2011-05-31T13:20:00.000-07:00

Hi Guys!

Join neXt on Jun 2, 2011 at the Missouri History Museum as we watch "Two Spirits" at 7p.

Light Refreshments will be provided, discussion will follow the screening.

2011-03-17T12:30:00.000-07:00

Here's a shout out to all the gay & bi men in St Louis!!

Do YOU want to make a difference in our community? Can you plan an event? Are you a great host? Then contact us!

Saint Louis' mpowerment project, currently called neXt, is a community based group that is run by the LGBT community and supporters! We'll host fabulous events, put on an extravagant annual ball, and host a multitude of forums and outing in the St. Louis area. We are actively seeking a core group of gay/bi men to help us make decisions and plan events fro the Saint Louis area.

Please RSVP: Food will be provided!

contact me for more information:

314.333.6667

jmoon@stlefa.org

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

2011-01-03T08:23:00.001-08:00

This past year saw several changes to neXt. neXt was a spin-off of FUSE and was formed in March 2010 to meet the needs of St. Louis' gay/bi/curious men age 30-55. Men who are 55 and older are encouraged to attend Rainbow Brotherhood. At the time of the split of the two groups, FUSE was meeting on Thursdays at the warehouse at Bad Dog Bar. Rainbow Brotherhood was given that night, and neXt moved to Tuesdays.

But neXt wasn't always neXt. We didn't have a name in the beginning. We didn't even really have a following. A few dedicated members helped to form and shape the "neXt" name, logo, and vision. Over the course of a few weeks, neXt was born in early spring 2010. We continued to meet on Tuesdays until scheduling conflicts moved us to our current meeting place: in a conference room of an office building. At that time, we moved back to our previously-established Thursday nights.

Over the past eight months, neXt has become quite a cozy group of familiar faces. We're like family, but always great newcomers with a warm smile and a friendly "hello". The intention of neXt is to be inclusive of everyone in our LGBT community, and as we press forward in 2011, we're going to make it happen.

Our long-time coordinator, Ian Koller, is pursuing another career path, so as we look to fill the void, neXt will continue. The group will be facilitated by core members and volunteers until we find the next neXt coordinator. If you're interested in the position, please send your resume to Carolyn at cguild@stlefa.org. Let's continue neXt's goals together.

Are YOU the next neXt coordinator?

2010-12-20T07:43:00.000-08:00

neXt is funded by Saint Louis Effort for AIDS to offer an alternative to the bar and internet scenes for gay, bisexual, and curious men age 30-55. Our coordinator is stepping down to pursue another opportunity at EFA, and now we're seeking someone in the community to help promote, coordinate, market, and facilitate our neXt group.

neXt is one of many aspects of the job. LIFE is another program coordinated by this position, as is counseling and testing of HIV, coordinating outreach, and acting as a liason with community partners.

Anyone interested should send their resume to the Director of Prevention Services at EFA, Carolyn Guild-Johnson. You can email her at cguild@stlefa.org.

Read more about the opportunity here: http://www.stlefa.org/about_efa/job_opportunities

December 14th Already?!

2010-12-14T10:00:00.000-08:00

It's the middle of December, and this is the first post! Sorry for being tardy. This month's been cram-packed with goings on. We had our bake sale at the end of last month, as well as our annual Thanksgiving feast. The money raised during the bake sale ($250!!) was used to benefit the Safer Sex Ball this past Saturday night. More than 300 people attended the event and partied until the wee hours of the morning. It was a phenomenal success!

Two weeks ago at neXt, our core members pitched in and co-facilitated an evening of MadLibs, the fun party game where you insert words to make funny, sometimes shocking stories. The guys had a great time with the game and we had a few new members attend!

Last week we discussed the possibility of expanding neXt into an activities group to meet outside our normal designated space and time. In addition to Thursday nights, we brainstormed ideas on when and where to meet. Perhaps a monthly or bi-monthly Saturday night outing is in order. Something different from the bar scene:

Maybe BOWLING, or THEATRE, or MOVIES, or the CITY MUSEUM, and DINNER, of course.

Our desire is to make neXt more than "just" a meeting, but a movement of people and ideas. We want to build community and help expand opportunities. We'd certainly entertain the idea of making neXt more than a Thursday night thing. With a whole city offering plenty of things to do, we'd never be without motivation.

Speaking of motivation...got your holiday shopping done?!

