Ten years ago, a handful of people recognized the need for a local group where LGBT individuals could reach out to each other for support, information and fellowship.

Centre LGBT+, a nonprofit organization, is celebrating a decade of efforts to strengthen bonds within the community and throughout the entire region.

“It’s exciting to help the LGBT+ community,” according to founding member Kerry Wiessmann, “and we have seen rapid growth since the beginning.”

Wiessmann recalls how an incident that developed in her workplace provided part of the need for such a group. She worked as a guidance counselor in a local school district, she recalls, “and my partner and I needed to put her on my health insurance plan.”

While the district allowed its workforce to have domestic partners, as well as married spouses, on their plans, it would not make the same benefit available to same-sex couples. Wiessmann’s lawsuit made quite a difference to this policy.

According to the complaint on file with the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, the rule violated the women’s “rights under the First and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution including the right to equal protection of the laws without regard to sexual orientation or sex and the right to intimate association; as well as the Equal Rights Amendment of the Pennsylvania Constitution.”

“Things changed after that,” Wiessmann says, “We settled out of court to put an end to that discrimination.”

Still, 10 years later, individuals within the LGBT+ population, as well as their families, continue to face unconstitutional actions, decisions and guidelines.

“The biggest challenges right now seem to be coming from the local school boards,” according to Terri Angeletti, president of the Centre County chapter of the ACLU, “not just in the central region but around the country. School boards with anti-LGBTQ agendas have been elected and are implementing changes to the curriculums of the schools to reflect the members’ personal agendas. From banning LGBTQ-themed books to the more extreme, banning teachers from even saying the word ‘gay’ in classrooms.”

With challenging, confusing and complicated situations in workplaces, schools and society at large, Centre LGBT+ fulfills an important need for many.

“In this space, no one has to hide who they are,” says Centre LGBT+ Executive Director Cat Cook. “We focus on life-affirming, inclusive changes.”

A New Physical Home

The organization opened its permanent home in September at 204 East Calder Way in downtown State College. The exterior blends into its surroundings the way a well-designed office building should, with lots of glass and dark metal. However, the third floor springs to life with a kaleidoscope of blue, yellow, red, purple, green, hot pink and orange splashed onto each wall and flat surface in all shades of the iconic LGBT+ rainbow.

The space provides a physical area for in-person gathering.

“Having this space is one of my favorite things to happen with this group,” says Susan Marshall, Centre LGBT+ secretary and founding member.

“We have a space for coffee, a library, meeting rooms, spots for storytelling and a lounge with a video screen for watching programs to help educate,” Cook adds.

Another room contains oversized, multi-colored bean bag chairs and large picture windows. The entire suite of rooms has a welcoming, comfortable and warm ambience.

“Before we had this space, it was really hard to organize,” Marshall recalls. “We had to facilitate places for all the groups to meet. It makes a huge difference to have a spot for physical, in-person gathering.”

A typical day starts around 11 a.m., with people arriving for coffee and conversation or information.

“The library is a nice, comfortable spot,” Cook says. “There is a smiling volunteer to greet people and give tours.”

Students can gather there to study or socialize, and the center offers after-school drop-in hours Wednesday and Friday from 4 to 6 p.m.

“Students can get homework help,” Cook continues, “or play games or just chat.”

Parents of LGBT+ individuals can find resources there too. “Parents with older children who have come out can find information they need to help understand their kids,” Marshall says. “And these are great conversations to have.”

The organization grew from a local PFLAG (Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) group, which gave the current group a start.

“We started seeing an increase in suicide rates in young people in the LGBT community,” Cook says, “And we saw a need for an organization where we could let them know they’re not alone.”

One of the formative events, in early 2014, took place at Webster’s Bookstore Café in downtown State College.

In an opening speech at the Calder Way space, Wiessman recalled the earlier time, saying, “Then in January we started with Friday Night Live at Webster’s, thanks to Elaine Meder, who was all about creating an affirming LGBT+ space. FNL was an open-mic event featuring an opener, music or poetry, followed by local people who shared their stories, their jokes and their own music. This was very different from the typical music scene as it was attended by high schoolers, homeless people, local politicians and Webster’s regulars.”

A Full Calendar

A myriad of events followed as the group continued to find ways to engage young and old. And the experiences they create for locals show imagination, creativity and dedication to having fun while offering affirming activities.

“We have Drag Bingo, where the drag queens call the card numbers,” says Cook, “and there are drag performances between games.” Drag Queen Story Hour “really gets kids interested in reading,” Cook says. Among other events and activities, Centre LGBT+ holds a Movie Night, Disco Night and Poetry and Storytelling. Their website, CentreLGBTplus.org, has plenty of detail, photos and descriptions of events.

*Community members line College Avenue during the 2023 State College Pride parade. Photo by Geoff Rushton | StateCollege.com*

And, of course, in June the organization holds State College Pride, including the June 8 parade and festival. With nearly 1,000 marchers, the State College Pride parade rivals those held in Washington, D.C., and New York City. Featuring plenty of banners, streamers, music, dancing and general vibrancy, the pageantry inspires descriptions like “electrifying,” “vivid,” “dramatic,” and “entertaining.”

LGBT+ Gayla, sort of a prom for adults, gives participants the chance for dance, music and fellowship, while enjoying a tantalizing array of food and drink. This year’s Gayla took place at Titan Hollow in Bellefonte in January.

For all the fun and inclusivity, Centre LGBT+ still faces challenges. Marshall says she hopes to interest younger participants to take leadership roles within the organization.

“I hope we can find ways to make room for new people on our Board of Directors,” she says, “We do a lot of work and some new volunteers would help sustain us.”

The administrators of the organization have numerous support and social groups needing scheduling and space. These include Shout Out for grades 5 though 9; BYOQ (Bring Your Own Queer) for grades 9 through 12; Pride in Progress, an alcohol-free group for 18- to 25-year-olds; and LGBT+ Golden Group, for those 55 and up.

“I love to listen to all the laughter and storytelling with these groups,” Cook says.

Other challenges over the years include the COVID-19 pandemic, which impeded in-person events, moving Pride online temporarily. Also, Cook says the organization has a hard time reaching rural youth.

“We need to let them know we’re here for them and have space for them,” she says. “So we try to reach out to the school districts so they can pass the message along to students.”

In October 2021, Centre LGBT+ held the first Coming Out Day event at Penns Valley Elementary School.

“We brought cookies,” Cook says, “and just celebrated with the students.”

She feels fortunate to feel support from the surrounding community.

“They want to see us grow,” Cook says, “and help us get more resources, and not just during Pride month.”

More Work to Be Done

Wiessmann, due to her experience with the health insurance policy, cautions other workers.

“It’s still legal in the state of Pennsylvania to dismiss workers due to their sexuality,” she says. “So people need to read contracts carefully.”

While language in certain laws may not provide equal protection, Angeletti stresses that the LGBT+ community, as well as their families, friends and anyone else concerned about the Constitution, has a valuable tool at their disposal.

“We the people have the power to change policies we don't like at the ballot box,” she says. “Please vote in every election. Elections matter.” T&G

Anne Dyer Walker is a Bellefonte freelance writer.

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