LGBT Center of Raleigh

The LGBT Center of Raleigh is so grateful to our community for the constant support at community events, programs, and fundraisers. We still need your support for our 20 programs as we prepare for the upcoming renovations on the community center. Please consider making a donation today to support our health and wellness, youth and family, and community-based programs. Examples of donations and what they will support are below:

$5: coffee @ youth coffee hour

$25: care package for unhoused trans &
q***r clients

$50: gender-affirming clothing (chest binders, shaping underwear, etc)

$100: sponsor a local LGBTQ teen’s tuition for ASPYRE camp

Thank you for your support of the Center! Donate today online at givebutter.com/LGBTCenterofRaleigh
- or via the link in our bio. ✨

Join us on Sunday, October 13th from 5-8pm at Hartwell for a family friendly Halloween-themed event benefiting the LGBT Center of Raleigh! In partnership with Urban Pothos, Hartwell is hosting a Spooky Drag Show, pumpkin patch and carving, live music, makers market, costume contest, and more. We hope to see you there! 🎃👻

FREE FAMILY EVENT: Head out to Family Fun Day in on Saturday, September 21st! Lots of fun games and activities for the family.

Registration for ASPYRE Camp ends September 23! Check out ’s link tree for more information. 🌈

We had a great time on Tuesday at Q***r Adult Book Club at ! We hope to see you next time on September 17th as we discuss The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai 📖 What 👻spooky👻 themed book should we read for October? Let us know below 👇🏼

We’re currently in one of the largest COVID waves as indicated by wastewater testing and positive cases. Vaccinations are one way to help reduce the likelihood of severe illness and long COVID, and uninsured individuals can access vaccines for free through the end of the month through the Bridge Access program. Masking and quality air flow and filtration are still the most effective methods to reduce transmission. Stop by the Center this week to pick up free rapid tests and masks - we keep us safe! 🙏🏼

This week at the Center! HIV/STI testing is tonight as usual, Q***r Book Club is tomorrow, 8/27 at hosted by Helicia, our Drink Up Fundraiser / Kori’s birthday is Thursday, 8/29 at , and Drag Story Hour is Saturday from 10-11am at 🌈 We hope to see you soon!

We are SO EXCITED for our Fall kickoff event. Please join us at Carolina Pines Park, 2305 Lake Wheeler Road, Raleigh for our annual TIE DYE PICNIC. Hosted by ‘s QNC youth and young adult program. Ages 8-24 are welcome!!!

Nonbinary tea time is this Sunday, August 25 from 4:30-6:30pm at (and online!). This monthly social meetup aims to provide a fun, sober space for nonbinary, genderq***r, and gender expansive individuals 18+, although anyone questioning and exploring their gender is welcome to join! 🌈

We’re having another Drink Up event on August 29 from 6-9pm - this time at ! Come have a beverage and celebrate our ED Kori’s birthday with us 🥳 25% of proceeds will benefit the Center’s 20 programs.

Trans and nonbinary community members - please consider taking this survey! The link to the survey is here: https://duke.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0dE2W2ZaMCH7XAa?Q_CHL=qr

This week at the Center! Come see us 🌈

🚨Unfortunately, our community partner and lead host is unable to host the event on the 26th anymore. 😓 We are looking for a new date in the fall, and will keep you all updated. Thank you for your excitement around this event! We hope to see you at a different program or event soon.🚨

SoFFA (Significant Others, Friends, Family, Allies) is an open and welcoming peer support/discussion group for significant others, friends, family, and allies of gender expansive individuals. Our next meeting is online tomorrow (Saturday, August 17) from 9am - 12pm. We hope to see you there! 🌼

FYI! 🙏🏼

We’re back with more FAQs from this year’s Out! Raleigh Pride feedback survey! Many of you asked, or suggested, that we move Out! Raleigh Pride. This slide details our decision making. Thank you for your feedback and participation! We hope you’re staying cool and hydrated. 💧

Post reads: Out! Raleigh pride was too hot this year. Can you move ORP to a different month?

Unfortunately, Pride month is one of the hottest months of the year; with climate change worsening, there will continue to be adverse climate events such as the unprecedented heat wave this year. For now, we plan to keep Out! Raleigh Pride in June to honor the Stonewall Uprising that founded Pride events over 55 years ago. Additionally, outdoor events are safer for airborne illness and disease such as COVID-19. However, we hear you and will continue to offer free water at ORP, the low sensory zone in the YMCA, and will implement more water misting stations and tents with shade in 2025. We are exploring options for partnerships with businesses in the area to host some indoor Pride activities as well. Attendees are encouraged to check out local businesses in the area during ORP for respite inside with AC. For those unable to attend ORP due to the heat, we have many other events and programs during Pride month that may be more accessible to you - please come see us at one of our many weekly programs! For more FAQ and information on this year’s festival, please visit outraleighpride.org/blog/out-raleigh-2024

And finally, meet our 5th and final staff member, Executive Director Kori (they/them). Kori needs no introduction, as they are the face of the Center in many ways, due to their longevity here - Kori joined the Center in 2016 as a volunteer! Kori wears many hats as the organization’s director, such as managing staff, being the board liaison, representing the Center at local meetings, fundraising, collaborating with staff on the direction of the Center and its programs, and managing Out! Raleigh Pride. Every day looks different for them. We are so grateful to have such a spirited leader with deep roots in the community and strong institutional knowledge of the organization; Kori is the only person - staff or board member - who was present when we had a physical community center space pre-COVID. Thank you, Kori, for all you do! 🌈 Make sure to come wish them a HBD in two weeks at our Drink Up at Edit Beer!

Meet Development and Communications Manager, Cotie (she/they) - me! I joined the Center in January and am responsible for grant writing and reporting, fundraising, donor stewardship, Out! Raleigh Pride sponsorships, social media management and content creation, and our email newsletter. I’m so thankful to the Center for giving me a renewed sense of purpose this year, and am so excited for the community center renovations! 🥳

Did you know we have a care coordination program that provides free essential items for low-income and/or unhoused/housing insecure LGBTQ+ community members? We accept requests and walk ins year round at our office. Email our Support Services Specialist Switch (he/she) at [email protected] if you are in need of support, or would like to donate (unused) hygienic or gender affirming items. 🧼💅🏼

This week at the LGBT Center of Raleigh! Come see us and tie dye a shirt, and enter the raffle for tickets to and ABBA cover band 🌈 We’re at 128 E Cabarrus - come see the soon-to-be renovated community center space! ✨

Our next staff member is Operations Manager, Helicia (she/they)! If you’ve stopped into our office, you’ve likely met Helicia. She keeps our office and organization running smoothly through a plethora of administrative tasks, manages the 300+ vendors during Out! Raleigh Pride, and teaches the team how to make the most out of a spreadsheet. They also host our monthly Q***r Adult Book Club at . Big Virgo energy over here 🤩 Thank you for all you do, Helicia!