Gay Social Service of Central Florida, Inc.
Dublin Core
Title
Gay Social Service of Central Florida, Inc.
Subject
Organization Narrative
Description
Gay Social Services (GSS) was the first gay social service organization founded in 1978. It provided the first and only gay hotline. The group raised funds to pay for an answering service, who would take messages and volunteers would return the calls each evening from 8-10. The hotline number was THE-GAYS.
The operators became accustomed to the various inquiries and eventually begain to answer the questions on their own, which more than likely was "where are the gay bars in Orlando?".
Their primary fundraiser was a monthly Gay Skate at Semoran Skateway that was held every first Monday evening.
David Slaughter was the first president. Their board meetings were often held at the Parliament House.
As the community being serviced changed, the organization frequently changed is moniker to Gay Community Services (GCS), then Gay and Lesbian Community Services (GLCS), then The Center, and now the LGBTQ+ Center.
The operators became accustomed to the various inquiries and eventually begain to answer the questions on their own, which more than likely was "where are the gay bars in Orlando?".
Their primary fundraiser was a monthly Gay Skate at Semoran Skateway that was held every first Monday evening.
David Slaughter was the first president. Their board meetings were often held at the Parliament House.
As the community being serviced changed, the organization frequently changed is moniker to Gay Community Services (GCS), then Gay and Lesbian Community Services (GLCS), then The Center, and now the LGBTQ+ Center.
Creator
David Bain
Citation
David Bain, “Gay Social Service of Central Florida, Inc.,” LGBTQ History Museum of Central Florida - Digital Archive, accessed May 3, 2024, https://floridalgbtqmuseum.omeka.net/items/show/16944.
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