Marcus Mills, Center Member

 

I've been involved with the Center for over a year. I had just moved back to New York, and was in need of friends. I spent the first 3 or 4 months floundering, but luckily, I met a friend through a social networking site, who suggested that I check the Youth Enrichment Services (YES) program out. It was one of the best decisions of my life.

I arrived just in time to begin orientation for YES summer camp. The week-long retreat was one of the most changing and inspiring experiences of my life. I bonded with the YES community, and these bonds laid the groundwork for my involvement in other YES leadership programs. I am actively involved at YES as a peer educator, an entertainment YES intern, a youth pride chorus performer, and hopefully a family group leader for our annual summer camp. In April, I'll be attending NY's "lobby day" with other YES members to press our representatives in government to protect LGBTQ people from discrimination and injustice.

The leadership programs at YES are a phenomenal way for me to build self confidence, self awareness, and a desire to be involved in my community.

The Center and YES have impacted my life by introducing me to a community I feel I belong to. At first, people at YES were just names and faces. Now they're friends and companions. The people at the Center outside of YES were just people. Now they're familiar faces I wave to as I pass through the building. These "people" stopped being just faces, and started to be recognized as valuable parts of my very large, very diverse community.

In caring for this community, growing this community, and respecting the people inside of this community, the YES program has educated me on a multitude of identities within the community, and most importantly, how to build "a community of inclusion" which respects all of these identities, while empowering each individual.

At first, ideas like our ground rules "crabs ass" [confidentiality, respect, attentiveness, be open, sensitivity, and no assumptions] and building a "community of inclusion" were just things I did at the Center. But as time went on, I found myself incorporating these concepts into my everyday life: Using "I" statements that empower me and the people around me; asking about gender identity and sexual orientation instead of assuming that I know; being open with my multiple identities and allowing others the same freedom; and challenging false concepts and untested assumptions.  I've found that simply taking the time to ask questions and listening to someone respond and speak from their experience makes all the difference in the world.

I was 15 years old when I first found out about the Center. I was visiting New York for the summer and was coming to grips with my sexuality. I actually planned to come out to my first family member on the trip. I knew the Center existed, through online research, but when I went, I just walked up and down the street for about 30 minutes, terrified to step foot in the building. Had I known that there were such amazing resources and such a welcoming staff, I'd have rushed inside.

I think the biggest thing people should know about the Center is that there is something there for everyone, and the programming continues to grow. If I need any type of information, resource, or assistance, I can bet that the Center either has it or knows where I can go to get it.

At times, the LGBTQ community can feel fragmented to me. I think the Center helps to bridge the gaps between assumption and reality and helps us to build a better, stronger, more unified community. One that is prepared to tackle the problems we face head on, and celebrate our victories together.

I am so glad the Center is here! We're living in tough times. And in tough times, I want my community to back me up when I need support. People are still being murdered for being queer or being perceived as queer. We still don't have equal rights as LGBTQ people. Students are still being harassed and afraid to come to school. HIV is STILL a huge issue in our community, as is the stigma attached to the disease. We have much work to do. But I think the only way we can get it done is together.

The Center is an amazing place. I wish there were a replica in every city in this country. Queer folk need to know that despite what the rest of the world may say, they DO belong somewhere and that somewhere is here.

I age out of YES next year, but I will be involved with the Center for a lifetime.