May 2014 Newsletter

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Sunday Funday - May 4 Build-Your-Own-Nacho Bar! Come join us on Sunday, May 4th for our Sunday FUNday fundraiser. Our theme this month will be "Cinco de Mayo". If the weather is good, we will have the event in our spacious backyard. We will have a piñata and a nachos buffet. Chips will be provided - please bring your favorite nachos topping! Soft drinks provided, BYOB. The FUNday will begin at 5:30 pm. Admission is $5 and kids are free.  Hope to see you there! Email for More Info Social Group of the Month Bisexual Alliance of St. Louis (BASL or "basil") is a social networking / social support group founded in 1994 that understands bisexuality as a normal part of everyday life. Our goal is to develop a sense of community and mutual support within the Saint Louis metropolitan region. We are simply people who love regardless of gender. BASL is open to all regardless of age, race, religion, disability, gender identity, orientation, or family style. We are supportive of relationships among people of any gender. You are welcome at BASL whether you identify as bisexual, bisensual, pansexual, omnisexual, trysexual, don't-label-me, or whatever other label you choose or if you care about someone who does. BASL meets twice monthly: a discussion meeting the 1st Monday of the month, and a social meeting the 3rd Saturday of the month.  For more info, and to stay up-to-date on meeting times and places, follow BASL on Facebook: Follow for More Info Faces of the Center Arthur Sangster My name is Arthur Sangster and I am a student at STLCC flo valley, but I am on hiatus until fall. I am a 23 years old Black gay male who is apathetic atheist. I live in Normandy which is in North County and not too far from North city. I am majoring General Fine Arts. Here is my blog where I post my drawing and sketches:twobm.tumblr.com When I am not at the center, I am drawing, drawing and drawing, Listening to music, languages, cuddling with my guy, enjoying beer with good hops, coffee, reading, looking at Art and design, etc. Read more of his story here...

Center News The LGBT Center of St. Louis is on the move! We’ve outgrown our current space. It was placed on the market in January 2014, and was recently sold.  At this time, amid the search for a bigger and better space that will meet the needs of our growing community, it was decided that it was in the best interest of  the LGBT community and The Center to adapt and go temporarily digital.  The LGBT Center will become a virtual community resource center starting June 1, 2014. Updates, further information about the move, and information regarding the hunt for a new location will be released as it becomes available.  Please visit our website and Facebook page for further information.  The LGBT Community Center of St. Louis is still dedicated to providing service to the LGBTQIA community of St. Louis and its surrounding areas through education, outreach, healthy living, and community building.  Meetings and events sponsored by The Center will still take place throughout the community (check the calendar for details), and phone lines will still be maintained by dedicated volunteer staff.     Join in the discussion about violence in our community and the many ways that love can overcome it by coming to the LGBT Center to see Stop Kiss by Diana Son, directed by Kate Warden, on May 9th and 10th. All proceeds from the event will go to helping the LGBT Center move! Both performances will be accessible to Deaf and Hard of Hearing audience members through ASL student interpreters. You can purchase tickets online for $8 or at the door (cash) for $12 or $10 with a student ID.  Refreshments will be available for purchase during the intermission. THE STORY: "A poignant and funny play about the ways, both sudden and slow, that lives can change irrevocably," says Variety. After Callie meets Sara, the two unexpectedly fall in love. Their first kiss provokes a violent attack that transforms their lives in a way they could never anticipate.   Director: Kate Warden                                      Stage Manager: Maddie Meyer Callie: Tara Schneider                                      Sara: Kimberly Byrnes George: Matthew Guiffre                                   Peter: Tim Tomaszewski Detective Cole: Adam Cotorceanu                  Nurse/Mrs. Winsley: Danielle Hargis  Purchase your Ticket Here Local LGBT News 26 Reasons To Appreciate The Hidden Gem Of St. Louis With rainbow flags proudly waving along Manchester Avenue, it is hard to miss the epicenter of St. Louis' LGBT nightlife, The Grove. The area boasts a handful of hot spots including Just John, Meyer's Grove, Erney's 32 Degrees, Rehab, Attitudes and the always-supportive LGBT Center of St. Louis. Like in many progressive cities, it's not surprising that the trendiest areas are also some of the most LGBT-friendly.  Read more at the Huffington Post. The GOP Legislator Who Helped Ban Same-Sex Marriage Supports Workplace Equality For Gays Nowhere is the shift on LGBT issues more evident than with Republican State Representative Kevin Engler, who sponsored the 2014 Missouri Nondiscrimination Act (MONA) in the House. He's the same legislator who sponsored the referendum to ban same-sex marriage in Missouri in 2004. Though Engler's fundamental opposition to same-sex marriage remains unchanged, he argues that traditional or religious values are not consistent with state-sanctioned discrimination against LGBT employees. Read more at the Riverfront Times. Welcome our newest Volunteers! Justine R.     Kim K.     Stephanie J.     Gabe W. Emily T.     Jim G.     Simone A.     Bryan W. Volunteer Corner Thoughts from Trans 101, by Christopher "The Geeko" On Saturday, April 19, 2014, I attended MTUG’s Trans* 101 Workshop at The LGBT Center of St. Louis.  This was the 2nd time that I have attended this particular workshop with this presenter (Rae).  Despite being out of the closet (fully) since 1982 — the year of my 21st birthday — and having lived alongside, within and around various LGBT communities (e.g., Waikiki, Chicago, Indianapolis, Colorado Springs, Denver, Orlando, Key West, West Hollywood, San Francisco, New York, etc.), I have learned A HELLUVA LOT (!) about the Trans* Community.  Rae, specifically, has opened my eyes to much enlightenment.  Anyone who hasn’t been to one of these workshops — and I must qualify that these are exclusive to the Metro St. Louis area — is totally missing out on having multiple “Eureka” moments, to be sure. Upcoming Events May 1, Thurs 7pm – 9pm: LGBT Center Pride Committee. Making signs and banners for Pride weekend; organizing and working out details for our part in the parade. May 2, Fri, 7pm – 9pm: Trans Movie Night. "The Crying Game" from 1992 will be presented. Music by Boy George, Oscar nominated. There will be ice cream for those who RSVP to Kayla Barrett at 310-483-8012 or kaylabarrett@juno.com May 12, Mon, 6:30pm – 7:30pm: Fencing Field Trip @ Wentzville Fencing Center. Learn swordsmanship, the ultimate in self defense. Cost is $10, scholarships are available. Contact Kayla Barrett at 310-483-8012 orkaylabarrett@juno.com May 15, Thurs 7pm – 9pm: LGBT Center Pride Committee. May 24, Sat, 1pm – 5pm: Memorial Day BBQ. May 29, Thurs 7pm – 9pm: LGBT Center Pride Committee. Full List of Events and Activities (Check regularly for updates.)