Category Archives: Press Release

A Time Of Focus & Growth: PCSO Selects Carmen Wampler-Collins As First Ever Executive Director

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Carmen Wampler-Collins, PCSO’s first Executive Director (Photo by Evan Wampler-Collins)

Pride Community Services Organization has an amazing history. As the oldest existing LGBTQ+ organization in Kentucky, we have delivered over forty years of commitment, purpose, and education that has made an impact on our community that is hard to quantify. The PCSO exists to create safe and inclusive spaces where every LGBTQ+ Kentuckian is celebrated and supported. On each step of the way and with every decision made we have aimed to further that vision for our community.

Throughout our history, the PCSO has relied on the time, support, and energy of countless volunteers—leaders, individuals, and groups. The PCSO, our community groups, the PCSO Pride Center on Waller Avenue, and the Lexington Pride Festival have grown because volunteers have committed time, energy, and financial support to the cause. What we have been able to accomplish together demonstrates the strength of our community. The PCSO would not exist without the support of so many people over the years. 

It is an exciting time for the PCSO and LGBTQ+ groups throughout the Bluegrass. We believe that a physical Pride Center where our community can come together is more important now than ever before. We believe the Lexington Pride Festival is a vital part of the fabric of our community. We believe that the groups hosted at the PCSO Pride Center and the support offered through the PCSO make our community a better place. On a daily basis people visit the center, find community, food, and safety. 

We count it as a privilege to be a part of this community that is full of amazing LGBTQ+ causes. Since our founding in 1977, numerous LGBTQ+ organizations have grown around us and we are proud that the PCSO has been able to be a part of those stories. We are honored that many LGBTQ+ groups in Lexington use the PCSO Pride Center and take part in the Pride Festival every year. Each group in our community serves a wonderful purpose and together we make the community stronger. As the number of groups that serve the LGBTQ+ community has grown, the PCSO has been committed to partnering with others who have supported our community and we intend to continue building strength in these partnerships.

In order to continue our mission of service to the LGBTQ+ community and to increase the impact of our work, the PCSO Board of Directors has been taking a hard look at our organization’s structure, vision, and leadership. We have been working to specifically define how the PCSO as an organization fits within the larger LGBTQ+ landscape in Central and Eastern Kentucky and beyond. Our mission is focused on improving the lives of people in the LGBTQ+ community in our region and we have come to see that given the complex needs in our community, it is to our best advantage to implement a plan to bring on a full-time leader who can direct and manage the focus of our work to continue meeting our mission.

We are proud and excited to announce that Carmen Wampler-Collins has been promoted to serve as the first ever Executive Director of the Pride Community Services Organization! With her expertise, leadership, and commitment in this full-time position, we are confident that the PCSO will continue to grow as an organization. Carmen’s role as Executive Director will be to develop the physical, fiscal, and structural supports needed to take the PCSO into the next forty years and beyond. Over the coming months, with the support of the PCSO Board of Directors, Carmen will be specifically developing new opportunities for stakeholders to join with the PCSO to support LGBTQ+ people in our region. 

The PCSO Board of Directors is honored that Carmen would dedicate herself to the organization. She has our full support in this new position. There is no one else who understands the PCSO like Carmen. Over the past several years as she has served as Pride Center Coordinator, she has already been shaping and growing the PCSO for the future. We hope that each of you will also join us in congratulating Carmen and find some time to stop by the PCSO Pride Center to visit and congratulate her and find out how you can get more involved with the work of PCSO. 

Cheers to the next forty years and BEYOND!

Response to Kentucky Supreme Court Ruling in Hands On Originals Discrimination Case

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The Lexington Pride t-shirt that Hands On Originals refused to print.

The Pride Community Services Organization (formerly the Gay and Lesbian Services Organization) is disappointed to learn that the Kentucky Supreme Court upheld the lower court’s ruling in favor of Hands On Originals and their discriminatory actions against the LGBTQ+ community. While we disagree with the ruling, it is important to understand that the court’s decision was a narrow one. No ruling was made on the larger civil rights discrimination issues brought forward by the case. Instead, the decision was based on procedure. The Kentucky Supreme Court agreed to dismiss the case based on the fact that the suit was filed on behalf of an organization rather than an individual. No decision was made on whether discrimination occurred or on the validity of LGBTQ+ nondiscrimination ordinances as a whole. Nor was a legal precedent set for businesses to discriminate against the LGBTQ+ community.

The Lexington Fayette Urban County Human Rights Commission, as the entity that filed the case on behalf of the GLSO, is reviewing the decision and will explore what further actions are possible in the coming weeks. We appreciate their support throughout the multiple appeals in the case and stand ready to work with them in whatever way makes the most sense in moving forward.

