Gay City Health Project Programs
HIV/STI Testing and Counseling
Gay City Health Project is the leading provider of free, anonymous HIV and STI (Sexually Transmitted Infections) testing and counseling for gay, bi and trans men in Seattle, operating in English and Spanish six days a week. Testing available at Gay City includes both rapid and standard HIV testing, HIV RNA testing, and screening for syphilis. We also offer chlamydia and gonorrhea screening for those that are eligible. In 2012, we provided more than 2,800 HIV tests, screened 2,452 clients for Syphilis, and 2,373 for other STI’s. Our consistently high case finding rates (positive results) demonstrate that we are effective in reaching a diverse, at-risk population of MSM and connecting them with testing and access to care.
Gay City LGBT Library and Resource Center
The Michael C. Weidemann LGBT Library at Gay City houses more than 5,000 volumes, covering a wide range of LGBT topics from queer history to transgender studies, from fiction to theology. The collection is available to members of the community, on a free lending basis, afternoons and evenings six days per week. Our library is staffed by a committed team of volunteers who provided more than 2,500 hours of service in 2012. Our library also houses and staffs the Seattle LGBT Resource & Referral Center, which connects thousands of LGBT individuals each year with the information and resources they need. Resources are available both online and on a drop-in basis, including free internet access and trained volunteer support staff.
Gay City Arts
Through Gay City Arts, Gay City has radically expanded its capacity to collaborate with LGBT artists to galvanize an audience for queer arts, foster the development of LGBT artists, and facilitate artistic excellence that is accessible, including the promotion of new works. The recently completed Calamus Auditorium at Gay City, home to Gay City Arts, will host performances and shows from the full range of artistic disciplines including theater, film, spoken word, music, visual arts, and workshops. Arts programming is facilitated by a volunteer council of local queer artists. Our first official season will kick off in September 2013.
Recent Successes and Current Challenges
Project BuildOUT 2012
In response to significant program expansion since 2006 and to growing unmet needs across our community, in 2012 Gay City designed and created a new 8,500 square foot facility to serve as a resource hub and social destination for Seattle’s LBGT community. Through this project we have…
- doubled the available space for Gay City Wellness Center, resulting in a 20% increase in our testing and counseling services within the first 6 months of occupancy;
- tripled the size of the Gay City LGBT Library, providing it retail frontage and street access and resulting in a 50% increase in library patronage;
- developed the Seattle LGBT Resource & Referral Center to provide drop-in services for the first time, including multiple computer terminals providing free internet access;
- added additional community meeting space that has been utilized by more than 30 nonprofit organizations, community groups and local businesses since October 2012; and
- created a multipurpose performance space with potential for variety of possible uses, including theatrical productions, film screenings, spoken word events, musical performances, visual art installations, readings, writing workshops, seminars, community meetings, and private events.
Providing for Stability and Sustainability
Previous attempts to provide an LGBT community center for Seattle have been unable to maintain long-term sustainability. Gay City’s new facility, while not a community center per se, fulfills a similar function. In developing our new space we have paid careful attention to the question of sustainability. One element of that plan is to replenish reserves that were depleted by our capital project as quickly as possible in order to weather short-term cash flow challenges without disrupting services or availability of our space. In addition to fundraising to meet current operational costs, Gay City seeks significant, dedicated gifts in 2013 to meet this need.