Thanksgiving Feast!

2010-11-22T07:40:00.000-08:00

This Wednesday, Bad Dog is hosting a Thanksgiving dinner for men from neXt and The Knights here in St. Louis. So, if you'd like to endulge with other gay/bi/curious men in some delicious turkey, ham, mashed potatoes....you know, THE WORKS! Come on by!

Mealtime starts at 6 and could last all night!

***Also, if you want to contribute to our Winter Ball extravaganza, please bring cash donation or a sweet treat for our BAKE SALE which will also be happening at Bad Dog. Holidays here we come!

We want your cookies!

2010-11-15T11:02:00.000-08:00

And your muffins, and pies, and cakes...

Because we're having a bake sale to benefit the Winter Ball extravaganza in December!

Please call 314.333.6667 if you'd like to make a sweet treat donation for the bake sale by November 22nd.

The Holiday Bake Sale will take place Wednesday, November 24 at Bad Dog Bar.

Calling all Betty Crockers and Martha Stewarts!

2010-11-02T09:41:00.001-07:00

We want your cookies (and brownies, and pies, and cakes)! We're gonna have a good old-fashioned bake sale to help raise funds for this year's Winter Ball. And we need your help. Even if you can't bake, or melt, or frost, we'll accept store-bought goodies too! You see, each year, we host a talent extravaganza and offer prizes to winning contestants. Well, we need cash for prizes, so we're goin' all grassroots to achieve some goals.

Bad Dog Bar has gratiously offered to host this event on Wednesday, November 24th. But we need stuff donated to sell. So, if you have a great recipe, or a great bargain on Hostess snacks, you're invited to help us out. Please respond to stlnext@gmail.com or call 314.333.6667 if you can help out.

It's the day before Thanksgiving, which is the biggest bar night of the year, so we have an opportunity here to raise plenty of funds. Plus, people might want last minute desserts to bring home to their friends and family for Turkey Day dinner. Plenty of exposure to showcase your sweet dessert talents!

neXt is all about building community, but we can't do it without your help. Whatcha got?

After Stonewall

2010-11-02T09:03:00.001-07:00

Last week at neXt, we enjoyed a showing of the film "After Stonewall", which details the events after the Stonewall Riots in 1969 through the new millenium. Topics such as women's lib, racial changes, the creation of "don't ask, don't tell" and everything inbetween that pushed towards the new LGBT civil rights movement. The film spanned 3 decades, and 6 presidents and highlighted the events that has shaped our community.

Click here for a summary, courtesy of the Internet Movie Data Base.

Winter Weekend, December 10-11

2010-10-25T07:54:00.000-07:00

Members from all M-Cubed groups in St. Louis got together Thursday night to discuss the year-end event planned for December 10 and 11. The Community Conference will be held Friday night to bring all gay, bisexual, and curious men together to learn from one another and to participate in several special workshops that are being planned for the night. We discussed possible topics for the workshops, including:

a forum of HIV+ men in living with the disease,
a discussion about anti-gay bullying,
an opportunity for LGBT networking,
a local forum on LGBT politics,
a discussion with older men and younger men about their experiences,
a speaker on gay history in St. Louis,
a discussion on building stronger ties in our community

The conversation could have gone on for a lot longer, but we tabled the discussion until November 4th. The night of the conference only has enough space for four 45-minute workshops. During the next couple weeks, group members are encouraged to think on the topics before we reconvene. The agenda for the conference will be finalized at that time. At least, that's our goal.

The Annual Winter Ball will be held the day following the Community Conference (December 11) at the Skatium on Broadway in St. Louis. Each year, this ball brings hundreds of people together to celebrate the year in extravagance. It's a talent show of sorts, with people throughout our community performing in dance, costume, and voguing competitions. The party will go on all night long, through the wee hours of the morning.

More details will follow as we continue to plan for this big event. If you want to contribute to the conversation, we'll meet again November 4th to discuss.

Spirit Day this Wednesday

2010-10-18T08:26:00.000-07:00

As you probably already know, LGBT-targeted bullying, resulting in teen suicides, has resulted in a wave of celebrities and other allies collaborating on a massive project to turn hate around. The Trevor Project's "It gets better" campaign encourages our youth to know times may be tough now, but there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

To commemorate all those who have fallen in recent weeks and months to cruel bullying and torment from anti-gay classmates, this Wednesday, October 20 is Spirit Day. By wearing purple, you can silently memorialize the young gay men who have taken their lives because they were different. It's okay to be different, and we need the world to know that.

