Copy
View this email in your browser
The Center E-News | Monday, May 1, 2023
Facebook
Instagram
Twitter
YouTube
Website
Email
May is API Heritage Month
Dear Center Community,

Happy Asian Pacific Islander (API) Heritage Month! As Deputy CEO, it means a great deal to me to be your guest author this week.
 
My mother grew up in Japan during WWII and occupation, and my father was from a small town in the U.S. They raised me in a predominantly white working-class town where I was often asked if I taught my mother English or if she was my babysitter, and there were plenty of people insinuating themselves into our space with their vile stereotypes about Asian women. I was learning what it meant to be Asian in the 1970s and it was difficult to balance my mother’s love of her culture and the biases of the people around me. I came out as a lesbian years before I explored what it meant to be a biracial Asian-American, or as my mixed-race friends say, ‘living in the hyphen.’ 
 
When The Center was looking for a Deputy CEO last year, I checked out the county demographics, because I’ve moved quite a bit and it’s important for me to have a sense of a city's diversity. The API community makes up nearly 17% of San Diego’s population. That means 425,000 folx make up the 7th largest API community in the country. It also means I share my LGBTQ+ API identity with about 37,400 others here in San Diego, which is about nine times larger than the town where I grew up. Knowing my community was in San Diego, I applied for the position right away and spent the next few weeks daydreaming about what it would mean to be able to organize with other LGBTQ+ API folx.
 
Since moving to San Diego a year ago, I’ve felt the joys of being in a city with such a rich API history and such strong a presence in the LGBTQ+ community. As part of The Center’s commitment to be a welcoming space for all, we have identified the API community as one we need to focus on more intentionally.
Councilmember Kent Lee, the San Diego API Coalition, and Center staff at Breakfast Republic for The Center's Dining Out For Life San Diego.
What does this mean? The Center is building, maintaining, and expanding stronger partnerships with API communities. We joined the San Diego API Coalition earlier this year, and we joined the Coalition in participating in the Lantern Parade for Inclusion Rally Against Hate and the Japanese American Citizen’s League’s Never Forget Gala. As we’ve learned over the years, representation matters. The Center will be working to make sure that when API community members come on board as Center staff or when community walks into their Center, we see ourselves, our cultures, and our hopes and dreams reflected all around us.
 
For API Heritage Month, we are sharing some API heritage events for our community. Please join us in celebrating API Heritage Month in May!

In Community,
Kim Fountain (She/They)
Deputy CEO
Join Us For The 15th Annual Harvey Milk Diversity Breakfast on May 12, 2023
Every year around Harvey Milk's birthday, more than 1,000 diverse San Diegans come together to celebrate Harvey Milk and his vision of civil rights and equality for all. This year, celebrating his 93rd birthday, we are excited to be gathering to honor Harvey Milk's legacy in a special way that is not to be missed! After three years, the in-person Harvey Milk Diversity Breakfast is back and better than ever!  This is a fabulous opportunity to come together in support of community! Join us for the Annual Harvey Milk Diversity Breakfast on Friday, May 12 at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront.
Reserve or purchase your table and tickets
In the Know with Ian
What a fabulous day Dining Out For Life San Diego was last Thursday! Thousands joined nearly 80 participating locations and came together to continue the conversation about HIV while raising critical funds. 

Thanks to your participation in #DOFLSD, this one-day event will provide prevention services all year around like PrEP, services for those who have fallen out of HIV care, individual counseling sessions and support groups for those living with HIV, case management, peer navigation, connections to housing services, and free STI screenings right here in San Diego. 
The Center's Team enjoying Dining Out For Life San Diego 2023.
We loved seeing our community come together to support, from South Bay to Downtown, Mission Hills, Hillcrest, Pacific Beach, and beyond. Whether you donated, volunteered, or simply dined out, you raised funds and joined thousands across the country to honor those living with HIV and those we have lost. Thank you for contributing to our efforts to eliminate this disease around the world. 

From The Center, and the thousands of who utilize the services of The San Diego LGBT Community Center, THANK YOU for your phenomenal support!

In Appreciation,

Ian Johnson (He/Him)
Senior Director of Development
Veterans Wall of Honor Nominations Now Open

The Benjamin F. Dillingham, III and Bridget Wilson LGBT Veterans Wall of Honor recognizes LGBTQ veterans with ties to San Diego who served under anti-LGBTQ policies, preventing their ability to serve, and serve safety and openly, as well as those who have served after the ending of those policies. These veterans have taken the oath to serve our country and have done so honorably, and with distinction, acting as role models in advancing equality. The LGBT Veterans Wall commemorates these veterans’ lives in hopes that their courage, bravery and sacrifices will continue to inspire future generations.

