Point of view

Boy that last post was something. While I guess I was a little upset with what was going on in our community. I tried to give some comments to the LGBT community center However there were a couple of people in there who did not agree to what I had to say. I would get comments like he's an old fart and he doesn't like what we're doing. No it's not that at all. I've been in the gay community long enough to know that we have an awful lot of people who are apathetic and figure if they pay lip-service they can just turn around and go back to what we call business as usual. Am sorry but this not the way you run an organization. The reason that the LGBT community center got in so much trouble is because they did not have enough oversight of their executive director so she ran roughshod over them and brought them to the edge of bankruptcy. And if it wasn't for their action of taking her out of the organization, in other words firing her I don't think the LGBT Ctr. would be what it is today or even be existing. What they did instead was to set up a couple of the so-called community meetings where people were supposed to give their thoughts and ideas to the LGBT Ctr. so that they could improve their operations. Even though I wasn't able to make these meetings because of health reasons I did see or hear what was going on at those meetings. Granted there are things that are LGBT community needs such as project Q, breasts examinations for our lesbian population and other things like that, mainly because I think there's a lot of LGBT people who do not feel comfortable seeing doctors outside of of our own community I suppose it is because of a perceived prejudices within the straight community.

Now a bunch of times I brought up the problem of parking near the LGBT Ctr. mainly because it's atrocious and there really isn't any close parking for people who are mobility challenged. Bus routes do not come close to the building within the about perhaps two blocks which is about the closest that they come, automobile parking is pretty much the same in the closest garage which is kitty corner to the LGBT Ctr. does not provide adequate access. Entrance buy cars from the east side up a steep ramp and the exits are located either on the south side or the west side of the building which of course means that you have to walk all around the building to get to the LGBT Ctr. another problem that I pointed out was access to the building which at first was from the street side and not the alley side which had a incline for people to walk up but there again would be quite a challenge for somebody using a walker or a wheelchair, if not impossible.

Now my suggestion is that they look for a new building where everything can be on one floor that way mobility access would be very good. Also what they need is parking a right next to the building to allow people to get into the building with the least amount of hassle, in other words not have to feed it parking meter or run around the block several times trying to find adequate parking. Now I understand that I said that at this point in time this may be an impossibility for the LGBT Ctr. because of the financial strain that they are currently under so I guess I would not expect this to happen any time soon. But it is something to look forward to in the future.

Lastly I'm wondering if they're doing just lip service to what has been done as far as the community meetings are concerned. The choice of an executive director, as if that will ever happen (pardon the sarcasm) and if and when the bylaws will ever be changed so that the community as a whole has a say so in the operation of their community center. I guess I just wouldn't be saying a this if I didn't care for our community so don't get me wrong or take the wrong message because I definitely do care and I hope you do too.