Why the Center?
The LGBT Community is safe place where activism and justice are created, perpetuated and preserved, and the political atmosphere is not untouched in this space. In a city where rooftops and cozy apartments beckon individuals to partake in whiskey shots or cups of hot chai, the Center also opened its doors.
Luis Garay, an 18-year-old Center user who has partaken in activities here since he was just barely a teenager, came because he felt it is “important to see results of this; especially with my family.”
Indeed that umbrella term means so much more than simply the biological branches on a family tree – here at the Center the word is thrown around to affectionately describe those who have opened their hearts, and embraced one another without fear, without repression.
Similarly, Becca, 26, came with her sister – a Center employee – because she wanted to be supportive, while partaking in a fun environment. And while the environment is fun, it is also historic for many. “[This is] a momentous occasion; history is being made,” Lorne told us, while partaking in the hissing and yelling as the election results popped up on the screen. With 77 electoral votes for Obama, and 34 for McCain at 8 p.m., the crowd appeared to more pleased with the blue states with large yellow checkmarks flashing on the screen, and the energy level continues to rise as more and more east coast polls close.
