Harriet Hancock LGBT Center

We’re almost 25% of the way there! Donate today: https://lnkd.in/eptNHHuC ??You can make a huge difference for the Harriet Hancock Center and for all those we serve. ?? $5 can help contribute to new art supplies for our youth and adult programs. ?? $20 can help stock our kitchen with snacks for drop in hours and events. ?? $50 supports tabling needs for two community events to educate people about the HHC and LGBTQ+ issues. ??$100 supports one peer support or social meeting a month. ?? $150 can buy dinner for Youth OUTLOUD meetings for a month. ?? These are just a couple examples of how your donations make an impact. Thank you to those who have been able to donate so far! We have a goal of $30,000 by the end of the month and we can reach it with your donation, big or small! Donate today: https://lnkd.in/eptNHHuC #columbiasc #community #harriethancockcenter #lgbtqia #pride #protecttransyouth #translivesmatter #blacklivesmatter #accessibility

? It has been a full year? For our December Giving Campaign, we're stretching ourselves and aiming high. We have a $30,000 goal. This will help us kick off 2025 as we expand our programming and do more advocacy work. We picked RENT and “Seasons of Love” as key themes because we know we are greater together and can accomplish so much as a unified community. In 2024, we had so many moments filled with laughter and love. We've also had moments of heartache and disappointment. This year has been a revival for our organization. We’ve prioritized making more accessible and expansive programming for the whole community because we know that we all have complex identities. We have been able to serve almost 1,500 people this year through our special events, peer-support groups, and social activities as well as providing resources via email and over the phone. Please reflect with us on the joys and trials of 2024 by watching this compilation video. By making a gift today or throughout December, you are investing in us as we expand our work and uplift the whole community. Use the link below to make a gift. https://lnkd.in/eptNHHuC

We're excited to hear that our colleagues at Alliance For Full Acceptance are launching the Equality Tracker Legislative Scorecard tomorrow night. We believe in education and having the tools to make the best decisions you can. That's what this tool is going to do in South Carolinians wanting to know and understand voting records for elected officials. We'll be at this virtual event learning more tomorrow night, will you?

?? We can't wait to see you on the red carpet! ?? "The Legacy Gala" is an inaugural event designed to celebrate the outstanding contributions of individuals within the Columbia LGBTQ+ community. Embracing the theme of "Hollywood Glamour," we promise an evening of elegance and sophistication. Attendees can expect a red carpet affair, complete with dazzling attire and glamorous décor. ?? At its core, The Legacy Gala serves as a platform to honor the remarkable efforts and achievements of those who have dedicated themselves to advocating for LGBTQ rights and fostering inclusion within our community. Through awards, speeches, and recognition, the gala aims to shine a spotlight on the invaluable work of these individuals, acknowledging their enduring impact and inspiring others to continue the legacy of activism and advocacy. ?? We invite the community to participate in nominating leaders in our community for awards. Award nominations will close on August 12th. ?? This year, we are presenting five individual awards, and four have an open nomination process: - Community Advocate of the Year - Youth Community Activist - Political Advocate of the Year - The Legacy Award ?? For more details on each award and to nominate, please click here below for the Google form. https://lnkd.in/e_zsmX2P Additional Details: Drink tickets will also be available for purchase at the check-in desk at the gala. https://lnkd.in/eV9JNTzu?

??H.4624 (a bill banning life-saving gender affirming care for trans youth) is being discussed on the SC Senate floor tomorrow ?? ????? Stand up for our community by: 1. Contacting your senator and voicing your opinion on H.4624 as a constituent. Continue to make calls, call senate offices, call home numbers, call business lines. If you’re a parent or someone who will be directly effected by the passage of the bill, or an educator/teacher call any and all senators. Make sure to thank your senator for their support if they plan on voting no. ?? Find your senator! https://lnkd.in/g4K3G5z 2. Showing up to the SC Statehouse tomorrow (Tuesday, April 30th) at 12 PM. We want to show our numbers! ??1100 Gervais St, Columbia, SC 29208 3. Please share this with as many friends and allies as possible! The time has come and we’re going to not only need ourselves to “show up” we’re going to need our friends, families, and allies to show up as well. #columbiasc #nonprofit #lgbtqia #translivesmatter #community #yourvotematters #vote #accessibility #protecttransyouth #publichealth #transgender #legislation #scstatehouse

