I'm gonna try starting an LGBT community group. Any tips?

[Athelwulf]

I'm gonna spend another year in my corner of Oregon before I go off to the University of Oregon (or at least that's the plan). And I'd like to start some sort of community support group for LGBT locals before I leave. Probably just to provide a supportive family/friends atmosphere. I'm talking about it with someone who used to be involved with an older group that went defunct around 9/11, when America veered rightward. Now seems to be the best time to start one up again: The country is a bit more liberal now, and there are now gobs of Democrats in the White House, Congress, and Salem, who are somewhat more open-minded or supportive.

Is anyone involved in similar types of groups? Can you offer any advice on any aspects at all, such as how to reach out to potential members, how to retain them, what to do in the community, etc.? This isn't the backwoods, but it's still pretty rednecky in attitude towards LGBT rights, if that helps any.

Thanks.

[msongs]

1. u can check with pflag.org parents n friends of lbgt nt

[Athelwulf]

3. The local PFLAG chapter is apparently extinct. Their contact info on the site is a dead end. n/t

[La Lioness Priyanka]

2. i do a lol of community building wiht south asian queers in nyc

i can help you if you let me know what demographic you are targeting more specifically

[Athelwulf]

4. As far as racial make-up, my town, like Oregon in general, is mostly white-bread.

We have a sizable population of Latinos, and some Native Americans. There's the occasional black or Asian person too. I think our only concern is whether they're LGBT. But even then, I'm sure we won't discriminate. I'd like to reach out to a proportionate number of people from each letter of the LGBT acronym, because I think people too often only think about the "LG" half. But we won't turn anyone away. Sorry if this seems like a fuzzy non-answer.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

5. ok. so once these people come together, what do you want them to do?

we for instance do a monthly support group meeting. a few casual after work drink things. you can do a movie night. a pot luck dinner.

best of luck. pm me if you have any questions.

[Athelwulf]

6. Thank you. You've given me a few good ideas.

If I come up with any particulars that I need help on, I will certainly PM you. :)

[Athelwulf]

7. Not a lot of updates, except PFLAG does exist locally (although dormant).

Besides the PFLAG thing, a few other things are about to happen, I think. But they're sure taking their sweet time! So I don't wanna say much more until I actually can say something notable about these things.