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History of the GLCC
The Gay and Lesbian Community Center (GLCC) of Pittsburgh had its
modest beginnings in 1979, when an information Phoneline was established by Persad,
Inc., a local mental health center run by and serving the needs of the gay, lesbian,
bisexual, transgendered community. For years the Phoneline was operated out of people's
homes and eventually moved to office space donated by the Pittsburgh Free Clinic.
Persad's Community Outreach Committee saw this as a first step towards their eventual
goal: establishing a gay and lesbian community center. The mission for the Center,
established then and still held today, was to facilitate the development of individual
and community resources to meet the needs of sexual minorities, and to remain inclusive
and sensitive to our diverse community.
On April 11, 1981, in a three-room space rented on Oakland Avenue, the Community
Center opened its doors to the public, still affiliated with Persad. The Center
then became an independent entity in 1984, when it incorporated and received its
non-profit status. During its time in Oakland, the GLCC became active and aided
in the birth of many new organizations, including a gay youth group and TransPitt
(for crossdressers and transgendered people). The Center also organized the first
town meeting to discuss HIV/AIDS and provided support in the early days of the development
of the PITT Men's Study.
In 1985, due to a change in the use of the building housing the Center, the GLCC
lost its lease at the space in Oakland. It was then moved to Wilkinsburg on very
short notice, and remained at this location through 1990. Unfortunately, the Wilkinsburg
location did not prove central enough to bring in new people and organizations.
As energies within the gay community were focusing more on the HIV/AIDS crisis,
the GLCC declined in activity and eventually closed. Many promising opportunities
turned into disappointments as the Board began the difficult process of searching
for another space.
Even though the Center closed, the Phoneline was resurrected after a six-month hiatus.
It was re-established when St. Elmo's Bookstore graciously provided a space in the
back of their store, rent free.
In an attempt to rent a space in Squirrel Hill in 1991, the Center experienced discrimination.
The landlord cited the fear of spreading AIDS in the public bathroom used by other
business tenants as the reason for refusing to rent to us. A complaint was filed
with Pittsburgh Human Relations Commission. Even though the Center won the case,
it was a long process and much of the Board's energy was drained dealing with this
issue. With the help of the Pittsburgh Men's Collective, the Center at last found
a space at 5860 Forward Ave in September of 1992, in a one-room efficiency apartment
converted into office space.
Due to the expansion of the Squirrel Hill Theater, the GLCC was forced to move from
this space in 1996, but a new location was soon offered by the landlord just down
the street at 5808 Forward Ave. The lease was signed to a modern five-room office
space and the Center was moved in May of that year. The following month, as part
of Pride Week Events, the Center held an Open House at the new space. Even with
little advance notice, the event was a big success, with over 200 people in attendance!
The response from the community towards this new space was very favorable as the
number of groups using our meeting rooms each month jumped from 3 to over 20 in
only one year. In just over two years it became evident we had already outgrown
our space and the Board decided an expansion was necessary. In February of 1999,
an additional 11 rooms were added by renting two adjacent office suites.
Currently the entire Center includes four meeting rooms, with two large enough to
accommodate up to 30 people. There is also a library, a Phoneline room, a GLCC office,
and five rooms that can be used for long-term rental to other community groups to
provide office space for their organizations.
The continued growth and vitality of the youth group, the ever-expanding mailing
list, the fantastic response to the Pittsburgh Pink Pages, and the continuing increase
in the number of groups meeting at the GLCC all suggest that the Center's expansion
in space as well as services has been well received by the community.
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