The 2023 nomination form is now open until June 30, 2023. Please be sure to review the candidate criteria on our website prior to submitting a nomination.

Try Something New & Make a Difference!
Want to make new friends, make a difference, and give back to the LGBTQ community? Why not become a Center Volunteer - there is an opportunity for everyone. Click here to learn more.
Free Food Resources At The Center
At The Center, we believe that food is a human right and we want to be sure everyone in our community has access to nutritious food. Our programs include: Both Food Banks have a walk-up or drive-up option for safety. If you, or someone you know needs access to food, know that The Center is here for you. Please reach out to Sarah (she/her) at 619.692.2077 x 214 or smerkbenitez@thecentersd.org.
HIV/HCV and STI Screenings: FREE AND CONFIDENTIAL 
It's time for self-care with our free, confidential HIV/HCV testing and STI screenings in a compassionate and sex-positive environment with connections to health care and resources. Make your appointment today - call us at 619.692.2077 or email bethegeneration@thecentersd.org to make an appointment. Monday-Friday 11am-6pm by appointment. Walk-ins will be accepted based on availability.

Please note that we do not offer MPOX testing as part of our testing services, please call 211 for testing assistance.
What's New At The Center
The Center moves to Phase 4 of Reopening
As of April 2023, The Center has moved into Phase 4 of our reopening. We will no longer be verifying proof of COVID vaccination for anyone who enters The Center, and masks will now be optional at all of our sites; masks are still strongly encouraged.

Room Rentals at The Center
Room rentals are back at The Center! To get more information about reserving a room at The Center, please visit our website. We hope to see you soon!

Center Library is Open Monday-Friday, 10am-2pm
The Center's Library is now open! Get your library card, check out one of the LGBTQ+ books from our vast collection, or get a recommendation from one of our library volunteers!
Women's Services At The Center
We offer support and discussion groups for women, and more! Check out our Women's Services at The Center page on our website.
50+ and Better Together - Senior Services At The Center
Find our full list of events, programs, and services for 50+ & Better Together Senior Services on our website.
Project TRANS At The Center
Project TRANS at The Center offers something for everyone in our transgender and nonbinary community. Check out the Project TRANS page on The Center's website to see our upcoming events.
Men's Services At The Center
Coming Out, Together is a new 10-week program for men. Build a community of newly out men discovering themselves and the LGBT community for the first time. Fill out our form at bit.ly/coming-out-together to sign up!

Visit our Men's Services at The Center page on our website for more info.
Black Services At The Center
Black Services at The Center provides regular and ongoing support and discussion groups for our Black LGBTQ community. Find our schedule of events on The Center's website.

In May, we are bringing back Black Service's Let's Talk Tuesdays! Email blackservices@thecentersd.org for more info and to join us on May 9th.
Latin@x Services At The Center
All Latin@x Services support and discussion groups are now meeting in person. We have updated schedules for all our groups! View all our groups on the Latin@x Services page on our website.

Todos los grupos de discusión y apoyo de Latin@x Services ahora se están reuniendo en persona. ¡Tenemos horarios actualizados para todos nuestros grupos! Vea todos nuestros grupos en la página de Servicios Latin@x en nuestro sitio web.
Youth Services At The Center
Discover our latest offerings at the Hillcrest Youth Center and South Bay Youth Center by visiting our Youth Services at The Center page on our website.
At The Center, we have something for everyone in our community! Check out our Events Calendar at The Center or visit our Community Program pages:
FROM OUR PARTNERS
The San Diego Black LGBTQ+ Coalition's Damon J. Shearer Academic Scholarship Fund is back for its 3rd year. This fund has provided over $20k to Black LGBTQ+ high school seniors and college students since its inception. Click here for the application. Deadline is June 30, 2023.
Join us in partnership with our friends at Broadway San Diego for a can't-miss theatrical event! Tony Award-winning Best Musical 1776 is coming to town, and a portion of every ticket sold will benefit The San Diego LGBT Community Center. Experience history in the hands of the fiery founders of this country portrayed by a multiracial cast of female, transgender, and nonbinary actors in a production that New York Magazine/Vulture calls "an absolute blast!"
 
With ticket prices ranging from $49-$66, $10 and $5 of each ticket sold will go directly to support The San Diego LGBT Community Center. Choose from show dates on May 9, 10, 11, or 14, and purchase your tickets through this link: https://am.ticketmaster.com/bsd/promotional-page?filterType=NTkx. Don't miss this opportunity to support a great cause and experience a 1776 worth celebrating!
 

