District 202 in Danger of Closing

Now that I'm feeling more caught up with work and school, I thought I'd share some news about HIV/AIDS locally. Even if World AIDS Day was last week, I'll try and follow this theme for this week.

District 202 may close as soon as next year. This bad news comes during a difficult time for the youth of District 202, as one of them was shot 5 times recently as a result of transphobia. [Google cache of Lavender Magazine. I really wish they'd add archives for the bloggers]

District 202 Executive Director Laura Ayers: "We are an amazing organization, and the positive impact of this community center in young GLBT people's lives is tremendous. We are changing the way the center operates so we have a stronger chance of weathering the new economic realities. If we don't change, and if the community does not support us, then we would face having to close late next year."

For those who don't know what District 202 does:

"Founded twelve years ago by activist GLBT youth and adults, District 202 provides meeting space, peer counseling, mental health and housing referrals, safer sex education and other services to GLBT youth 21 and under. Located above GLBT-friendly Nicollet Village Video, District 202 is a large space with a rainbow-colored floor, quietly humming with activity during the day and occasionally pulsing with dance music at night. The nonprofit has seen a steady rise in demand for its services over the years. About 2000 youth have visited District 202 so far this year, with a large percentage of those being first-time visits."

And here's the World AIDS Day tie-in: "These are life and death matters," says District 202 Executive Director Laura Ayers, referring to funding cuts to her organization's HIV and STD prevention program. "Three years ago, we had an application to the Minnesota Department of Health approved, but state funding comes from the federal level and this year [the state] ran out of money before they reached us," Ayers said. The program can no longer afford to purchase condoms, lube, or dental dams for its safer sex education programs.

Via Pulse of the Twin Cities. It's a great article about the fate of the Minnesota non-profit sector.