Atlanta is the largest city in the U.S. without an LGBTQ community center, despite being home to the South’s largest LGBTQ population. That may soon change, thanks to a city-led feasibility study that is currently underway through October. The initiative was launched late last year by Mayor Andre Dickens and is being led by Malik Brown, the city’s former director of LGBTQ affairs.
At the heart of the effort is a multilingual community input survey aimed at gathering feedback on what residents would want from an LGBTQ center — or whether they want one at all. In a recent interview with WABE’s “All Things Considered,” Brown shared that more than 650 people have responded to the survey so far, and the goal is to reach 1,500 to 2,000 responses by the fall.
Early findings have already begun to reveal clear priorities from the community. “The number one request is mental health support,” said Brown. “People want group counseling, affordable therapy, and free sessions.” He added that services for LGBTQ youth and elders rank closely behind, including job readiness programs, social activities and housing resources.
Another high-ranking priority is the inclusion of arts, culture and history. Brown noted that respondents are interested in creating a space to honor LGBTQ figures with ties to Atlanta — both famous names like Elton John and RuPaul, as well as lesser-known community pioneers.
The feasibility study comes at a time when the national political climate has grown more hostile toward LGBTQ rights. When asked if that affects the effort, Brown admitted that the answer varies by the day. However, he noted that in the early days of Pride Month, he’s seen encouraging signs of support from community partners and corporations. “People are showing up for the LGBTQ community in an unafraid kind of way,” he said.