More info about Spirit Day can be found here.

National Coming Out Day

2010-10-11T10:43:00.000-07:00

Since 1988, every October 11 is a day we honor in our LGBT community for discussion about issues that face us, and to open a dialogue about sexuality. It is also a day to reflect on ourselves, our stories, and our lives. Many people who are not "out of the closet" are encouraged to be themselves on this day, and to proclaim their sexuality as they see fit. Here's the story of one of our neXt members to offer encouragement:

I didn't realize I was gay until long after my girlfriend and I went our separate ways. Kids in high school constantly made fun of me, calling me "faggot" and "queer", or any number of derogatory names. I, myself, was confused about why I was being tormented, I didn't think I was gay. The notion never hit me.

But then, reality set in in the months after me and my only girlfriend split up. I realized I was attracted to men, not women. At the ripe old age of 21, I realized who I truly was. My girlfriend was just a thinly-veiled ploy to get the outside world to accept me. I decided it was time to step out of the closet and proclaim who I was to the world.

I was still living at home, with a full family. Mom was the first person I told. She shrugged her shoulders and said, "Oh well." Then I told one sister, then another, then my brother. They all seemed cool with it, even accepted it, before I confirmed it. Weird. I didn't realize just how "obvious" I was. But everyone else did. Coming out to my father was difficult. I knew he was the most bigoted out of our entire family.

I told him late one night, when we were the only two awake. He said he was sick about it, but he loved me and I was his son, and nothing was going to change that.

The next morning, Mom was sitting on his lap when I came down from my bedroom. They were talking about me. They both looked up and smiled. It was then I knew everything was going to be all right.

What's your story? Comment here, or post your story on Facebook at www.facebook.com/stlnext

Help!

2010-10-04T09:09:00.000-07:00

Last week at neXt, we brainstormed ideas for an upcoming conference and ball in December. We want to celebrate 2010 in a big way, but we can't do it without help from our community.

neXt was founded on the principle of providing an environment outside of the club and internet scene where men can be themselves in a fun, yet affirming and inclusive atmosphere. On December 17 & 18, we're collaborating with all the other M-Cubed groups in St. Louis to offer our community two days of learning and excitement.

In the upcoming weeks, we'll be looking for donations and suggestions to help us build funding for door prizes at the events. Suggestions thus far have included a "beer bust" at local bars, "Trick or Treat" packages, jello shots, etc. We're looking for more ideas and volunteers to help make our vision a reality.

For the ball on December 18th, we'll have talent competitions and will be awarding prizes for contestants. Prizes will be dependent upon the fundraisers we hold until that time. So, let's ante up!

Grilled Up

2010-09-23T06:43:00.000-07:00

Yesterday evening, neXt and The Knights celebrated in Tower Grove Park with a barbeque. Weiners, burgers, and wings were grilled up and there were plenty of sides to be enjoyed. A couple times a year, our groups will get together and feast, as well as play games, and socialize. It was a great opportunity to get together with other members of our community. Our next get together with The Knights will be Thanksgiving Eve, Wednesday, November 24. Details are coming!

The Knights is a social group for men of color, regardless of social or health status. We work together to promote unity and to empower one another in our community. For more information on The Knights, email KNIGHTSstl@gmail.com or call (314) 754-0129.

Back in the Day

2010-09-17T07:10:00.000-07:00

Times were indeed different back then. And by "back then," we're talking way back. Like a hundred years ago. See, this week at neXt, we went back to a simpler time. When cartoons were simply black and white, or drab in color. Back to a place where it was okay to be racial, or sexual, or make political statements in cartoons. And no one blinked an eye.

But times are different now. Shows like South Park, Family Guy, and The Simpsons indicate that social issues are alive and well. Each of these "adult cartoons" consistently poke fun at hot-button topics. But these programs are sometimes tame compared to the animation of years gone by. Things were much different then.

We watched films dating as far back as 1914, to the mid 1940s and discussed their social implications at that time. Television was far off from being invented, or even affordable for most Americans, which meant these early films were shown only in movie theatres, typically before a "feature film". With relatable themes of the times, like both World Wars, segregation, civil rights, and the like, these films truly spoke of the day's ideas.

