteer women's organization through which she not only assists in civic efforts but also makes valuable interpersonal connections.

"Being open about my pride as a gay woman is sort of an organic way of making change," she said. "That's the way I promote activism."