Queer Headquarters

I am proud to say I’ve been part of an effort over the last six months or so to create a center for the Rhode Island LGBT community. (I’ve been calling it QHQ – get it?) A personal vision of mine led me to talk it up with other LGBT folks I know, and everywhere I went, folks were cheering me on. Not only that, but everyone whom I approached to serve on an incorporating committee agreed without hesitation to be a part of it. It seemed the timing was right.

The next step was to survey the community to see if they agreed, and wow! Talk about validation! The enthusiasm was just bursting off the page; our community wants this to happen, and it was very encouraging to see how many people indicated preferences that were right in line with what I’d been thinking. (You can read a report on the survey on page ___.)

To reassure those who won’t let go of the memories of the last attempt to create such a space, which failed because it was a secretive, one-man operation, please know that we are a seasoned group proceeding slowly and thoughtfully. So far we have a working statement of mission and vision, as follows:

Mission:  To build and support the RI LGBT community by providing a visible, safe, inclusive, welcoming shared space.

Vision:   A center where community organizations can hold meetings, where those organizations who don’t have offices can find a home, and where folks can get information and support, attend events, meet people and organize around common goals.

And we also have a kick-ass committee laying the all-important groundwork. They are:

Tony Aguilar, Stephen Hartley, Emma Garrett Nelson, Laura Pisaturo, Ray Sirico, Patrick Smock and myself.

We promise to continue providing updates as we move along.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, your favorite LGBT community newsmagazine is gearing up to celebrate 30 years in print in 2012. This is quite an accomplishment; there are very few publications like ours that can make that claim. So, naturally, we thought we’d throw a party or two, and there are other surprises in store as well. In fact, we’re going to get this party started by offering our subscriptions for free, just like in the good old days (as in two years ago, when a well-meaning advisor told us we were crazy to offer free subscription. Well, call us crazy, but we like being free better)

Stay tuned for further fabulous details!