Activists open gay meeting center

YOUNGSTOWN — The Mahoning Valley’s gay and lesbian activists have opened a community center here that takes its name from a watershed event in the emergence of the gay and lesbian movement almost 40 years ago.

The center, known as the Stonewall Community Center and located at 1523 Poland Ave., conducted its grand opening and holiday party Saturday.

“It’s really a milestone for us because, for so long, there has been no sense of community,” among local gay and lesbian people, said Brian Wells of Youngstown, co-chairman of the Mahoning Valley Pride Coalition, which operates the center.

“This really provides everyone with a place to go and a place to gather and to be able to develop a sense of community,” Wells said. “We want to be able to provide them with a place to call home,” he added.

The coalition had previously rented small quarters at a North Side church, but the new center, which occupies donated quarters, is the first true gay and lesbian community drop-in center in the Mahoning Valley, Wells said.

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Youngstown Vindicator, OH