The Center of Wichita

"International Drag Day is a day where all around the world on every gay scene we take this opportunity to celebrate and thank the drag artists that add so much to gay life and culture. So Adam Stewart launched this concept in 2009, seeing there was no such day or event on an international platform in which we celebrated drag artists."

Happy 4th of July!

So many people braving the hot weather to support us, so good to see everybody who stopped by the table, such a great event. Thanks to Wichita Pride, GLSEN Kansas, M-Care Healthcare, Positive Directions, Inc., Safe Streets Wichita, Wichita State University Department of History, The Emerald City Sisters, Prairie Rose Welbriety, all the amazing entertainers, there's not enough space to list everyone! Another Fest down now everybody go get something to eat and make sure to rehydrate.

Happy Juneteenth!!

Join M-Care Healthcare and Positive Directions, Inc. for National HIV Testing Day on June 27th!

If you haven't been able to check out the Tallgrass Film Association Pride Month offerings so far don't fret, they're still going!

Event announcement shows Lincoln Park as the location:

Trying to make sure and share the pridefests from as many places as we can, Emporia Pride coming up the weekend of the June 20th:

2024 Emporia PRIDE Celebration Parade - Emporia Main Street The 4th Annual Emporia PRIDE Celebration will take place on Saturday, June 22rd at 6pm. The parade will launch from the circle drive at Emporia State and will travel South to 7th Ave. 2024 PRIDE Parade Presented by the Emporia PRIDE Celebration Parade Rules and Guidelines are a combination of local....

Kansas has a pretty incredible role in modern LGBTQ history. It's one of the reasons The Center is working with WSU's History Department to get some of it recorded. Here too, from very humble beginnings, Gilbert's art continues a profound area of effect:

This LGBTQ Diversity Pride flag was designed and made by Gilbert Baker, the creator of the original Rainbow Flag. Baker was born in Chanute, Kansas in 1951 and grew up in Parsons. He created the original 8-color Rainbow Flag in 1978 while living in San Francisco. In 2017, Baker added a ninth lavender stripe to represent diversity. Baker created 39 flags for the 39th anniversary of the first Rainbow Flag. This flag was donated to the Kansas Historical Society in 2021.

We'll be at ICT Big Gay Market this Sunday with several other great local orgs! We'll be talking about our various services, we'll have some samples of the first issues of the Liberty Press we've digitized, and WSU's History Department will be there to collect information on their upcoming photo book about Wichita's gay past. Come by and see us! (we've included a handy map)

Do you have images of Wichita LGBTQ history that deserve to be preserved and recorded? We're interested in hearing from you! The Center of Wichita and the History Department of WSU are teaming up to collect stories and images of LGBTQ Wichita from 1950 to now, just follow the link to get started: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61553000955879

Camp Sunflower Kansas is such an incredible organization and we at The Center are thrilled to be able to contribute to helping continue their efforts in providing a safe and supportive space for kids and teens. Paying forward in memory of the tireless advocacy and outreach of Stephanie Mott in hopes of many more camping days to come! ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜🤍💗🤎🖤

“The need was actually felt by members of our congregation,” Pine Valley member Connie Dietz said. “And in interacting with a lot of youth, we became aware that they didn’t always feel welcome at what I call regular camps. Sometimes, in fact, they were outcast or (others) were trying to convert them, so we said we’re going to start a camp that’s welcoming to our kids and affirms them and see them and says you are OK.”

Helping Hand: Sunflower Summer Camp provides safe space for LGBTQ+ youth Connie Dietz helped start Camp Sunflower in 2018, and she said it continues to grow each year.

Getting our table ready with Wichita LGBT Health at Sunday's fundraiser at XY Bar. We are so incredibly grateful to Esme Lynn Edevane, Krysta Williams, Psuesocide, Candie Khayne, Krysta Radiance, Aydin AR Phoenyx, and of course everyone who attended and donated! Thank you all so very much for a wonderful night ❤

"The bill would have blocked teenagers from receiving hormone therapy and other treatments recognized as necessary by medical professionals. And it would have banned state employees from supporting “social transitioning,” which is defined to include an individual changing their preferred pronouns or manner of dress."

Kansas House fails to override veto on bill that would ban gender-affirming care for kids • Kansas Reflector Kansas Senate votes 27-13 to override Gov. Laura Kelly's veto of Senate Bill 233, which bans gender-affirming care.

"This is a big deal: for the first time ever, the U.S. Department of Education has published regulations that specify LGBTQI+ people are protected from discrimination in schools on the basis of their s*xual orientation, gender identity, or s*x characteristics."

Title IX In April 2024, the U.S. Department of Education published a final rule that updates Title IX regulations to clarify legal protections for LGBTQI+ students, survivors of s*xual assault, and pregnant and parenting students. These Title IX updates strengthen the legal rights of LGBTQI+ students to chal...

From our friends down in SEK at Q Space:

Many thanks to Wild Flower Academy for inviting us to their TDOV event this year!

The Center will be attending the Day of Action event hosted by GLSEN Kansas at Chainlink Open-Air Gallery downtown, come see us!

Thanks to M-Care Healthcare for hosting TDOV again this year, got to meet a ton of great people especially Safe Streets Wichita!

From our friends at Wichita Pride:

Proud to have Textron Aviation on board for Wichita Pride 2024, embracing the YOUnited with Pride theme! 🎉 Let's celebrate diversity and unity together. Thank you for supporting our vibrant community! 🏳️‍🌈✨

Interested in sponsoring? Click the link: https://wichitapride.org/sponsor-pride/

From our friends at Wichita State University Sociology Department:
What Brings You Joy?
Our research team at WSU is interested in learning more about the joy that comes from LGBTQ+ identities. We are seeking adults in KS who identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community to participate in a photography project and an interview or focus group about joy. Interviews and focus groups will last 1 to 2 hrs and participants will receive a $20 gift card in appreciation of their time.
How can you participate?
• Participate in an individual interview or focus group
• Share with us what LGBTQ+ identity and joy mean to you
• Submit a photo that represents what you find joyful about being LGBTQ
• Spread the word to others who might be interested
Interested? Fill out a short interest form here: https://www.wichita.edu/lgbtqjoy
Questions? Contact Dr. Jenny Pearson at [email protected]

From our friends at ACLU of Kansas:
Sign up to attend our free Kansas Name Change and Federal Gender Marker Change Clinic, on Monday March 25 from 5:30-7p. This clinic will be held virtually—so you can attend from anywhere in the state! But you must fill out the registration link (at the bottom of this post) to receive a Zoom invitation for the event.
You’ll learn about the current name and gender marker change policies in Kansas and at the federal level, and have the chance to meet one-on-one with a trained volunteer to discuss your individual name or gender marker change needs.
Sign up below, and spread the word by sharing this video!
http://aclukansas.org/namechangeclinic