If you are a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, please take a few moments to complete this #Out4MentalHealth survey and share it with your networks. It supports LGBTQIA+ community members in identifying system strengths and barriers based on our own lived experiences. Your responses will be utilized to help create a statewide mental health policy agenda. 

Share your experiences accessing mental health care by taking the Mental Health Advocacy Priorities Survey: bit.ly/O4MHPP2022

SAVE ENERGY WITH SDG&E'S SMART THERMOSTAT PROGRAM

With the potential of another hot summer on the horizon, now is the perfect time to explore ways to keep your home at a comfortable temperature while minimizing energy costs.
 
One practical and cost-effective solution is SDG&E’s Smart Thermostat Program. Earn a $50 incentive for each smart thermostat you purchase and install (up to two thermostats) and enroll in SDG&E’s Smart Thermostat Program. By participating in the program, you’re also contributing to a more sustainable future.
 
Smart thermostats make it easy for you to control your HVAC system from anywhere using your smartphone or other connected devices. Smart thermostats allow you to create personalized schedules and temperature settings – which can help reduce energy use when you're not at home or during off-peak hours. Learn more about SDG&E’s Smart Thermostat Program at sdge.com/thermostat.

BECOME PART OF THE CENTER TEAM! 
Make a change and work at The San Diego LGBT Community Center - one of the most rewarding places to work, renowned for dynamic and creative teamwork, professionalism, and unparalleled heart and dedication. Employees experience a collaborative and caring environment where community building, compassion, and respect are uniquely combined with an insistent striving toward excellence and best practices. Check out the job listings here and apply today!
STAY HEALTHY: UPDATES & RESOURCES
Get the latest and most up-to-date information our website at thecentersd.org/mpox/. To sign up for the County's MPOX text message alert system and receive real-time information about MPOX, text COSD MONKEYPOX to 468-311.
  • MPOX vaccine eligibility has expanded in San Diego County. MPOX is now available to anyone who may be at risk. Visit our website for more information about the MPOX vaccine. MPOX vaccination appointments are available at myturn.ca.gov for those without health insurance or healthcare provider. 
  • To get notifications of vaccine availability, please sign up to the MPOX alert system by texting COSD MONKEYPOX to 468-311.
RECURSOS Y ACTUALIZACIONES SOBRE MPOX (VIRUELA DE MONO)
Obtenga la información más reciente y actualizada directamente del condado de San Diego. El sistema de alerta de mensajes de texto MPOX del condado envía información en tiempo real sobre MPOX a través de mensajes de texto a los residentes del condado de San Diego. Para inscribirse, envíe un mensaje de texto con COSD MONKEYPOX al 468-311. Visite nuestro sitio web en thecentersd.org/mpox/ para obtener la información más reciente.
  • La eligibilidad para la vacuna contra MPOX se ha ampliado en el condado de San Diego. La vacuna MPOX ahora está disponible para cualquier persona que pueda estar en riesgo. Visita nuestro sitio web para más información sobre la vacuna contra MPOX. Las citas de vacunación MPOX están disponibles en myturn.ca.gov para personas sin seguro médico o sin proveedor de atención médica.
  • Para recibir notificaciones sobre la disponibilidad de vacunas, regístrese en el sistema de alerta MPOX enviando un mensaje de texto con COSD MONKEYPOX al 468-311.
Read the latest about COVID-19 including travel, vaccines, treatment, prevention and more. Resources to help you and yours stay healthy include:

Updates from The Center for Disease Control (CDC) including risks, vaccines, symptoms, and more.

Free At-Home COVID-19 Tests
Residential households in the U.S. can order one set of four free at-home tests from USPS.com. Here's what you need to know about your order: Visit sandiegocounty.gov to schedule your vaccine and booster appointment today! Find a location and schedule appointments on My Turn.
SHARE THE E-NEWS WITH FRIENDS
Share Share
Tweet Tweet
Share Share
Forward Forward
Sign Up for The Center's Weekly E-News

The Center provides important community updates and events and we want you to share. 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
YOU ARE NOT ALONE - REACH OUT FOR HELP
988: National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

People experiencing a mental health crisis can now call or text 988 to reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and connect with mental health professionals. This is a free, confidential service available 24 hours a day. Please note that the calls will be routed to local crisis call centers based on the caller's area code. This Lifeline provides specialized services for LGBTQ youth.
If you are in crisis or considering suicide, you are not alone.
There are resources and help available for you - please reach out for help:
  • 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)
  • San Diego Access and Crisis Line: 1.888.724.7240 - Free suicide prevention/intervention hotline in San Diego County
Copyright © 2023 San Diego LGBT Community Center, All rights reserved.


Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.