Did you know we have a community calendar on our website? This calendar not only shows our peer support and social groups, but also events at the Center and events our community partners are hosting. A few upcoming events to check out: ??♂? Sunday, April 28th from 4-6pm: No Base Like Home, a charity kickball event by Richlands Regulators Derby at Owens Field Park Baseball Field 2 ?? Tuesday, April 30th from 6-8pm: *New* Queer x Disabled Peer Support and Social Group at the HHC ? Thursday, May 2nd from 6-8pm: Power to the Polls: Voter Registration and Advocacy 101 in collaboration with Dreher High School Democrats at the HHC ?? Saturday, May 4th from 6-8pm: Queer Game Night at the HHC ?? Sunday, May 5th from 2-4pm: First Sunday Potluck at the HHC https://lnkd.in/etx6tDWh

We're so excited to share that in 72 hours, we raised $5,100 for Queer Prom on June 14th. This was 25% of our larger goal of $20K. In total, we're about 75% of the way there. We're still working to secure sponsorships and in-kind contributions that align with prom. If you know any businesses that want to help create a safe space for midlands queer youth, please let tag them or let us know! While we have historically done fundraisers for specific areas like Queer Prom, did you know that you can support us year-round? Gifts made unrestricted help ensure that we can continue to do meaningful work for our community all the time, not just during moments where we have need. Use the link to give today, and help us get back to our roots as a community center that truly centers our community ????? https://lnkd.in/eptNHHuC

TLDR; Raising money for Midland's Youth Queer Prom and we need your help to make it happen! Yesterday, we announced and started fundraising for Midland's Queer Prom. Both upstate and the low country have queer proms that are either for youth or adults. We haven't had one in a handful of years. Our Youth Queer Prom will be Friday, June 14th at Historic Columbia in the Hampton-Preston Gardens from 7 to 10pm. It's a murder mystery theme, but official theme name to be announced soon! It will be for middle and high school-aged youth (roughly 12-18). Our aim is to host a free Queer Prom for at least 250 youth. We know that this ambitious. We also know how important this is, especially after over 800 bills targeting our community over the past year. We estimate this event will take at least $20,000, and we've already secured about $11,000 in in-kind and cash gifts including our venue space. This weekend we're aiming to raise at least $3,500. If we're successful, we have two donors who are willing to donate an additional $1,500, making our weekend total $5,000. Big or small - all gifts matter. To make your gift, click the link and give through Midland's Gives. https://lnkd.in/eiGRvc6G

Location update: some wet grass doesn’t stop us, but it does make us go inside ?? We will be meeting in the Blatt Building in room 112. The Blatt Building is on the corner of Assembly and Pendleton Streets. See you soon!

We're grateful for our volunteers. Their time, ideas and often hands help us make programming happening. But without donors, we wouldn't even be able to dream about the life-changing or the life-saving programming we do at the Harriet Hancock Center. This morning, we sent an email introducing our comprehensive annual giving program called Harriet's Heroes. Harriet's Heroes honors our founder Harriet Hancock and allows donors to support us in ways that are meaningful to them. From social programming that celebrates queer joy to youth and family programming that creates safe space for growth to even educational programming that strengthens collaborations with community partners - there is something for everyone. By donating and becoming a Hero of Harriet's you are sharing and showing your love and acceptance for the LGBTQ+ community. You are showing the community that affirming spaces need to exist in the Midlands. You are giving us the opportunity to do important work that provides basic resources to folx to get the support and care they need beyond our center. You are becoming a champion with and for us. To become a Harriet's Hero, give today using the link: https://lnkd.in/eptNHHuC