"Q Youth Center" in Syracuse NY Faces Shut Down

"The Q Center" in Syracuse New York provides young queers with a safe and supportive environment that seeks to educate and empower LGBTQ youth.

Below is a news report video about the "Q Center" from action news 3 when it opened in 2006. The video shows just how vital their work is for the community and in particular LGBTQ youth.



One of our readers Jeffrey has alerted us to the fact that the Onondaga County Department of Aging and Youth funding, represents a third of the budget of Syracuse's Q Youth Center, which amounts to $24,000. That money covers the intern salaries, rent, and program supplies. Much of the work the Q Youth Center completes is unfunded, but they cannot run on less. A few non-mandated youth programs in the County might be saved and the Q Center is trying to mount a letter writing campaign in support of the Q Center. Please write a letter stating why you feel funding the Q, and LGBTQ youth, is important… and why THIS program needs to be saved? If you are willing to write… letters should go to the County and the Governor’s office. And, please pass the word – we need as many letters as we can get in support of Central New York’s LGBTQ youth. Thanks for your support of the Q.

Contact Info:

Governor David A. Paterson
State Capitol
Albany, NY 12224
518-474-8390
E-contact Form

County Executive Joanne M. Mahoney
John H. Mulroy Civic Center, 14th Floor
Syracuse, New York 13202
Telephone 315-435-3516

To find out about the Q Center and how you can help out please, contact Elizabeth Payne at 800.475.2430 or goto the Q Center Myspace.

NYC Restores Funds to Ali Forney Center

UPDATE: "Officials have restored funding for a drop-in center for homeless gay youth, a high-risk group for contracting HIV" (LGBT Youth News).

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11/5/08 - The Ali Forney Center is an LGBT homeless youth shelter that operates in New York City. Due to the current financial crisis in the economy, the local government has cut funding which is now threatening the existence of the project. The $600,000 the center receives annually in assistance is their only source of income.

Please call on Mayor Michael Bloomberg to restore funding to the Ali Forney Center by clicking here and copying and pasting the following text into the contact box provided on the form.

Dear Mayor Bloomberg:

I am writing this to request your assistance in preventing the defunding of the Ali Forney Center's drop-in services to homeless LGBT youth. The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene has announced that in 2009 it will cease allocating HOPWA funds to the drop-in services of the Ali Forney Center, resulting in the defunding of New York City's only full time drop-in center for homeless LGBT youth. The closure of this program would create a terrible service gap for homeless LGBT youths and would put their lives at risk.

Of particular concern is the loss of HIV prevention, testing and treatment that would result from the center's closure. As recent studies have indicated that HIV is spreading most rapidly in Black and Latino men who have sex with men under the age of 30, the loss of the comprehensive and innovative HIV services at AFC's drop-in center would be catastrophic.

Please see to it that the HOPWA funds are restored, or that new funding is put in place to ensure the continuation of these invaluable services to the homeless LGBT youth of our City.

Please visit the Ali Forney Center website to donate any money, or to donate items such as food, clothing, and other items which may be useful to the center.

LGBT Friendly College Fairs

Campus Pride is offering more LGBT-friendly college fairs this fall. Participation is free for all LGBT students, allies, and their families.

FALL 2008

MIDWEST FAIR
Twin Cities, MN
Friday, October 3, 2008
2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Great Hall, Coffman Memorial Union
University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
300 Washington Ave SE
Minneapolis, MN

EAST COAST FAIR
Philadelphia, PA
Saturday, October 11, 2008
(National Coming Out Day)
1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Bodek Lounge, Houston Hall
University of Pennsylvania
3417 Spruce Street
Philadelphia, PA

LGBT-Friendly Campus Climate Index www.campusclimateindex.org/events Spring 2009 Dates to be announced in August 2008

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