by Delores Jacobs

Center members and supporters have enabled us to serve and connect LGBT San Diego like never before. At The Center, 2005 was a successful, challenging, productive and groundbreaking year. And we know that 2006 promises to be no less!

Center members do more than just financially support the critically important and sometimes life-saving work of The Center, they also have a role in driving some of our most successful programs and initiatives.

Whether it was working to address homelessness among LGBTQ youth or serving as a gathering place for our community in times of adversity, The Center and our members have held fast to our collective goal of serving and connecting our changing and diverse community.

Above all, The Center – as it has for more than three decades – remains committed to the programs, services and events that connect the diverse members of San Diego’s dynamic LGBT and allied community. That commitment has resulted in the development and/or enhancement of several of our key programs and projects over the past year, often with significant involvement and input from our members. Among the highlights:

This year, The Center unveiled its Youth Housing Project. This cutting-edge project will provide permanent and supportive housing for homeless youth ages 18-24, with a special focus on supporting lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and HIV-positive young adults. This last week we were able to place our first youth into the project!

Through the creation of our new Latino/a Services Program and Drop-In Center, we offer targeted programs and services to LGBT Latino/a San Diegans in a safe and affirming environment.

In July, The Center added a coordinator position for its critical Marriage Equality and Education Project to further educate the general public about the damage done to LGBT couples and families by marriage discrimination and to promote marriage equality.

In response to an identified need, The Center’s programming and services for people “50 and better” has increased significantly to not only aid people in seeking services, but to connect LGBT people 50 and better to social and educational resources within our city.

Over 400 San Diego women participated in a comprehensive needs assessment to help guide the continued development of The Center’s women’s services and programs in the areas of health, education, social activities and enhancement of community resources.

In addition to our critical programs focused on youth, marriage equality, women, the Latino/a community and LGBT seniors, Center members made professional health and mental health services available to more than 500 people each week in 2005. Our health and mental health department has also conducted specialized support groups and community-wide seminars to address emerging LGBT health concerns, such as crystal meth use, recovery from sexual assault, HIV and relationships, transgender support groups and positive parenting. These offerings are often enhanced by the voices of our membership.

The Center has had many important accomplishments over this past year, and the support of Center members has helped make our successes over the past year possible. As we look ahead to 2006, we remain confident that LGBT San Diego – and our allies – can continue to work together to meet the challenges we know are ahead.

Whether fighting for equal rights, providing a place for our families to gather, hosting a community celebration or providing life-saving health care services, the San Diego LGBT Community Center connects and serves our community like no other organization in San Diego County. Our members and volunteers make it possible.

But as our diverse community continues to grow and change, we must face the challenge of providing even more programs and services. Although The Center continues to receive funding from granting foundations and agencies, it is absolutely critical that The Center be supported and owned by the community it serves.

If you’re not already a Center member, I hope you will join us. To become a member today, visit www.thecentersd.org or call (619) 692-2077 ext. 246. If you are a Center member, thank you. The generosity of Center members makes our work

possible.