Helping LYRIC Celebrate 20 Years

By Elena, October 2008

At the 20th anniversary party for the Lavender Youth Recreation and Information Center in October, three outLoud interviewers recorded everything from the oral histories of 1970s civil rights activists to impromptu covers of the pop song "I Kissed A Girl" and stories about LYRIC’s baby years to insights about homosexuality in American Samoa. Aside form LYRIC birthday wishes, we recorded stories from prominent people who were there fighting for equality from the beginning, people who watched "G" become "LGBTQQI," people who got the neighbors to welcome a queer youth center to their block and activists who worked with the city to get HIV-positive folks medical care.

LYRIC is outLoud's fiscal sponsor—outLoud has tax-exempt (nonprofit) status through LYRIC. But more than that, they are our collaborators and incredible supporters. They've made it possible for outLoud to exist and thrive. Happy Birthday LYRIC! Here's to many more good years.