LGBT Center Thrives Downtown

Phoenix, AZ – New York has one, Houston has one, Los Angeles has one and up until recently, Phoenix was one of the largest cities in America without its own lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual community center, managing director for One Voice community center, Jeff Gish said.

One Voice in Phoenix opened its doors Sept. 4, establishing the only LGBT community center and space that caters to the gay community since the closing of a similar center in 1999.

Located at 725 West Indian School Road, the center is visible from the road with its bright signage and rainbow flags nestled in between a Salvation Army store and a Mexican market.

Besides the wall of health and wellness pamphlets, the center houses a space for meetings, a small computer center, a library and an art gallery filled with local artists.

Board chairman Rocco Menaguale said he started the One Voice organization in 2004 after feeling a sense of isolation from the community.

“Back in 2004 was when a lot of the anti-gay marriage campaigns began and I felt as if the government was pin pointing my community so I wanted to do something that could unify our community,” he said.

Menaguale gathered friends and other members of the community and looked for a space that they could work from.

“We shared an office with Alternatives at first, another non-profit organization, but never had a place of our own,” Menaguale said.

Gish said the organization started primarily as a virtual organization and functioned through word of mouth but as they became more active a place of their own was needed more and more.

“The community was always asking why we didn’t have our own place, so even though we didn’t have a lot of money, we began searching for a place hoping that the community would help as well,” he said.

Bob Immel volunteers at the center about two to three times a week and said he has noticed the impact that the center has had on the community.

“When I’m here, I pick up on things that are going on throughout the community that I otherwise would not have known,” Immel said. “I get a chance to meet people, interact in the discussions and keep myself out of trouble.”

The center has helped people in abusive relationships, who are facing drug abuse and who have contemplated suicide, Menaguale said.

“Although, we are LGBT focused, we are here to help anyone in the community, straight or gay,” he said.

Immel said that this place is a great alternative to other gay scenes.

“The gay community is always associated with the bar scene and now we can pull away from that,” he said. “We remain visible as another point of contact within the community and as a resource.”

Sen. Rogelio Macias, of college of Liberal Arts & Sciences, said he is glad that there is finally a center where young people can seek help when they feel alone.

“I would have loved to have a place to go to or someone who knew what I was going through to help me when I was coming out to my friends and family,” Macias said.

Gish said about 400 people come through the center each week. Different events are offered each week to bring awareness to the public including health discussions and outreach programs.

“Non-profit organizations are able to use our space when ever it is available,” Gish said. “We have a group here every night we are open, it’s like we’ve already out grown this location.”

In celebration of their 50th day of operation, One Voice held their gala event Forward at The Arizona Biltmore Oct. 24, when the Biltmore contacted the center about providing a free venue to raise funds for the organization, Gish said.

“The fact that The Biltmore has noticed us as a strong community and wants our business proves the fact that we have a strong community,” he said.

Although the final numbers are not in yet, the event raised enough funds to sustain the community center for several months, Gish said.

“I really believe in the importance of this community center,” said Gish. “We’re creating an environment where individuals can live without fear or isolation.”

Upcoming events at the center include a toy drive through Christmas and clothes drive for transgender men and women in need. The Holiday Trans Clothing Exchange will be held at the center on Thursday, December 17 from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m.

The center is currently open Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from noon until 9:00 p.m. and Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. Starting with the new year, the center will also open up its doors on Tuesdays and Thursday from noon until 9:00 p.m. while still keeping its previous hours.

Guest article contributed by Omar Zamora, Student.
Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication

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