Maybe I’m behind the times–I thought only universities had LGBT centers–so I was surprised to hear that The LGBT Center of Raleigh is holding its grand opening this Friday.
As far as I can tell, it’s privately funded, so no complaints on that front.
However, I’m still confused about the purpose of centers like this one. According to the website, it’s going to offer a coffee bar, lending library, kitchen, gallery space, and a performance/gathering space. I don’t get it–how is a gay kitchen different from a straight kitchen? Are most of Raleigh’s art galleries terribly homophobic? Or is there some sort of extra-special coffee for which demand only exists among homosexuals?
Assuming that one’s sexual preference is so all-encompassing that it dictates tastes in art, live performance, and even coffee seems silly. And I’m not buying that homosexuals need a “safe place” either–Raleigh has plenty of gay- or gay friendly-bars, restaurants, and other businesses. So what gives?
