giving back
Crowds gather for the LGBT Center's Out! Raleigh festival in Downtown Raleigh
Building a Rainbow of Communities The LGBT Center of Raleigh By andy bradshaw | PHOTOGRAPHY courtesy of the lgbt center of raleigh
Walking down South Harrington Street in Downtown Raleigh’s Warehouse District, a pink brick building whose entrance is flanked by rainbow flag-adorned windows naturally catches the eye. Home to the LGBT Center of Raleigh, the organization serves as a resource center for the area’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. One of three all-purpose LGBT Centers in the state, it fulfills many roles for its visitors. It is a library and performance space, a classroom and a coffee shop, a discussion forum and a health center – through each of these different functions there’s a common thread of support and advocacy for the diverse friends, families, and members of the Triangle’s LGBT community. “We try to help everyone under the sun – everyone from age four to 90,” says James Miller, Executive Director of the Center. “Anyone who shows up, we won’t turn away. We are a community center first. It’s important that our center takes care of all kinds of people – because people are people.” Now in its ninth year, the organization hosts social events, run programs, and provides valuable resources to the 54 | midtownmag.com
community. Through its expansion in scope and size, the Center reaches a widening array of communities, allowing it to make valuable connections within the LGBT community and beyond. A PLACE TO CALL HOME More than four walls and a roof, for much of the Triangle’s LGBT community it is a haven of tolerance and engagement. Those lacking a safe, welcoming environment at home, work, or any other areas of their life can find one at the Center. Additionally, it provides an educational oasis of information on LGBT life through its library. “I would consider the library to be the crown jewel of the Center,” says Miller. Featuring nearly 3,000 volumes of novels, countless DVDs and CDs, non-fiction works, and self-help books all focusing on a celebration of the LGBT community, the library provides a unified space to share the stories, research and constructive advice that many LGBT folks may struggle to find elsewhere. Keeping in line with the Center’s dedication to inclusion,