If you're interested in seeing what you missed, go to YouTube and search for what we watched, including:

Alice's Eggplant (1914)
Betty Boop in Crazy Town (1932)
Scrub Me Mama with a Boogie Beat (1941)
Scrap Happy Daffy (1943)
Inki & The Minah Bird (1945)

Here's What You Missed

2010-09-13T08:19:00.000-07:00

Last week's neXt discussion was all over the map. We discussed the upcoming holiday of Halloween and haunted attractions in and around St. Louis. One of the best-known attactions is the Darkness, located in historic Soulard. The owner of the Darkness has decided for 2010 to incorporate yet another ghoulish exhibit in the underground cave on his property.

The City of St. Louis was constructed on top of a network of limestone caves. Many older homes have basement access to secret entrances. But by and large, the caves are no longer known to be in use. So, the Lemp Brewery Haunted House will be extra scary this year. Below are links to other haunted attractions in the St. Louis area, as well as a history link to learn more about the St. Louis caves.

Another topic of discussion was the changing of hands and/or closing of some of the LGBT establishments, especially those along the Manchester strip in the Grove. Nancy's Place was reportedly sold, Rehab was not, and Bar 5 closed its doors. Just like many other business owners in this economy, the LGBT community has had its share of turmoil. But, it seems that when one establishment goes under, another springs in its place.

Lastly, we discussed time-wasting websites, including Regretsy, Photobomb, PostSecret, LameBook, and People of Walmart. These sites are devoted to satiring our society.

To learn more about St. Louis' underground caves, please visit:

www.prairieghosts.com/lostcave.html

Facebook

2010-09-07T07:18:00.000-07:00

In the day of modern technology, just about everything is at our fingertips. People can stay in touch no matter where they are, research papers no longer require a trip to the library, employers can get data from potential employees with a few clicks and communities are built entirely through the internet. Not long ago, none of this was possible, but companies continue become more and more advanced, building upon yesterday's technology. The market changes so fast, that computers are often dubbed "obsolete" by insiders once they hit store shelves.

With such a fast-paced computerized environment, it was only logical that social networking sites, such as Facebook would emerge. Facebook connects the world, allows us to reconnect with former classmates, old friends, and the changing face of advertising. Celebrities and companies, as well as websites, all seem to have a Facebook presence. Even reputable news sources and politicos advertise their Facebook accounts for fans and viewers to stay connected. It's a mass-marketing-get-your-point-across, but on a grand, and inexpensive scale. Facebook, and many other sites like it, is free for users to sign up and stay connected.

neXt is on Facebook and we're acquiring new friends slowly, but surely. With each new contact comes the hope for an increased face-to-face presence in our weekly social gatherings. Yet, only a few newcomers are a product of Facebook. So, the question remains, is Facebook good for advertising and connecting people only for web connections, or does it facilitate a physical presence? What would encourage greater attendance at neXt functions?

www.facebook.com/stlnext

Coffee Time Next Week!

2010-08-27T08:29:00.000-07:00

On September 2nd, we will not be having an "official" neXt meeting. Instead, we're having an informal get-together at MoKaBe's coffeehouse at 6:30. Come out next Thursday night for fun, food, friends, and conversation. Oh, and some java!

http://www.mokabes.com/

Drag Talkin' and Pastries

2010-08-27T07:20:00.000-07:00

For neXt's August 26 meeting, we enjoyed a fantastic dinner of sweet & sour chicken and fried rice from Chinese Express on Manchester (@ Tower Grove). We met to eat before embarking on a journey to partake in a fine establishment donating 50% of its beverage sales to Saint Louis Effort for AIDS' PAWS program. It is an authentic Italian bakery-restaurant called La Dolce Via Bakery in the St. Louis Grove area.

We discussed drag personas, and about half our group members had dressed in drag at least once. One member said he looked like his mother, while another said he resembled a 1960s Dolly Parton. Talk of the nature of our motives in dressing as a woman varied, from drag performances, to charity events, and Halloween.

The term "Genderfuck" was also addressed when someone proclaimed he didn't do drag because he didn't care to shave. Genderfuck is taking elements of two genders (namely male and female) and blending characteristics of each. For example, a woman wearing a delicate evening gown and heavy combat boots, or an unshaven man dressed as a woman, complete with beard. The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence are well known for this.

