LGBT Center Awareness Day (9.15.09)

Today is LGBT Center Awareness Day, an opportunity to honor and celebrate the difference queer community centers make in our lives. The 2009 theme is “My Community Center Changed My Life” and will focus on the vital role that community centers play in the health, empowerment, and unity of LGBT communities.

Celebrate the day by going to an event at your local LGBT center or share your story about how the center has impacted your life.

Find a center, join a program/club, or donate at the Directory for LGBT centers.

New GLBTQ Center Opens in El Paso Texas

Check out the new GLBTQ Center that has just opened in El Paso Texas! Sadly, with the good news comes bad news. With the grand opening of the center a homophobic attack and slur has already occurred in the lobby. A man came in and physically assaulted the center director and repeatedly used the term "faggot". The center director does not want the joy and celebration of the newly built center to be marred by the homophobia of one individual and hopes this just goes to show how desperate the community is for Queer centers.



http://www.elpasocenter.org/

TAKE ACTION: Pier 40 Vote The People's Ballot

I blogged about efforts by FIERCE NYC to oppose private development of Pier 40 a place where LGBT youth of color and homeless youth in NYC have traditionally been safe to hang out and be themselves. Read more about that here...

Please sign the petition to oppose privatization and support an LGBT youth center!

"Our vote says YES to:

* people coming before profit and a pier 40 re-development plan that does not rely on a private developer

* the needs of the community, including LGBTQ youth, are incorporated into the development plans for pier 40

* a 24-hour LGBTQ Youth Center on Pier 40!"

Sign the Petition!

New Yorker's Working for an LGBT-Youth Center at Pier 40

FIERCE! is a community organization for Transgender, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Two Spirit, Queer, and Questioning (TLGBTSQQ) youth of color in New York City. They are working hard to oppose commercial development of Pier 40 which has traditionally been a place for Queer youth to feel safe and hang out. They are trying to build a 24 hour LGBT youth center in its place. Please help with their efforts.

Fierce NYC

Organization Spotlight: CenterLink

Center Link offers a comprehensive listing of LGBT community centers around the United States. There are currently 168 LGBT community centers, and likely one in an area near you! The organization also does work to help foster the creation and development of community centers and programs that benefit the community.

Center Link - Directory of LGBT Centers