15 Ways to Celebrate 15 Years of the Center
15 years of service to the community: 1996-2011
CENTER ANNOUNCES ANNIVERSARY WEEK EVENTS
The Houston GLBT Community Center marks its fifteenth anniversary this month with
15 Ways To Celebrate 15 Years of the Center (March 18-March 27).
All programs take place at the Center in the landmark Dow School (1900 Kane) in the Old Sixth Ward Historic District and are free of charge, unless otherwise indicated. The main Center entrance is the Silver Street door at the corner of Silver and Lubbock (look the Center logo above the door). The Center welcomes donations to support its programming that serves the community.
Check the Center calendar for details and updates.
1. Center Anniversary Week Kick-Off Event at FBar, benefiting the John Lawrence and Tyrone Garner Scholarship Fund – Friday, March 18, 6 p.m. until 9 p.m.
Celebrate! Have fun! Support GLBT high school students!
Kick off the Center’s Fifteenth Anniversary Week with this fundraiser, which will also feature the official debut of Crystal, the Center’s anniversary icon. Each guest who contributes a suggested donation ($10) at the door will receive a ticket good for a drawing for a deluxe gift basket provided by FBar (202 Tuam), the new Montrose club. Proceeds will benefit the Center’s John Lawrence and Tyrone Garner Scholarship of the Houston GLBT Community Center, established in honor of the co-petitioners in the landmark Lawrence v. Texas case.
2. Center Art Gallery Exhibition Opening – Sunday, March 20, 4-7 p.m.
Browse the Center gallery, where community artists may display and sell their work. Artists interested in showing work should contact the Center at info@hglbtcc.org.
3. Voting for the Center for Pride Grand Marshal - Monday, March 21, and all week
Cast your vote for the Center, which has been nominated for Organization Grand Marshal for the 2011 Pride Parade. Center president Tim Brookover has also been nominated for Male Grand Marshal. Support your Center and vote online at www.pridehouston.org.
4. Center Dinner – Monday, March 21, 6:30-8 p.m.
Enjoy a meal and conversation with your GLBT community family at this informal restaurant meal hosted by the Center. The venue is Biba’s (607 West Gray). Center Dinner—which regularly takes place on the second Tuesday of the month—is part of the Center Socials program.
5. Relationship Workshops with Therapist Tony Carroll
Tuesday, March 22, 7 p.m.
Thursday, March 24, 7 p.m.
Join well-known and respected therapist Tony Carroll for insightful one-hour workshops about relationships: “Understanding and Improving Love Relationship for Couples” on March 22 for individuals who have partners; and “Choosing a Partner: Life’s Most Important Decision” on March 24 for individuals who are single. Register in advance by emailing the Center at info@hglbtcc.org.
6. Center Coffee Hour – Wednesday, March 23, 11:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Relax and socialize at this casual, drop-in event offered every Wednesday. The Center provides coffee and light snacks.
7. Fifteenth Anniversary Gala Open House – Wednesday, March 23, 6-9 p.m.
Celebrate the founding of the Houston GLBT Community Center at the official open house event along with elected officials and community notables. Through the evening, community performing arts group will provide musical entertainment. Political and community notables have been invited to attend.
8. Center Energy – Thursday, March 24, 1-2 p.m.
Work out with popular personal trainer and gym owner John Aaron Villarreal (Muscle Mechanics), who leads this weekly low-impact exercise program. While the program continues to focus on people living with HIV, all are welcome.
9. HIV Testing – Thursday, March 24, 1-2 p.m.
Know your status! Get a confidential HIV test offered weekly at the Center by bilingual staff from Houston Area Community Services, a Federally Qualified Health Center, through a partnership with the Center.
10. Center HIV Support Group – Thursday, March 24, 6 p.m.
Get support at this weekly confidential, peer-led group, which includes facilitated conversation among HIV-positive individuals, socials, potlucks, education forums by HIV service agencies and pharmaceutical company representatives, and more.
11. Lesbian Discussion Hour – Friday, March 25, 6:30 p.m.
Find your sisterhood at this monthly program for lesbian, bisexual, and transgender women who love women. Discussion topics include health, family, dating, equality, and community awareness.
12. GLBT Family Day at the Zoo – Friday, March 25, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Venture into the wild kingdom with other GLBT and supportive families on this informal trip to the Houston Zoo in Hermann Park. Buy advance tickets (general admission: adults $12, children 2-11 $8) by emailing the Center at info@hglbtcc.org.
13. Center Schools Annual Planning Session – Saturday, March 26, 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Help GLBT and allied students, faculty, and staff by planning activities of the Center Schools program, which includes the John Lawrence and Tyrone Garner Scholarship Fund and outreach to local high school Gay-Straight Alliances. The session will begin with bagels and coffee and conversation at 10, followed by a 10:30-12:30 work session, and conclude with lunch. Email info@hglbtcc.org for more information.
14. HIV Vaccine Trial – Wednesday, March 23, 6-9 p.m. and Sunday, March 27, 12:30-4 p.m.
Learn about the nationwide vaccine trial testing the safety and efficacy of a combination of two potential HIV vaccines and the possibility that they will stimulate an immune response to HIV. The study is conducted by the HIV Vaccine Trials Network, and Baylor College of Medicine is one of 15 participating sites in the nation. The Center is partnering with Baylor College of Medicine to promote the trial locally. Visit the Baylor information tables at the March 23 Open House and the March 27 Dinner on the Grounds.
15. Center Dinner on the Grounds Picnic – Sunday, March 27, 12:30-4 p.m.
Conclude the Center Fifteenth Anniversary Week with this potluck picnic on the campus of the Center’s home, the Dow School. Bring a covered dish or other food item to share, if you are able. Celebrate with your Center family and with new friends from the Center neighborhood, the Old Sixth Ward Historic District, and Multicultural Education and Counseling through the Arts.
MEET CRYSTAL!
Crystal is the glamorous icon created to honor the Center’s 15 great years of service. Inspired by the traditional gift for a fifteenth anniversary (crystal), she is a stylish and decidedly queer diva. Check in often with Crystal at the Center website and on Facebook for anniversary information and her insights!
Crystal makes her official debut at the Fifteenth Anniversary Week Kick-Off Party on Friday, March 18, at FBar (202 Tuam), which is a benefit for the John Lawrence and Tyrone Garner Scholarship Fund of the Houston GLBT Community Center.
About Crystal’s creator: The Center commissioned artist Randall W. Jobe to create Crystal for the fifteenth anniversary of the Center. Randall has donated his talent and the Crystal image. Look for additional themed Crystal images from Randall throughout the year.
Randall is a resident member of Betz Art Gallery, where his whimsical pieces are on permanent display and for sale. He shows work at other locations, including Java Java, BB’s Downtown, and Male U Wear. Randall’s love of the theatre inspires most of his work. He sees each image as a costumed character, and sometimes with accompanying prose that he writes. Randall is currently the Director of Events/Public Relations for F Bar.
