Today we’d like to introduce you to Sidney McGhee and Lyle Black.
Hi Sidney / Lyle , so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Intro by Sidney Winthrop-McGhee, Director – Damned Good People St. Louis
Damned Good People is more than just a name — it’s a declaration. As the Director of our new St. Louis chapter, I’m honored to be part of a growing national movement that challenges exclusion, affirms identity, and creates space for truth-telling. Our founder Lyle Black put it best when he shared how this all began:
Damned Good People began as a response to something deeply personal — the feeling of being judged, excluded, or ‘damned’ simply for thinking differently. I wanted to create a space where people who felt cast out by traditional systems, especially religion, could come together, be seen, and be celebrated for exactly who they are.
Before starting it, I searched for a community like this, a place for open-minded, curious, and free-thinking people who didn’t fit into rigid boxes and weren’t scared to be radically honest, challenge outdated systems, call out hypocrisy. But there was nothing out there. Not in my city, not anywhere. So I decided to create it myself.
What started as small, local gatherings — casual meetups over coffee, community dinners, real conversations — has since grown into a movement. Reaching people across the country. We launched our first official chapter space in St. Louis, and in January 2025, we hosted our inaugural annual convention in Beverly Hills. Throughout, the mission has remained clear: to unite humanists, agnostics, atheists, rational thinkers, and free spirits from all walks of life, regardless of background, belief, gender, or race.
Today, Damned Good People is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit. We’re actively growing our membership, opening new chapters — with the second one coming to Long Beach, CA — and creating spaces, physical and digital, where people can gather, speak freely, and remind each other that being ‘damned’ by one system doesn’t mean you don’t belong. In fact, you might just be the kind of good this world needs more of.
Spotlight: St. Louis Chapter
When I first encountered Damned Good People, I knew right away — this wasn’t your average feel-good movement. It was real, raw, and deeply necessary. I’m proud to lead the newest chapter here in St. Louis, rooted in that same mission of radical belonging.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Founder (Lyle):
Not even close, and I think that’s kind of the point. When you create something that challenges norms or pushes against the grain, you’re going to face resistance. People were skeptical at first. Some thought Damned Good People was “too rebellious,” others thought it wasn’t structured enough. And personally, I’ve had moments where I questioned everything, like when it felt like we were building something no one really understood yet. But every time I hit that wall, someone would message me or show up to a gathering and say, “I didn’t know I needed this until I found it.”
Sidney:
Missouri has always been a conservative state, and even now, we’re still fighting for basic human rights. To be the one standing up and pushing for those rights means you’re already outside the norm. When you start challenging how religion has ‘damned’ so many of us, you’re really pushing boundaries. But honestly — who and where would we be if no one was willing to push? Sometimes, you have to get uncomfortable before you can find real comfort and change.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Founder (Lyle):
I grew up in a religious household, which meant structure, rules, expectations, and very little room to question anything. As I got older, I started to crave the opposite of that. I wanted to build places where people could express who they are without shame or fear. That’s what led me into the scene. I owned and ran clubs for years, places that weren’t just about drinks and dancing, but about freedom, identity, and connection.
You learn a lot running clubs — how to read people, how to build community, how to hold space for joy and pain. I saw how hungry people were for something deeper, something real, something that didn’t come with judgment or doctrine. That’s where the seed for Damned Good People came from.
Now, everything I do comes from that same place: breaking down shame, inviting curiosity, and proving that goodness has nothing to do with how well you follow someone else’s rules.
Sidney:
I was raised Christian — christened at birth and baptized at seven, which, interestingly, was my own choice. For a long time, I thought I found my place in the church. But after high school, I went through a major identity crisis and struggled to pinpoint a passion I wanted to pursue.
That all changed during my own healing journey. I found so much value and joy in the process that I wanted to share it with others — for free. That’s how I created my nonprofit, DFT Breathe, focused on accessible healing.
Along the way, I came across Damned Good People and immediately connected with their mission, vision, and values. I thought, “Where was this when I left the church in 2016?” I believed in Lyle’s mission and saw the opportunity to take root here in St. Louis — my hometown — where I already knew the kind of support and reprieve people were craving.
This journey also led me to start a degree in psychology, with the goal of becoming a licensed therapist. My healing journey revealed my true calling, and now I’m dedicated to helping others find that same freedom and belonging.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
We are currently under construction and planning a soft launch at the end of August, where we’ll open our doors to the community. This will be a chance for people from all walks of life to gather, connect, and learn more about what Damned Good People stands for. Whether you’re curious, seeking belonging, or ready to get involved, we can’t wait to meet you
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.damnedgoodpeople.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/damned_good_people?igsh=ZXM1ZHp6MHAxZHRi
