For other local resources, visit:
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Why I Volunteer at the Pride Center:
I decided to become a Pride Center of Western New York (PCWNY) volunteer
due to my long-standing belief since I came out in 1997 that I should
have an active role in the LGBT community. However, I had suffered a
long road before I developed the courage to volunteer at PCWNY. Being an
African American brought up in the suburb of Grand Island, I had a
sheltered life. In addition, when I originally reached out to the LGBT
community via support groups, etc., I was typecast as a pariah due to
the fact that I failed to live up to old (now becoming somewhat passé)
stereotypes of how gays and African Americans are supposed to conduct
themselves in society. I decided with much agony in 2002 to extract
myself as an active member of the LGBT community, and only participated
in the by renting LGBT themed movies at the mega Blockbuster in North
Buffalo. It was not until I spoke to a counselor at ECMC that they told
me about PCWNY. I became a volunteer in May of 2004. When I started
volunteering, I was apprehensive at first, due to my rejections from the
LGBT community in the past. However, the staff here has been very
welcoming and thanks to PCWNY, I was able to get in contact with the SGI
Buddhist organization at the 2004 Pride Celebration. I am currently
practicing Buddhism, and I still volunteer at the Center. Overall this
Center has truly altered not just my life as ony gay African
American male, it also put me back into my spiritual rhythm.
Will (far left) with volunteers Ty and Dennis. |
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