Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Southern Nevada, Inc.

Programs: Program - qvolution youth program r. U. 1. 2. Youth group r. U. 1. 2. Is a social and discussion group that meets weekly for one hour. Providing safe, supportive and affirming space for lgbtq youth and their allies, ages 13-19, is the goal of this group. The group provides an opportunity for youth to meet their peers in a drug - and alcohol - free environment. Discussion topics range from conceptual discussions like "integrity" and "respect" to 101 overviews of lgbtq-related topics (i. E. Asexuality). Discussions also include relevant current event topics from the news and social media and guest speakers such as the southern nevada health district and local and national lgbtq leaders. Through discussions and solidarity-building, r. U. 1. 2. Provides youth with the support and skills to tackle life challenges of hiv prevention, coming out issues, and bullying. Youth participation in r. U. 1. 2. And 17-24 youth groups in 2012 - 3,207 an increase of over 1,100 from 2011. 17-24 like r. U. 1. 2. , this weekly one-hour discussion and support group in a substance-free environment, provides a safe space for lgbtq youth and their allies, ages 17-24. A more mature setting than r. U. 1. 2. , 17-24 participants are trained in issues of social justice and coalition-building to implement activism and self care in their own lives and communities. A focus on the intersectional aspects of multiple identities permeates each discussion of 17-24, and guest speakers and article readings reflect this deeper exploration of lgbtq and connected identities. Workshops on demystifying community stigmas and language such as the misconceptions of bdsm and racism allow older youth to grow and socialize in ways that are not a part of everyday discussion. Additionally, events and trends in the overall lgbtq and global communities are discussed, and youth are free to share personal experiences on topics of interest, such as dating, family dynamics, and safer sex. Career/job planning and money management as well social media networking have also been core ongoing components of 17-24. Out of the (gender) box out of the (gender) box is a bi-weekly discussion group that provides safe space for folks who identify outside of (or don't quite fit into) the 'male' and 'female' boxes assigned to us by society. Discussion topics focus on the many different ways in which gender impacts and shapes our lives and what it is like to exist as individuals and a community that refuse to be confined to boxes that we didn't create. People of all gender identities and expressions are welcome to attend. In 2012, 224 youth participated in this group. Lgbtq youth prom for over a decade, the center has provided an annual prom for lgbtq youth and their allies, ages 13 to 24. This popular event provides a safe space for youth of all sexual orientations and gender identities to enjoy an important rite of passage, free from the bullying, peer pressure and discrimination that lgbtq youth often face in high schools today. Although banning same-sex couples from attending prom in a public high school is illegal in the united states, many youth feel more comfortable to attend this event, surrounded by supportive peers. Attendees enjoy all the elements of a traditional prom - decorations, dancing to a live dj, food, professional photographs and lifelong memories - in a setting that values diversity and promotes self-expression. This is one of the center's most popular events, growing yearly to accommodate over 309 youth in 2012. Youth clinic through collaboration with the university of nevada school of medicine, department of pediatrics, several physicians and medical students visit the center during r. U. 1. 2. On a monthly basis to provide a free youth clinic/seminar on a topic of relevant interest to ages 13-24. Topics range from hygiene and dangerous teenage trends to prevention and treatment of the flu and common cold. Program - vegas mpowerment project strengthening gay/bi/trans pride and celebrating positive sexuality is vegas mpowerment project's goal. This program targets 18-29 year old gay/bi/trans men allowing them to express their identities with each other, find support, and band together to take action on issues of importance to each of them. It is a social evidence based hiv prevention intervention aimed at reducing the rate of hiv infection in this vulnerable target population. -coordinated and facilitated 48 core group/peer advocate meetings (4 per month) with 10-12 core group members attending regularly. -coordinate, provide oversight and co-facilitate 12 peer advocate led focus/discussion group "m-group" events with the target population. Such groups will engage individuals from the target population supporting skills building, condom efficacy and safer sex alternatives reaching a minimum of 60 unduplicated individuals within the program year. -sponsor 60-80 formal social outreach events during the program period to promote community-building among young gay msm reaching a total of 200 unduplicated clients. -conduct a minimum of 25 formal outreaches to promote mpowerment activities through flyers and safer sex kits distribution. Anticipated distribution is estimated to reach approximately 5,000 individuals within the target population. -organize and implement four (4) large scale themed outreach events encouraging community engagement, peer advocate recruitment and distribution of safer sex materials reaching approximately 250 individuals from the target population. Narrow cast syphillis vegas mpowerment project's outreach team targets venues that are frequented by young gay/bisexual men and distributes safer sex kits and promotes sex positive messages. The narrow cast program specifically designs graphic hiv prevention messages and promotes the center's hiv/std testing on mondays and thursdays. The two programs collaborate at certain outreaches and events to promote safer sex and encourage people to test for hiv to reduce the number of new infections. Program - transgender built upon the concept of celebrating people of all gender identities and expressions, trans. Lation provides support and community-building opportunities for transgender people and their loves ones of all ages. The center has long seen a gap in services to the southern nevada transgender community. Trans. Lation was developed in response to this pressing need and continues to provide much-needed support and visibility to the transgender and gender non-conforming members of our community. 2012 saw 720 participants in this group. Out of the (gender) box is a bi-weekly discussion group that provides safe space for individuals who identify outside of (or don't quite fit into) the 'male' and 'female' boxes assigned by society. Discussion topics focus on the many different ways in which gender impacts and shapes our lives and what it is like to exist as individuals and a community that refuse to be confined to boxes that gender diverse individuals did not create. People of all gender identities and expressions are welcome to attend. 224 individuals participated in this group in 2012. The center also maintains a transgender resource guide, which is now housed on our website at: http://www. Thecenterlv. Com/resources/transgender. The guide is an extremely important link for transgender individuals to culturally competent resources in the community and is also utilized by social service providers to appropriately refer their transgender clients to services and resources including support groups, physicians, therapists, etc. Program - senior enrichment this program meets weekly for mature men and women, and in 2012 our men's group (g-men) disbanded. Only the wise womyn continues to meet and they are a peer-led discussion group. Combined numbers for all senior participation in 2012 was 1,053. Program - civic engagement (stand out for equality) stand out for equality (sofe) is an advocacy campaign spearheaded by the gay & lesbian community center of southern nevada working to achieve equality for lgbtq nevadans. Sofe coordinates legislative lobby day activities in carson city to lobby representatives on issues of concern to the lgbtq community. Sofe co- leads the statewide nevada lgbtq leadership coalition. The nevada lgbtq leadership coalition acts as a collective statewide body to enrich, empower and improve the lives of the lgbtq community in nevada. In 2012, the center launched a voter registration and "get out the vote" campaign called the voter pride project (vpp). Funded by silver state voices, vpp enabled the center to hire five part-time community organizers to conduct a voter registration drive and encourage lgbtq southern nevadans to vote. Vpp community organizers successfully registered 455 individuals to vote and reached 10,327 households through phone banking and social media postings. Program - health & wellness center established as a hub for the lgbtq community in las vegas, the center has transformed itself into a key education a