LGBT Community Groups
Tips For Starting a Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Trans Social Group
Want to start a local lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans social group? Community groups can be a great way to meet new people, have fun, and enact social change.
Community social groups are a great way for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and trans (LGBT) people to meet one another in a social setting outside of the club-based "scene". Social groups can provide support for people who are coming out or who are struggling with their sexuality, and can raise awareness of LGBT issues in the wider community. Your social group might focus on a specific type of activity or event (for example, a gay and lesbian reading group, bowling team, or sports club) or might host general events like panel discussions, social dances, picnics, and history walks.
Getting Started
First things first - is there already a group in your area that serves the LGBT community? If there is, this doesn't mean that you can't or shouldn't start your own group. It can help your membership and networking to communicate with any existing groups to share information and ideas.
Set up an email address and website for your group. It doesn't need to be anything fancy at this point - a blog or free website will give members and prospective members somewhere to read about the group and communicate with each other. You might consider setting up a phone number and a post office box for the group as well.
Find a place to meet. Libraries, community centers, and universities all have rooms available for free or for a minimal cost. Try to consider the needs of your members when selecting a location - is it accessible to all who want to attend?
Determine how you want the group and the meetings to be run. Will you have a steering committee or board of directors? Will your group need a treasurer and a secretary? Will you be writing a constitution? If you decide to run your group in a less-formal fashion, you may not need these structures. Will the group be a confidential space? This might be important for group members who are in the closet or who are not sure of their sexuality.
Set a date for your first meeting and start publicizing the group!
Spreading the Word
There's one vital part of a thriving LGBT social group - members! You may already have a group of interested people before you launch the social group, but spreading the word about the group is a key part of making the group strong and vibrant. Advertising can be expensive, but there are free or low-cost options available. Place a community announcement in your local free newspaper. Local gay and lesbian publications often run community announcements or calender listings for free - make sure you get your announcement a week or two before publication date to avoid disappointment. Think creatively about places where you can advertise your new group - message boards online, bulletin boards in local LGBT clubs, bars, and cafes are some good places to publicize your group. Writing a press release for local newspapers and magazines can also be a good way to raise awareness about your new group.
The physical advertisements can be as simple or as flashy as your tastes (and budget!) call for. The message is most important - use clear writing and language to notify possible members about the purpose of the group, where and when it's meeting, and a contact phone number or website for directions or questions.
Running Your Group
So now you've gotten a meeting room, a date, and several interested community members. What's next? Plan out the first meeting to ensure that it goes smoothly. Have some ideas about what the group could do, and use the first meeting to share ideas and get to know one another. Consider inviting a speaker from a local LGBT charity or a local LGBT author or politician to give the first meeting some structure and to draw in new members. Start a vibrant group discussion. Is there a big event you can start planning for? Does the group want to focus on some small events to raise awareness or to raise funds? Have the group set some goals and consider developing a mission statement to give the group some direction.
If you want your group to grow and continue, make sure you keep up your advertising and outreach. Work with your group to come up with inventive ways of raising awareness of your goals. Some groups find it useful to write a one or two-year plan for the organization to help the group stay on track.
