The Memphis Gay and Lesbian Community Center is facing shutdown over financial issues after 22 years in operation, ABC24 reports:
"The goal is to raise $45,000 by the end of May,” explained Christy Tweddle, chairwoman of the Center's Board.
Without that money, the Center would “have to let go of our only employee, and our only employee runs all the programs for which we get grant money, which keeps our programs and services open,” she said. She said those programs and services are hard to find elsewhere.
“We have the YES program, which is a homeless gay youth outreach, we're the only place in 200 miles square that does anything remotely close to that,” Tweddle said, also pointing out that the Center offers after-hours HIV testing. Tweddle said the Center relies mostly on donations, a funding stream that has dried up because of the economy.
I've also posted an interesting "man on the street" report from 'The Important Questions' asking Memphis residents where they stand on gay rights in Tennessee.
Watch that clip and ABC24's report, AFTER THE JUMP…
You can make a donation to MGLCC from the group's website.
And here's the "man on the street" interview from The Important Questions: