Gay Central Valley Agency Analysis

1. Gay Central Valley

2. Mission Statement
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Gay Central Valley exists to contribute
to and enrich the cultural life of LGBT
(Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender)
persons, their families, friends and
supporters, through awareness and
education, about the diversity and
history of the LGBT community in the
Central Valley of California.

3. Goals
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To provide a physical safe place (The LGBT
Community Center) for the community in
order to provide resources and services and
to be free of harm or discrimination.
To provide community centers throughout the
central valley.
To enrich and advocate for the lives of the
LGBT community.

4. Target Population and Information on
Populations-at-Risk
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Population in Fresno county: About 1,000,000.
National Statistic: 3.5% of the population identify as Lesbian, Gay,
Bisexual, or Transgender (United States Census Bureau)
This means that in Fresno County about 35,000 individuals IDENTIFY
as LGBT.
50% of males who identify as gay experience a negative parental
reaction.
26% of those cases results in the gay individual being thrown out of the
home.
Gay teens are 8.4 times more likely to report having attempted suicide.
Gay teen are 5.9 times more likely to report signs of depression.
Studies indicate that between 25% and 50% of homeless youth are
LGBT and on the streets because of their sexual identity or gender
identification.

5. Transgender Population
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An estimated 2-5% of the population is
Transgender.
8% of Americans said they either
worked with of personally knew a
transgender person, compared to 78%
who claimed they knew or worked with
a gay person.

6. Agency Context
Geographic Community: Central Valley
 Median Household Income in Fresno County: $43,440.
 Demographic Groups in Fresno County:
-Under 18: 30.1%
-White 49.6%
-Hispanic 46.9%
Language other than English: 42.4%
People below the poverty level: 25.9%
BUT THIS IS NOT WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT. WHAT IS
IMPORTANT IS THE FACT THAT REGARDLESS OF INCOME,
ETHNICITY, NATIONAL ORIGIN, OR OTHER
DEMOGRAPHICS, MEMBERS OF THE LGBT COMMUNITY
FALL IN ALL OF THESE CATEGORIES.
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7. Agency Links & Community
Involvement
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LGBT Community Center
Transemotion: provides services, groups, and resources for the
Transgender community.
The Trevor Project: suicide prevention for LGBT youth.
Gay Central Valley engages in 5-10 outreach events a month.
WE CARE, Department of Health (e.g. HIV & STD testing)
GSA (Gay Straight Alliance), PFlag (Parents, families, and
friends of lesbians and gays, NOH8, Human Rights Campaign,
Reel Pride Film Festival, Planned Parenthood, and hundreds of
others!

8. Services
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LGBT Community Center with a lending library (magazines,
books, and movies geared towards the LGBT population) that
serves as a safe place for people to gather and a referral point
for agencies and resources geared towards the LGBT
population.
Cultural competency training, support groups (e.g. polyamory
support group, transgender support group.)
Rainbow Delegation bracelets.
Cooperative entity.
Information on LGBT friendly Churches, Doctors, attorneys,
counselors, and soon weddings.
Agency Link/Resources for the LGBT Community Center.

9. Organizational Structure
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Non-profit 501(C)(3)
Board of Directors responsible
oversees the responsibilities of the
organization.
All staff members are volunteers.
Top management position: President
However, the president’s vote is just as
equal as a board member.

10. Organizational Structure
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Other job positions: office staff (full time
volunteers), part-time/drop in volunteers,
interns, Rainbow Delegation (rainbow
bracelets) manager, center manager, group
facilitator (program coordinator), internship
supervisor, grant writer.
Role of clients is to call or come to the center
to utilize resources provided by the center or
to ask questions about resources available,
or to come to the LGBT Community Center as
a safe place.

11. Social Work
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Gay Central Valley seeks to empower the LGBT community
through community involvement in order to fight the injustices
given to the LGBT population.
Gay Central Valley values the individuality and worth of a
person. Sexual orientation should and needs to be irrelevant.
Labels should not be placed on people.
The LGBT population is human just like everyone else, so they
automatically deserve the same human rights that the straight
population has.
Gay Central Valley fights for the inclusiveness among members
of the LGBT population.
Gay Central Valley also advocates for the inclusiveness of
members of the straight community, because we must be all
included as a society.

12. Birmingham LGBT Centre:
Located in London
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Similar to the LGBT Community Center in terms of some of the
services they provide.
The main difference between the Fresno LGBT Community
Center and the Birmingham LGBT Centre is that the
Birmingham Centre focuses on the significant health inequalities
of the LGBT population, such as high rates of smoking, alcohol
abuse, and poorer mental health.
Three floors of space! (LGBT Community Center has one floor
and a meeting room)
Meeting and training rooms.
Café
Fitness Suite
Counseling and clinical spaces

13. Birmingham LGBT Centre
cont.
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The center has a focus on Health and Well-being.
The centre also has support groups for the
Transgender community.
Confidential Mental Health Drop-Ins.
Fitness Sessions
Counseling and Psychotherapy
Alcohol/Narcotics Support
Weight Management
Support Groups for the Transgender Community
As well as participating in cultural events in the city
that are geared towards the LGBT population.

14. Resources
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Gay Central Valley Website:
www.gaycentralvalley.org
Information on Transgender Population:
http://www.transgenderlaw.org/resources/transfactsheet.pdf
Fresno LGBT Community Center: www.fresnolgbtcenter.org
United States Census Bureau:
http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/06/06019.html
Birmingham LGBT Centre: http://www.blgbt.org/
PFlag:
http://www.pflagnyc.org/safeschools/statistics

15. Final Notes
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We are all human.
The only reason why sexual orientation
matters is because as a society we have
made being LGBTQ inferior, therefore making
sexual orientation matter.
As long as you are not interested in a
particular person, then what does sexual
orientation have to do with anything?
Thank you!