MILWAUKEE — The Milwaukee LGBT Community Center says it faces an urgent need to “stabilize” its operations and ensure its “doors remain open” after losing more than $900,000 in federal funding over the last several months.
Founded in 1998, the center has served as a lifeline for the LGBTQ+ community across southeast Wisconsin for more than two decades, providing essential resources including food assistance, a clothing boutique, counseling services, and support groups.
“Since its founding, the Milwaukee LGBT Community Center has been a place where our voices could rise, where our stories could be honored, and where our lives could be lived out loud,” Executive Director Ritchie T. Martin Jr. said in an emailed newsletter to community members.
Resources:
- How to donate to the Milwaukee LGBT Community Center
- Free counseling services available
- Support for older LGBTQ+ adults
The organization’s financial challenges come as the center says it has seen an increase in calls and visits from community members seeking safety, support, and belonging.
According to the organization, which also provides mental health services, LGBTQ+ individuals are four times more likely to attempt suicide than their peers.
Watch: Milwaukee LGBT Community Center at a 'critical crossroads' after losing over $900,000 in federal funding
In the last year, the organization reports that it received over 49,000 community visits to its center from individuals seeking services such as individual counseling, food assistance, substance abuse recovery, youth mentorship, and more.
“As they turn to us, we’re turning to you. Please make a gift today to help us meet this moment,” Martin Jr. said. “Your support helps preserve our legacy and ensures our community continues to have a safe space, vital support and the visibility we deserve.”
The organization's announcement of its over $900,000 shortfall also comes just months after the abrupt closure of the LGBT Center of SE Wisconsin in Racine, which shut its doors without prior notice and left many community members with questions.
More resources:
- Weekly support group schedule
- Resources for trans and nonbinary community members
- Gender-affirming clothing boutique information
A fundraiser has been established by the organization with a goal of $540,000 to keep its “doors open, retain essential staff, expand access to lifesaving services, and build long-term sustainability for the next generation of LGBTQ+ leaders.”
Those wishing to donate can do so through the center’s website, or by clicking here.
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