Representatives of 9 local groups serving the GLBT community attended this mornings Coalition meeting at the Center.  Todays meeting was chaired by Rusty Lockett,  the Center's president.  In the photo - front row, left to right, Rev. Paula Jackson - Church of Our Saviour, Vicky Blum - Crossport, Patrick McLoughney - GLSEN Cincinnati, Sandra Stratton - Greater Cincinnati Gay Chamber of Commerce, Denise Taylor - Muse & GLBT Center, Josh Garner - GLBT Center.  Back row: left to right: Steve Simiele - HRC Cincinnati, Worley Rodehaver - GLBT News and Courtney Smith - Equality Cincinnati.  Photo courtesy of Michael Chanak.

The Coalition began as the independent group in 1978 when it was called the GCGC - Greater Cincinnati Gay Coalition.  The founding groups were Alternating Currents (then called Gay Dreams), Dignity - Catholic GLBT affinity group, and the now defunct Gay Switchboard.  By 1984, the Coalition incorporated as a non-profit (Greater Cincinnati Gay and Lesbian Coalition) and continued until 1994 when it was dissolved to form the Gay & Lesbian Community Center of Greater Cincinnati.  Group meetings of the Coalition - as a standing committee began in 1999 and has continued to meet under the Center's guidance to facilitate information sharing and cooperative works for shared goals. 

Next Coalition meeting is March 19, 2011 at 11 am.  Meetings do not last more than one hour.  The Coalition meets every third Saturday of each month, excepting the summer months of June, July and August (to allow for travel to area and regional pride celebrations throughout the tri-state).