By Laura Biancone, Executive Director, The LGBT Center of Greater Reading
Photo courtesy of Cecilie Bomstad on Unsplash
At a time when LGBTQ+ individuals, people experiencing homelessness, and other marginalized communities face increasing threats, we should be seeing a surge in solidarity among local organizations. Instead, we are witnessing the opposite: a breakdown in collaboration that is leaving too many vulnerable people without the support they need.
The numbers paint a stark reality. Hate crimes against LGBTQ+ individuals surged by over 30% in the past two years (FBI, 2023). Over 500 anti-LGBTQ+ bills were introduced in the U.S. last year alone. Meanwhile, homelessness has risen by 12% nationwide, with LGBTQ+ youth making up 40% of the homeless youth population (True Colors United, 2023). Our center has seen a 40% increase in demand for shelter, mental health services, and legal aid, yet our ability to meet this demand is being undermined by fragmentation among local organizations. Our own Center is in the midst of a funding crisis, with mere weeks of funding left to support our communities.
It’s not just LGBTQ+ groups that are struggling. Homeless shelters, food pantries, refugee support groups, and mental health providers are all facing record-breaking needs while funding sources remain stagnant or shrink. When organizations work in silos rather than in partnership, we duplicate efforts, miss opportunities for efficiency, and leave people without the full spectrum of care they need.
But this is not the time to lie down.
Why Unity Matters More Than Ever
We have seen the power of coalition-building before. During the HIV/AIDS crisis, it was the collaboration between LGBTQ+ groups, public health organizations, and housing advocates that saved lives. When eviction moratoriums expired during the pandemic, partnerships between housing justice groups and LGBTQ+ centers helped keep at-risk individuals off the streets. Unity creates impact; fragmentation creates failure.
If local organizations continue to compete rather than collaborate, service gaps will widen, more individuals will fall through the cracks, and marginalized populations will face even greater vulnerability. Furthermore, if our center were to close, there would be no equivalent safe space for our clients, and other agencies would not be able to absorb them easily. This is not a matter of logistical space but of capability and experience serving a population under imminent threat.
How We Can Start Now
To community leaders, nonprofit directors, business owners, and local officials, the time for fragmented efforts is over. Here’s how we can take immediate action to build momentum toward a stronger, unified approach:
- Host a community roundtable: We invite leaders from all sectors—LGBTQ+ organizations, homelessness services, food pantries, healthcare providers, and advocacy groups—to a strategic roundtable to identify shared challenges and opportunities for collaboration.
- Launch a joint advocacy coalition: By forming a coalition, we amplify our voices, increase funding opportunities, and create a stronger front against harmful legislation and policy changes. We will organize joint funding requests, pooled grant applications, and coordinated public messaging.
- Set a 30-day action goal: We commit to concrete action within the next 30 days, whether it’s launching a pilot resource-sharing initiative, establishing a co-hosted fundraising campaign, or setting up a collaborative emergency response fund. The first step must happen now—not months from now.
This Is Our Moment to Lead
We are ready to do the work, connect the dots, and facilitate these partnerships—but we need you to step forward with us. We are calling on every nonprofit leader, local official, business owner, and community advocate to commit to a new era of collective action.
We must stand together. We must take the first step together.
Contact us at programs@lgbtcenterofreading.com to be part of the first roundtable and shape the future of our community.
The post When Unity Falters: Why Our Community Organizations Must Stand Together appeared first on BCTV.
Source: bctv
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