Another topic for discussion was the mainstream exposure of former Republican National Committee chairman, Ken Mehlman, as a gay man. Mehlman served as the face for the RNC after George W. Bush's reelection in 2004. During that time, he strongly opposed gay rights. We spoke of the hypocrisy of Mehlman, as well as that of the Republican party. Now, the man says he's a supporter of gay marriage and wants to take initiatives to advocate for it.

A community annoucement about the upcoming pinic/BBQ on September 22 at Tower Grove Park will join neXt with our brother group, The Knights. No "official" neXt meeting will be held next Thursday, September 2. Instead, an informal gathering of neXt group members will take place at MoKaBe's at 6:30 on that day.

Thirsty?

2010-08-23T11:08:00.000-07:00

August 26th is the 5th Annual Thirst for Life event. More than 30 restaurants and bars will donate a percentage of their beverage sales that day to Pets Are Wonderful Support (PAWS), a program of Saint Louis Effort for AIDS. PAWS started in 1990 to assist people living with HIV/AIDS to help care for their pets. Pets are a vital part of support to many people.

PAWS strongly believes in the human-animal bond of companionship and works had to ensure that clients do not experience the loss of pets due to financial hardship, lack of transportation, or hospitalization. Pets provide a source of unconditional love and support that is irreplaceable to people living with HIV/AIDS.

There is no regular funding source to keep this program alive. It's run soley on donations and the Thirst for Life event. Here's a complete list of proud supporters: THIRST FOR LIFE, August 26th

East Side Story

2010-08-23T10:47:00.000-07:00

Last week at neXt, members were asked to bring a movie to share. Many of the guys brought DVDs to vote on. After a brief discussion, we decided on the gay-themed "East Side Story".

"Dream-hunk Rene Alvarado stars as nice family boy Diego, who works in his grandma's Los Angeles Mexican restaurant. He dreams of bigger things, and has a handsome but closeted squeeze on the side. Diego also has some interesting new neighbors! Drop-dead gorgeous Steve Callahan and super-cute Cory Schneider co-star as Anglo-couple Wesley and Jonathon the against the backdrop of East L. A. neighborhood gentrification. This wonderfully well-written, well-acted gay comedy is the feel-good movie of the year!"

neXt member thoroughly enjoyed the showing of the film, as it was well-received.

Just Breathe

2010-08-16T08:04:00.000-07:00

Life can be really hectic sometimes. Other times, thoughts might be constantly running through our heads. We can be stressed. But what is stress really? Stress is dwelling on the past, and fearing the future. Stress can also be in the moment...or can it? If we worry more about the here-and-now, we're less likely to be stressed. Especially, if our present moment consists on concentrating, really concentrating, on what is going on with us and inside of us.

Too often it seems we, as humans, do not take the time to appreciate the simpler things in life and to just slow down. In this day and age of text messaging, instant information, and rushing around, we barely have time to breathe. And yet, somehow, unconsciously, we do breathe. Whether we're aware of it or not. But simply going about living life, and taking for granted our breath isn't always enough.

Last week at neXt, we went on an adventure. An adventure into ourselves.

After a delicious meal donated by a group member, we headed over to The Art of Living Center in Maplewood for their weekly free breathing and meditation session. We practiced postures that brought relief to our bodies that energized our bodies and eased our minds. The yoga poses were simple, but effective. We learned to focus on various parts of our bodies--to become aware of them as we breathed deeply and thoughtfully. After the two-hour session, many neXt members felt relieved of their tensions as they seemed to melt away. And all because we focused on things within ourselves that we often take for granted.

Family Trees

2010-08-11T06:59:00.000-07:00

The highlight of neXt's August 5th meeting involved engaging, in-depth conversations about group members and their family relationships. Members were invited to draw a brief family tree and explain the relations among those listed. The flipcharts provided visuals to the rest of the group, as each person illustrated their family and talked of both trials and tribulations of their family tree. A number of men felt comfortable sharing their stories.

We talked of broken families, extended families, love, companionship, and adoption. Some families appeared more accepting than others. Drug-addicted fathers, disabled and non-existent mothers, best friend grandfathers, and dull sisters were illustrated. The "show and tell" presentation proved therapeutic for the speaker, and eye-opening for the listeners. Many of the men were fully engaged with each speaker, allowing a feeling of acceptance and approval.

A number of the men at the meeting had been coming to the group for quite awhile, and yet, they knew little about the other neXt members. This family tree activity allowed us to learn more about one another than ever possible in any ordinary conversation.

