When behavioral health nonprofit StarVista announced its closure last month, two programs remained — San Mateo County Pride Center and the county’s crisis hotline.
While the Pride Center wasn’t one of the many closures, it still had to undergo major shifts in its operations, namely moving out of their physical location in San Mateo and searching for a new home. Currently, the center operates virtually and through several temporary “satellite locations” throughout the county — including San Mateo and Daly City — that donors and community members have offered them until they find a permanent spot, Director Frankie Sapp said.
“There has not been a single day that I haven’t cried, but the vast majority of these tears have been because of the overwhelming support that we have received from the community,” he said.
Sapp said StarVista’s financial issues became most apparent to him around March, when there was delayed payroll and layoffs.
The Pride Center is also operating with less staff due to funding changes, going from 11 employees to six over the last several months. The center is finalizing an agreement with a nonprofit as its new fiscal sponsor, though Sapp did not disclose the name of the organization.
Regionally and nationwide, he sees some of the most pressing demands for services among youth and especially trans youth.
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“Programming for youth in general is incredibly important right now,” Sapp said. “In my experience, bullying is increasing in the schools. The challenge is if they feel they are disempowered because they are underage and don’t feel like they can do anything about it. That’s why more support might be needed.”
San Mateo resident Doug Handerson said that he sees a great need for better senior programming for gay men. While there are some senior groups in the county, such as one offered by Peninsula Family Service, he said it’s still critical for them to have enough options to maintain social networks and stay active. As they age, moving to senior homes can be more complicated and nerve-wracking for those in the LGBTQ community, he said.
“The fear for gay men is that they have to go back into the closet because it’s a nongay environment, and they don’t want to be harassed in their final years,” Handerson said. “We were out there fighting for rights, and sometimes it feels like we are forgotten.”
The center offers a variety of programs, including therapy, case management, peer support groups, training and community events. Sapp said the center has more limited capacity for therapy and case management services due to the changes, but there aren’t any plans to permanently end programs.
“The weight is going to sink in this week and next week as we’re driving by and you see the signs for the Pride Center, but no one is home,” Sapp said. “For so many that was the only physical safe space that existed, but our task is to find the next space.”
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