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Back in 2008, in the wake of Proposition 8 and the loss of marriage equality in California, a group of friends in Los Angeles decided to take action.
Inspired by Harvey Milk’s message of reaching beyond the LGBTQ+ community through acts of service and kindness, Gay for Good has since expanded into a national organization.
Through its now 18 chapters across the country, Gay for Good unites LGBTQ+ people and their allies to local nonprofits, essentially providing volunteers to help meet the needs of each partner organization during specific service events.
Gay for Good’s Orange County and Long Beach chapter has worked with organizations including Long Beach Community Table, Love in the Mirror, and the AIDS Food Store. Volunteers have participated in Veterans Day events, rebuilt a community garden, and cleaned an animal shelter, just to name a few of their past endeavors.
“We try to mix it up so that there’s a nice mix of projects throughout the year and so we’re supporting a lot of different communities, and not just putting all of our efforts into let’s say, food insecurity, or all of our efforts into homelessness prevention,” said Anne Friedman, Gay for Good’s executive director.
Gay for Good aims to create lasting partnerships with other local nonprofits, often providing anywhere from 10 to 50 volunteers per event.
Friedman’s involvement with Gay for Good actually began as a volunteer, after joining the Los Angeles chapter in 2010.
“I had come out later in life, I was looking for ways to meet other queer people, and stumbled upon the organization on Facebook,” she said. “And I immediately was drawn to this idea of being able to meet really great, nice people who are giving back to the community, but also being surrounded by a safe environment where I felt welcomed and included.”
Quickly, Friedman was invited to become a chapter leader, moving on to then join the National Board. And about three and a half years ago, she left her full time job to take a position as Gay For Good’s very first executive director.
Prior to the pandemic, Gay for Good would typically partner with other organizations at least once a month.
While the pandemic has limited the events Gay for Good can participate in, the organization has continued to provide opportunity for connection to Long Beach’s LGBTQ+ community and allies alike, Friedman said.
“There’s less opportunity for people to meet and connect in person right now, especially this month, given the rise in numbers,” said Friedman. “But the projects that we do have, what we’re finding is they’re filling up within minutes. People are looking for ways to connect.”
Moving beyond the pandemic, Friedman hopes to expand Gay for Good’s presence in Long Beach and to engage even more volunteers.
“Our goal is really to go out into the broader community to spread positive images of LGBTQ folks, and also to whenever possible, engage with others from other (community) groups,” said Friedman. “Through those interactions, working together over the course of a morning for a shared common purpose, it really creates this beautiful space where you come together and realize we’re all just human, we’re here for the same cause. And you hope that at the end of that morning, and as people walk away, that those differences have fallen away, and we realize we have more in common than we do differences.”
To participate in future service events with Gay for Good, join the organization’s mailing list here. Gay for Good’s local chapter can also be contacted at [email protected].