San Diego LGBT Community Center celebrated its 50th year anniversary, a right-wing group allegedly attacks an LGBT professor in Arizona, and Iowa's inaugural LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce launched.
50th Anniversary for San Diego LGBT Community Center
The San Diego LGBT Community Center celebrated its 50th year anniversary.
According to CBS News 8, the nonprofit offers over 80,000 service visits annually to the community, assisting individuals in accessing housing, behavioral health support, immigration help, and other services.
"As one of the largest LGBTQ centers in the country we’ve grown tremendously, and it’s something that the community and our allies are the folks who have got us to where we are today," said Ian Johnson, senior director of development. "I’m extremely proud that the organization steps up to the needs of our community and just giving people the support they need."
Right-Wing Group Allegedly Injures LGBTQ Professor
Photo via David Boyles, Facebook.
According to NBC affiliate KPNX in Phoenix, an Arizona State University queer professor was allegedly injured by two men with Turning Point USA on Oct. 11. David Boyles is an English professor as well as co-founder of Drag Story Hour Arizona.
Video posted on Oct. 12 by TPUSA shows one of the men, Kalen D'Almeida, accosting Boyles as he left his class. Boyles stated on a Facebook post that the class was on "LGBTQ+ youth in pop culture and politics.”
"One filmed on his phone while the other shouted horrible and incendiary things at me, repeating standard right-wing nonsense about Drag Story Hour and also accusing me personally of pedophilia and hating America," Boyles wrote.
Boyles stated that he tried to obstruct the camera and as he did so, the other person attacked him from behind and pushed him to the ground.
"The reported assault is being investigated as a potential bias or prejudicially motivated incident," ASU police spokesman Adam Wolfe said in an email to KPNX.
Iowa's Inaugural LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce Launches
Photo via iowalgbtqchamber.org.
Iowa’s LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce made its debut after five years in development on Oct. 18, according to We Are Iowa Local 5 News. The goal of the organization is to connect LGBTQ business owners, allies and entrepreneurs.
"You know, as LGBTQ business owners might have really specific situations or problems that they really need peers and colleagues to be able to talk to and be mentored, or add their own values and contributions. So, being able to create this chamber for the state of Iowa is really exciting," said Dan Jansen, the organization’s board director.
The organization focuses on uniting LGBTQ businesses through four pillars: fostering community connections, promoting economic development, advancing career growth, and providing training.
