ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – Atlanta’s ever-expanding LGBTQ community could be getting their own space in the city.
On Monday, the Atlanta City Council approved a one-year, $150,000 study to examine the feasibility of a new LGBTQ community, cultural, educational and recreational center in the city — something that some members say is long overdue.
“This has been talked about for decades,” said Atlanta Councilman Alex Wan. “It feels like there’s a lot of momentum behind it.”
Wan joined councilmembers Amir Farokhi, Jason Winston, Matt Westmoreland in approving the study. It will be a partnership with the Atlanta Fulton County Recreation Authority and will determine the location and the services provided at the potential center.
“It just affirms Atlanta’s position as a beacon for anybody in the LGBTQ community and our allies as well,” said Wan. “Anytime you belong to a community that’s a minority community, you have a tendency to want to try to find each other. And I think given the political environment that we find ourselves in today, there is even a heightened sense of need for that.”
Wan said Atlanta ranks fifth among cities in the U.S. with the largest LGBTQ populations. As discriminatory laws towards its members become increasingly more prominent around the country, Jeff Graham, executive director at Georgia Equality, said the need for a safe space is important now more than ever.
“Some place that the community can feel safe and can come together,” said Graham. “We know that the metro Atlanta area has a reputation, especially amongst the south of being a place where people can come and not have to have the same concerns about discrimination as they do elsewhere.”
The City of Atlanta is the first-known municipality in the United States to require annual LGBTQ cultural humility training for employees and elected officials, with over 14,000 completions, covering at least 83% of the city’s workforce.
“Atlanta has one of the largest and most thriving LGBTQ communities in the nation, and the city deserves a thoughtful and tangible place to honor the legacy and contributions LGBTQ Atlantans have made to our culture,” said Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens. “I look forward to working with our Administration’s LGBTQ Advisory Board, my Senior Leadership and members of our LGBTQ community to chart a smart, forward-looking plan that memorializes Atlanta’s prominent role as a welcoming and inclusive city.”
Graham and other stakeholders also want city council members to be thoughtful about the resources and services provided, not just for members of the LGBTQ community, but also for groups who are doing advocacy work on their behalf.
“Mental health, substance abuse, support groups, perhaps even medical care,” said Graham, “for organizations to have meetings at, to have community events, so certainly a gathering spot.”
“I think it would mean a lot to the community to have a place to go and be, find resources, connect with others and just have a place where there’s a sense of belonging,” said Wan, “so that anyone coming to town, new to town or even just looking for resources would be able to connect with it.”
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