Dear Center Community,
As Thanksgiving approaches, I am reflecting on the true meaning of the holidays, and how, in this unbelievable time, they will be unlike any other year. I hope you can all enjoy this special time of gratitude, and I encourage everyone to please be safe this Thanksgiving and do your part to stop the spread of this terrible virus so that we all may celebrate together in the years ahead. In this season of thanks, I’d also like to extend my deepest gratitude to every single person who has supported The San Diego LGBT Community Center this past year. These are incredibly hard times for so many and, although the doors to our main facility are closed, The Center is here for you, as it always has been.
This year we are so grateful to be able to offer our holiday turkey and gift card give-away for our clients, thanks to our friends the Honorable Toni G. Atkins and the Honorable Todd Gloria, and their partners at California American Water Association, the County of San Diego in partnership with Paving Great Futures, and the Imperial Court de San Diego. Additionally, as you know, every Thanksgiving the Imperial Court de San Diego hosts the Scott Carlson and Dan Ferbal Thanksgiving Dinner for our community at The Center. This year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this event will not take place in-person, but instead will be conducted through a to-go box distribution. If you are in need of a delicious, made-with-love, hot Thanksgiving meal, join us at The Center on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 26th beginning at noon. Many thanks to all who made this continuing tradition possible this year!
Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, The Center is dedicated to serving and supporting even more community members than ever with food resources, expanded housing resources, healthcare access, HIV testing and critical behavioral health services, not to mention the support and discussion groups that alleviate despair and loneliness as we navigate the new normal of the foreseeable future. While The Center makes an impact in our community’s lives, it would be impossible without your help, and while we celebrate giving on Thanksgiving, our clients have very critical needs each and every month, not just at holiday time. And you can make a difference every month with a monthly donation.
By giving monthly as a sustaining donor, you allow The Center to continue to be a trusted and reliable community partner that those in need know will always be there. You can make sure the community gets the food, housing, and critical support they need each and every month. Don’t forget, you can donate to our general fund or you can designate what program you’d like your funds to go to – Youth, Seniors, Families, Project TRANS, and beyond, knowing that your gift will go to the program that speaks to your heart and is important to you. Any size monthly donation is welcome – from $5 to $500 or more – every single dollar makes an impact.
|
|
When I reflect on this most extraordinary year to date, I remain in awe of all those who’ve made The Center’s work possible – those who have generously contributed, volunteered, advocated, and shared their voices, as we stand up for and support our beloved LGBTQ community. Your commitment and energy inspire us every day to do even more to serve our community. Thank you and Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.
|
|
-Cara Dessert (Pronouns: She/Her/Hers)
Chief Executive Officer
PS: Please note The Center will be closed from Thursday, November 26th to Sunday, November 29th in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday.
|
|
A NOTE FROM CARA: CELEBRATING TWO LIVES
|
|
We are deeply saddened to share with our Center community that two of our Center Founders, Bernie Michels and George Murphy, passed away.
Bernie Michels chaired the very first planning committee in 1971 to start a gay center for social services, that later became The Center, the second oldest LGBT center in the country. Bernie left San Diego decades ago for the East Coast, but stayed in touch and came back to San Diego to attend The Center’s anniversary galas. Bernie share many times as he reflected on his life, that starting The Center and chairing the first planning committee, remained his proudest achievement in his lifetime.
George Murphy remained a core leader, supporter, and volunteer in our LGBTQ community for 50 years. George served as one of a dozen leaders who founded The Center. He went on to serve on the early Center Board, and continued his a leadership by serving on The Center’s Senior Advisory Committee; he was also a beloved leader at Metropolitan Community Church. In one of The Center Board of Directors most historic votes, he made the motion in 1980 to add “lesbian” to The Center’s name, then the Gay Center; he felt it was important for him, as a gay man to make that motion and open our doors to lesbians and to the women in our community. George will be deeply missed by so many in our community and will be remembered for his decades of good work that built our San Diego LGBTQ community, and his special gift to make everyone feel welcomed.
Both of these important leaders grace The Center’s Community Wall of Honor - one of the nation’s only LGBTQ community memorial displays dedicated to honoring and remembering important local LGBT community members and their impact upon our community. The Community Wall of Honor is a visible and lasting way of reminding our community of those whose efforts have brought us to where we are today.
We have lost two giants in our history, who had the vision that our region needed a safe place where our community could go for help and community. That vision lives on in our work today, and The Center is so deeply grateful for these two extraordinary individuals, on whose shoulders we stand on today. May they both rest in power.
|
|
The season is here and when considering shopping on Black Friday and Cyber Monday, be sure to mark your calendar and start the holiday giving next Tuesday, December 1st on #GivingTuesday. This is a special day of global giving, and your day to remember and celebrate the LGBTQ community and ensure The Center can continue to provide emergency services and essential support.
This week, we give thanks to the many #CenterSupporters and partners who are there for us, and the community, throughout the year. Many not only provide monetary support, but various kinds of support to The Center all year long and we couldn’t do what we do without them. As we approach the end of year, The Center wants to thank our new and existing partners who are taking that extra step in making a difference in the lives of so many right here in San Diego.
-Ian Johnson (Pronouns: He/Him/His)
Director of Development
|
|
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: 18TH ANNUAL TRANSGENDER DAY OF REMEMBRANCE
|
|
![](https://mcusercontent.com/b027d3def3cd8f1031640d8f4/images/d6b54219-102b-4e7e-8044-f2345d30b314.jpg)
This past Friday, the 18th Annual Transgender Day of Remembrance was honored through a beautiful and powerful virtual program. This program, which memorialized, honored, and celebrated the lives tragically lost due to fatal anti-transgender violence and discrimination, is available to watch online here. Thank you to all of the partners that made this event so impactful; may we all be called to do more to serve, support, and protect the lives of our transgender siblings!
|
|
The Center knows that many community members have faced financial hardship and/or food insecurity due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In response to this, for the month of November, The San Diego LGBT Community Center and Big Front Door will be partnering to offer a free meal to those who need one. Please sign-up here: https://forms.gle/v5Cp5HHQTiELTy6z6 and please feel free to pass this link along to community members who you think would benefit. For questions, please reach out to Sarah Merk-Benitez at smerkbenitez@thecentersd.org.
|
|
CONNECT WITH COMMUNITY ON ZOOM
|
|
The Center knows it is important to stay connected, especially now. Join your community on Zoom for meetings, discussions, special events, groups, and more. Please visit our website, visit The Center's Facebook page, or call us at 619.692.2077 x 211 to find the right one for you. Reach out and connect today!
|
|
SHARE THE CENTER'S E-NEWS!
|
|
|
|
|