By Karla Rothan, interim center director of Stonewall Columbus
There’s a great inspirational quote that says we are best measured not when the seas are calm, but when the waves are crashing against us. The quote doesn’t even mention those times when the water seems to be over our heads, and we are written off as drowned and forgotten.
Like many non-profit and community-based service agencies in Central Ohio, Stonewall Columbus faced both financial and institutional challenges in 2006, sometimes making it difficult to stay afloat in the sea of constant change.
But through responsible fiscal action, targeted investments, and unprecedented community support and involvement, Stonewall Columbus will finish 2006 with a secure foundation, standing firm even as the waves continue to crash.
For the past twenty-five years, Stonewall Columbus has been the engine of GLBT liberation in Central Ohio. Throughout the nation and here at home, the political and cultural climate has changed – as well as the number of issue-specific GLBT organizations.
Through it all, however, Stonewall Columbus continues to be the one local outlet connecting the GLBT community and the GLBT individual at all levels.
How impressive it has been this year to see the success of issue-specific organizations such as Equality Ohio, leading our state on political issues; BRAVO and its continued commitment to ending hate crimes and violence; and Kaleidoscope, whose education and outreach to GLBT youth will affect generations after us.
Stonewall Columbus, on the other hand, represents an all-encompassing organization… a place for all GLBT individuals to connect and find a community.
We continue to offer the broadest range of services for the Columbus GLBT community, matched by no other single GLBT organization in Central Ohio. More than 9,500 people visit the Stonewall Columbus Community Center each year.
Stonewall offers free support groups for women, men and transgender individuals. Educational speakers visit schools, churches, organizations and businesses to educate people on GLBT issues. A straight ally organization, Speak Out was formed to partner with our straight community in our fight for civil rights. Stonewall continues to partner with the interfaith community to help people to continue in their faith and celebrate their belief systems.
Stonewall hosts quarterly educational seminars and workshops on a variety of topics that are free and open to the community. We take 1,000 calls per month here; most are referrals to people and places in the community. Stonewall Columbus boasts a Volunteer Team of over 500 community members.
And then there was the historic 2006 Pride Holiday. The parade, festival and rally drew more than 100,000 people to Columbus, coming out from all over Ohio and beyond.
Despite all this outpouring of community support, there were some who thought Stonewall Columbus would not be able to stay above the waters.
To the contrary, Stonewall Columbus Board will finish the year “back in the black” – erasing a debt that at one time reached as far as $150,000.
The Board of Stonewall Columbus led the responsible fiscal action. Though difficult, the board reduced staff size and streamlined office duties to be most cost-effective during the tighter budget period.
Although facing a tight budget, the Stonewall Columbus Board made the thoughtful decision to invest dollars into targeted areas, including our facilities, business outreach, and the Pride Holiday. Each of these holds the potential for a greater return on investment and the ability to leverage additional community support.
A key building block in securing the foundation of Stonewall Columbus has been the continued financial support and unprecedented community involvement throughout 2006.
Despite the intense political environment of 2006 – with high profile campaigns drawing large contributions from GLBT voters, Stonewall Columbus continued to receive great financial outgiving by the GLBT community and its allies.
The United Way of Central Ohio, Community Shares and the City of Columbus continue to invest into the Stonewall Columbus mission.
And the 2006 Pride Holiday, with its record-setting attendance, exceeded expectations on revenue and charitable giving.
But success is not measured just in dollars.
The Board of Stonewall Columbus, under the leadership of new President Kelly Jaeger and Treasurer Darryl Cook, is refocused, recommitted, and results-driven. Rounding out the executive board team is Wanda Ellis, Vice President and Bruce Shalter, clerk. And with the generous support of chairs Bruce Dooley and Rick Gallagher, A Night Out re-energized the entire GLBT community, as anyone who was there could tell you.
Stonewall Columbus is here for the long term. We look forward to the new year and the waves it may bring. No matter what the sea of change may bring, as long as people are coming out of the closet… with countless acts of courage to say “I’m gay!”… Stonewall Columbus has to be here for them.
