Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Community Center of Baltimore and Central Maryland

The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Community Center of Baltimore and Central Maryland (GLCCB) is a nonprofit organization serving the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender population of Baltimore and Baltimore metropolitan area, located at 241 West Chase Street in Baltimore.

The Community Center was originally founded in 1977 as the Gay Community Center of Baltimore (GCCB). The Center was co-founded by Paulette Young, who became the Center's first president. The other co-founders of the Center were James Becker, Paul Bennett, Jim Childress, Jeffrey Dames, Shawn Dougherty, Howard Gaas, Eddie Hall, Charles Hughes, David Kammer, Tom Miggs, Dana Rethmeyer, Harvey Schwartz, Norman Thomas, Kathy Valentine and Silas White. In March, 1978, the Center rented a building at 2133 Maryland Avenue and within a month under the auspices of the Center, the Baltimore Health Clinic opened for business. The grand opening of the Center took place on Maryland Avenue on June 12, 1978.

By early 1979, with charitable funding from the community, the GCCB purchased a building at 241-243 West Chase Street. It was one of the first GLBT centers that was owned by the GLBT community.The building had been a four story warehouse and total renovation of the building was required as the existing structure was simply a shell, with little or no electricity, plumbing, insulation, heating or stairways. With volunteer help from the community, the Center's renovation took place and the building housed administrative offices, a newspaper, rooms for GLBT groups and a floor designated for social/entertainment functions, along with a switchboard.

In 1980 the existing services which the Center provided were: an information, help and referral hotline which operated from 3 p.m. until midnight, a medical clinic which bean with the aid of the Baltimore City Health Department which operated twice a week. The services were expanded from being primarily a VD clinic to offering gynecological and other primary health services.Counseling services were provided staffed by professional counselors which operated twice a week on both a drop-in and appointment basis. Periodic forums were held on a wide variety of topics which served an educational purposes both the GLBT community and the general public. A library of education materials, books, periodicals, newspapers, research materials is still a part of the Center's legacy. A Speaker's Bureau, and Community Outreach services were deemed as a necessity from the very beginning of the vision by the original co-founders.

The Center publishes Gay Life, a Baltimore newspaper that focuses on gay culture.

See also

• List of LGBT community centers
• Moveable Feast (organization)

References

External links

• Official website
• Article on youth center
• The GLCCB – Explore Baltimore Heritage

Coordinates: 39°18′5″N 76°37′10″W / 39.30139°N 76.61944°W / 39.30139; -76.61944