Though the Memphis Gay and Lesbian Community Center has been around for 20 years, director Will Batts says he still hears from people who didn’t know the city had such a gathering place for LGBT people.
- Memphis Gay & Lesbian Community Center
“We have a lot of people walk in here and say, ‘I’ve lived in Memphis all my life and I didn’t know you guys were here. Are you new?’,” says Batts. “I’m frustrated that more people don’t know where we are because we’re 20 years old.”
The center has been at its current location at 892 S. Cooper for six years. Before settling in Cooper-Young, the center had several other homes throughout Midtown. Each month, the center hosts support group meetings, workshops, free HIV testing, potlucks, and more.
Today (September 15th) marks National LGBT Center Awareness Day, a first-ever event highlighting the vital services provided by gay and lesbian community centers across the country. The event is sponsored by CenterLink: The Community of Centers, and in honor of their first LGBT Center Awareness Day, CenterLink is hosting a vacation giveaway for folks who spread the word about local LGBT community centers. Head over to their website for details.
