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Tuesday, June 1, 2021

Happy Pride Month From The Center!

Dear Center Community,

Today begins Pride Month! June is a celebration in our LGBTQ community - to reflect on our past, celebrate how far we’ve come, and acknowledge how far we still have to go. June commemorates how our movement began, with the 1969 Stonewall riots when police raided the Stonewall Inn, a gay club in Greenwich Village in NYC, and the LGBTQ community fought back against police harassment, ongoing raids, and the violence perpetrated on our community. Among the many leaders of the six-days of riots were Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera, a Black transgender woman and a Latinx transgender woman, who along with drag queens and many others, demanded freedom and equality for our community, the freedom to gather as openly LGBTQ people without fear. These riots are considered the critical pivotal moment in the movement to outlaw discrimination against LGBTQ people. 

Since then, the LGBTQ community has fought for their rights and equal justice, including the founding of the first national gay rights organization, the removal of homosexuality from the America Psychiatric Organization’s list of mental illnesses, the election of Harvey Milk and now hundreds of elected LGBTQ officials throughout the country, the national March on Washington, the strides for gay and transgender people in the military, and more.

We have made tremendous progress, but the work continues so that all LGBTQ people - especially our Black, Brown, and transgender communities - are provided equal rights, access to opportunity, and freedom from violence and discrimination. We have seen that elections matter - in how our community is treated, and in the laws that are proposed and passed. We uplift that “Since entering office, the Biden administration has made history by taking immediate and meaningful actions to strengthen the rights and improve the lives of LGBTQ people across the country. Such actions are critical to addressing discrimination and the resulting disparities that LGBTQ people encounter in employment, health, education, and housing, among other areas.” 

At The Center, we celebrate Pride every day. We are proud to work with coalitions, civic leaders, community-based organizations, and members of the community to advance fundamental freedoms such as the right to marry, police oversight and accountability for safe and secure communities for all, equal treatment at the workplace, and safe, and affirming schools for LGBTQ-identified youth and the children of LGBTQ-headed families. The Center is proud to provide targeted programs and services to the full diversity of the San Diego LGBTQ community, including lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, transgender, nonbinary, immigrant, and HIV communities to the betterment of our entire San Diego region. We believe that every LGBTQ community member should be welcomed, supported and valued with engagement opportunities, essential support, and critical services.
 
Today and this month, we pause to remember and celebrate and then, as always, we get back to work to build a future that is equitable and just for the entire LGBTQ community. 
In Solidarity!
- Cara Dessert (Pronouns: She/Her/Hers)
Chief Executive Officer
THE CENTER'S ADVOCACY
The Center would like to connect with you on two important updates!

We’re entering the home stretch of the City Budget Cycle and The Center continues advocating for an equitable budget which will be voted on June 14th. Last week on May 26th, Councilmembers submitted their proposed changes to the San Diego City budget, and this week Councilmembers will continue hosting District Forums so you can provide input on how the City should be prioritizing the budget. We invite you to join them and make your voice heard! If you don’t know what City Council district you live in, reach out to advocacy@thecentersd.org and we can help you find your local District Forum.
 
The Center is continuing to work with the Community Budget Alliance (CBA) to advocate with policy makers on our budget priories, and although we’re excited to see that Library Services funding has been restored, there is still much to be done as we continue advocating for an equitable budget. Next week on June 9th we’ll be looking forward to the release of the Independent Budget Analyst’s report detailing the City Council’s proposed changes, which will help us better understand where we can focus our advocacy for changes to the proposed budget.
- Rebekah Hook-Held (Pronouns: She/Her/Hers)
Chief Public Affairs & Civic Engagement Officer
OFFERINGS FROM THE CENTER
Join us for opportunities, events, trainings, discussion & support groups, and more. Please visit our website, visit The Center's Facebook page, or call us at 619.800.4252 from 9am - 4pm or 619.800.4216 from 4pm - 9pm to find the right one for you. Below find just some of The Center's offerings:
CENTER FOOD RESOURCES
RESOURCES FOR THE BLACK LGBTQ COMMUNITY
We are hiring! The Center is launching a Black Services Program within the next few months, and are taking applications for a Black Services Program Coordinator to join the team. If you, or someone you know, is interested in learning more about the position, please review our job posting here.
PARTNER EVENTS & OPPORTUNITIES
Covered California has officially launched a new special-enrollment period to allow Californians to benefit from lower health insurance premiums-- no matter what their income levels are. This new special enrollment period runs through December 31, 2021!  Many Californians will be able to get a quality, name-brand health plan for as little as $1 per month or richer benefits for less than $100 per month, but only if they sign up for health coverage through Covered California. Those interested in learning more, call (800) 300-1506 or visit www.CoveredCA.com
THE CENTER'S EMERGENCY SERVICES
LOOKING FOR MEANINGFUL EMPLOYMENT?
The Center offers employees an amazing environment where community building, compassion, and care are uniquely combined with an insistent striving toward excellence and best practices. The Center is one of San Diego’s most exciting places to work, with staff renowned for dynamic and creative teamwork, professionalism, and unparalleled heart and dedication. Check out our job listings. 
SHARE THE CENTER'S E-NEWS
We make it easy to share The Center's weekly E-News - just click this link and forward to a friend! If your friends would like to sign up to stay informed, they can sign up here: https://thecentersd.org/about/weekly-e-news/
YOU ARE NOT ALONE - HELP IS AVAILABLE
If you are in crisis or considering suicide, you are not alone.
There are resources and help available for you:
  • Trans Lifeline: 1.877.565.8860 - For trans or nonbinary folx in the US
  • Trevor Project Lifeline: 1.866.488.7386 - For LGBT youth (18-24)
  • National Suicide Hotline: 1.800.273.8255 - For all ages & identities
  • San Diego Access and Crisis Line: 1.888.724.7240 - Free suicide prevention/intervention hotline in San Diego County
Copyright © 2021 San Diego LGBT Community Center, All rights reserved.


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