We recognize that this outcome may be disheartening to those of us in the LGBTQ+ community who continue to deal with discrimination on a daily basis, and who had hoped for a more definitive legal decision. For us, this case is about much more than a t-shirt, and represents the potential for us to be denied access to basic public services because of our core identities. It is a valid concern that the ruling for “Hands on Originals” could add fuel to the fire for those who are looking for justification to discriminate against people in the LGBTQ+ community and misunderstand the limited nature of the decision. The ruling illustrates that, whether it be through this case or other efforts, we still have much work to do in ensuring that LGBTQ+ rights are protected in Kentucky.

The PCSO is dedicated to continuing to fight on this issue and other fronts to ensure that LGBTQ+ Kentuckians are legally protected from discrimination. As we have since 1977, we will continue to provide direct services, programs, support, referrals, education, and advocacy for the LGBTQ+ community in Central and Eastern Kentucky. We encourage anyone in the LGBTQ+ community who has concerns about this ruling or the impact it may have for them to reach out to us at the Pride Center at 859-253-3233. We are happy to provide support and resources and a safe space to air your concerns.

The PCSO is deeply grateful for the continued support we have had from the larger community in Lexington and across Kentucky during the seven years this case has been active. You have shown us through your donations, offers to provide printing services, kind words, and moral support that the discriminatory practices of one business owner do not speak for Lexingtonians or Kentuckians as a whole.

For those of you wondering how to help moving forward, here are a few suggestions:

  1. Educate yourself on where candidates stand on issues that impact the LGBTQ+ community and VOTE! Next election day in Kentucky is this coming Tuesday, November 5th.
  2. Connect with Center Action Network at lgbtactionlink.org to stay on top of and be involved with issues impacting the LGBTQ+ community.
  3. Spend your money at businesses that are LGBTQ+ welcoming and affirming.
  4. Volunteer at and donate to nonprofits supporting the LGBTQ+ community.

We hope you will continue to fight with us to create a safe, inclusive Commonwealth where every LGBTQ+ Kentuckian is celebrated and supported.

GLSO ANNOUNCES ELECTION OF KIRA GOLDADE TO BOARD

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The GLSO is proud to announce that Kira Goldade has been elected to a position on the GLSO Board. Kira is a mother of two amazing teenage children.  Kira relocated to Kentucky from Ohio for a change in her life, and connected with the GLSO because a loved one came out and trusted her enough to provide them support and be non-judgmental.  Since then, Kira has been very involved with the GLSO.  Kira was a Pride volunteer in 2014 and has participated in Heart-to-Heart meetings and GLSO/Pride fundraisers.  Kira joined the 2015 Pride Committee, and currently serves as the Vendor Liaison Chairperson.  In her spare time, Kira enjoys watching football, crocheting, and spending time with her family.  Please join us in welcoming Kira.

Kira

As always, GLSO Board meetings are open to everyone; if you are interested in joining the Board or would just like to attend our meetings as a guest.  Board meetings are held on the first Thursday of every month at 6:30PM at the GLSO Center (389 Waller Avenue, #100, Lexington, KY 40504).

A Statement From The GLSO Board #Blacklivesmatter #Baltimore

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Taking into consideration the GLSO’s mission of inclusion and focus on community involvement, the GLSO Board would like to make a statement about the events that have been taking place in Baltimore, Maryland.

First, we would like to address the role of the media and the mixed messages that have been surfacing for the last two days. It is important to recognize that context matters. While words such as “riots” and “looting” are the constant focus of the news, we recognize that this is merely an attempt to maintain the status quo and distract individuals from the reality of the situation: Black individuals in our country continue to be brutally killed and treated as second-class citizens by a system that consistently protects those of privileged identities. Therefore, we encourage members of our community to look beyond the headlines and understand the long history of oppression that our Black brothers and sisters have endured.  As a community that knows too well the consequences of years of oppression and marginalization, let’s recognize that silence is never the answer, as silence “only encourages the tormentor, never the tormented” (Elie Wiesel). Let’s never side with the oppressor. Let’s never be the oppressor.

Second, we recognize that there are many members of our LGBTQ+ community who also share layers of oppressed identities, such as being Black and LGBTQ+, that make it harder for them to express their authentic selves. Therefore, we would like to reach out and say that: we see you, we hear you, and we understand your struggles. Please know that as a community organization we are here to provide ALL members of our community a safe space where you can BE your own authentic self.

#Blacklivesmatter #Baltimore

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