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may
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It took a lot o f planning, fundraising, the
right people and the right location to inaugu
rate Portland’s Q_ Center three-plus years
ago— and that’s exactly what a planning com
mittee in Vancouver is hoping for.T riple Point,
a weekly support group program—by way of
Children’s Home Society of Washington— for
LG BTQ_ youth in Clark County, has been a
valuable regional resource to tackle issues like
health education and self-advocacy. But in or
der to implement a sustainable future for the
program, the committee applied for and re
ceived from the Pride Foundation a Queer
Youth Capacity Building Grant. Now the plan
ning committee—led by C H SW staff like Er-
inn I lavigand Spring Dowse—are in the initial
stages of making a queer youth center in Van
couver a reality.
“When this group of about 15 community
members came together,”explains 1 Iavig,CHSW
program manager for Family Support and Early
Learning, “we identified that there are specific
needs for queer youth in Clark County and for
the agencies that work with these youth.”
The active members of the committee include
youth, community members and agency profes
sionals from organizations such as Cascade
AIDS Project, YWCA o f Clark County, Par
ents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays
(PFLAG) of Southwest Washington and more.
The committee has also partnered with Clark
College’s Queer Penguins, as well as with Wash
ington State University Pride groups. The proj
ect, as I lavig is quick to note, is not a CHSW
— community—
WWW.JUSTOUT.COM
Northern Exposure
Vancouver planning committee eyes queer
youth center in Clark County byryan j . prado
the very minimum of the
endeavor, hut rather a com “If the only safe and queer-
center. This would include a
munity effort.
identified
spaces
are
in
space to accommodate 40
“The vision is for this
youth comfortably, private
center to create a safe and Portland, we send the
offices for counseling and
accepting environment for
message
to
youth
that
HIV testing, and would also
queer youth of Clark Coun
be ADA accessible. A loca
ty by providing social sup they are not welcome in
tion has yet to be chosen,
port, education, leadership
this
town,
this
community
but Havig says one near the
opportunities and resources
Vancouver Mall is desirable
so that youth become confi or this state and that they
due to the transportation
dent, caring and capable
have
to
go
elsewhere
to
be
barriers of some youth.
adults,” Havig says. “Cur
Both WSU and Clark
rent plans are that the center accepted for who they are.”
would have partner agencies
-ERINN HAVIG, CHSW STAFF College have already hosted
working together with youth
drag shows to benefit the
to staff the center and provide agency services project. Coming up at 8 p.m. Sunday, May 22,
as well as increased activities for the youth.”
PFLAG of Southwest Washington has orga
“Throughout this community building pro nized a fundraiser dubbed “A Sweet Fantasy.”
cess we have seen that a dedicated space for Held at the Fraternal Order o f the Eagles
queer youth is something that the local com #2158 (107 E. Seventh St., Vancouver), the
munity wholeheartedly supports,” says Daniel event features a dessert bar, entertainment,
Schollaert, HIV prevention specialist for CAP raffles and more with help from the Queer
in Clark County. “CAP will continue to sup Penguins,Triple Point and The Imperial Sover
port this work with the hope of one day open eign Court o f the Raintree Empire ($5 admis
ing the doors of the center.”
sion, 503-730-7375 or bgross@teleport.com).
An estimated $92,000 is needed to operate
Havig reports that even in its infancy, the
planning committee for a queer youth center in
Vancouver has received an amazing donation
of time and energy by youth and community
members. That momentum, one hopes, will fol
low through to the realization o f the project—
providing Vancouver LGBTQ_ youth with a
place to call their own.
“To me, the most important reason to have a
center in Vancouver is that if the only safe and
queer-identified spaces are in Portland, we
send the message to youth that they are not
welcome in this town, this community or this
state and that they have to go elsewhere to be
accepted for who they are,” Havig explains,
noting that there is no competition whatsoever
with Portland’s Q_Center.
“O ur youth are so important and amazing,”
she continues. “We need to work to better sup
port them in their hometown. O ur goal is to
create a safe community here as well.
►
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