Cereal Exchange

2010-08-03T14:09:00.000-07:00

Last week at neXt we invited everyone to bring their favorite box of cereal to share. Milk flowed as did the Cookie Crisp, Apple Jacks, Bran Flakes, and other tasty delights. We had a lot of fun trying different cereals for a change, and we discussed topics as they were relevant to us.

We discussed the LGBT Homeless Initiatives town hall discussion from the week before. It proved to be a great "leaping off" point for further talks, which will hopefully result in action. Getting the current shelters to be more LGBT appropriate is the most logical plan to proceed with. Someone discussed the idea of Habitat for Humanity making some shelters available. Perhaps the discussion may lead to another ally in the fight to secure more rights for the LGBT homeless.

One of our current members is a registered member of the American Coaster Enthusiasts and spoke of his experiences and excitement with the rides. A number of neXt members love the thrill of riding roller coasters. We talked of tall, fast, and new coasters at Six Flags St. Louis, just outside of Eureka, MO. With such a wonderful amusement park so near to the city, many members had been to the park and spoke of their experiences there.

The facts or fiction of the pain disease, fibromyalgia, were also discussed. Fibromyalgia is a common condition characterized by body-wide pain and tender points in joints, muscles, tendons, and other soft tissues. It's often difficult to diagnose, and many critics say that it's not really an illness since it's a generalized pain that can't be pinpointed and there are no diagnositic tests to aid in diagnosis. The concensus of the neXt group is that fibromyalgia is a real disease, worthy of acknowledgement.

In the short few months we've been in our current location, we're beginning to fill the space to capacity with each meeting. Granted, we're still small enough to learn more about one another with each meeting, but not quite large enough to fill a larger space. Still, we talked about the possibilities of relocating to a larger space. Our hope is to further create alliances and collaborations within the community and go from there.

Supporting Initiatives

2010-07-22T11:33:00.000-07:00

Last night, a crowd rallied around Robyn Carolyn Montague, co-founder of Trans Haven Missouri to share their voices regarding an initiative to create safe environments for St. Louis' LGBT homeless people. The town hall discussion took place at the Central Reform Congregation in the city's Central West End. About 35 people from all walks of life were in attendance: concerned citizens, social workers, and the underserved populations were all represented.

Trans Haven (http://www.transhaven.org/) was founded on the principle to provide emergency shelter for victims of hate crimes of transgendered people. There's a more specific need for trans homeless than there are for the lesbian, gay, and bisexual homeless in that trans people cannot be incognito about their identities. As such, they are often ridiculed, stigmatized, and assaulted by both staff and other clients of the shelters. Lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals are more likely to keep their sexuality hidden, for fear of these types of harrassment.

According to a representative from the Equal Housing Opportunity Center of St. Louis (http://www.ehocstl.org/), shelters receiving HUD (Housing and Urban Development) funds, cannot legally discriminate against anyone. This law was further established as a piece of legislation protecting people of varying forms of gender identity and expression has recently made its way to St. Louis city via actions from Trans Haven and PROMO (http://www.promoonline.org/).

During the forum, it was discussed that the existing shelters need to be reshaped to be more accepting of those in our community. Recently, the Covenent House (http://www.covenanthouse.org/), an organizaton that provides shelter to homeless youth had an issue with a young transwoman because they weren't sure where to place her: "boy's house" or "girl's house". Robyn of Trans Haven suggested that with the proper trainig and retooling of existing shelters, we could make all the difference to combat stigma and make transpeople feel more comfortable in the shelters.

Scott Emanuel, advisor for Growing American Youth (http://www.growingamericanyouth.org/) addressed the need for preventative measures before an LGBT youth becomes homeless. He indicated that part of the advisors' task is to speak with youth members to check in about their home situations to help ensure stability. A number of youth are displaced by their families every year because of their sexual identities.

Someone in the audience suggested that "safe places" be identified by the ubiquitous upside down pink triangle or a rainbow placed on the door of accepting establishments. A representative from the Anti-Violence Advocacy Project (AVAP) indicated the organization offers shelter for LGBT experiencing unsafe environments at home.

Overall, the meeting proved to be a great leaping off point regarding the topic of establishing safer and more adaptable shelters for homeless members of our LGBT community. Updates will be posted as more initiatives further the movement.

NEXT