The Giving Circle

Kenyon Farrow (top image)
Queers For Economic Justice 

“The same-sex marriage movement has drained a lot of resources from other issues that are important to LGBT people,” says Kenyon Farrow, Executive Director of Queers for Economic Justice (QEJ), a community-organizing, advocacy and research organization that focuses on helping low-income and working-class LGBT New Yorkers, especially in the areas of housing and public benefits like welfare. Though Farrow, 35, came to New York to be an actor, after volunteering in 2006 at a resume-writing workshop for LGBT homeless, he found his calling as a community organizer to help empower the sometimes powerless members of his community. “QEJ and other organizations like ours are made up of people that the mainstream movement long [ago] forgot.” 

“It’s a myth that most donations to nonprofits come from the wealthy. They [actually] come from lots of people giving $10, $25, $100 at a time,” says the Bed-Stuy resident. “We know from the Obama campaign what a lot of small donations can add up to.” By donating just $10  per month to the seven-year-old QEJ, Farrow says, you can provide food and transportation for their groups in the shelter system. “We have a very real crisis of LGBT homelessness in New York,” the Cleveland native points out. “But where are the massive rallies for that?” 

Queers for Economic Justice is located at 16 W 32nd St. Visit Q4EJ.org or call 212-564-3608 for more info.

Matthew Ryan
Stonewall Community Foundation

“I love that Stonewall looks at the whole LGBT community and [at] ways to make a strong impact for all,” says Mathew Ryan, Vice President of the Board of Directors for The Stonewall Community Foundation. For the last 20 years Stonewall has supported LGBT organizations and helped donors realize their philanthropic goals through grant making, endowment funds and the nonprofit training and leadership development provided through The Stonewall Institute. A trader by day, the 43-year-old Hell’s Kitchen resident is most surprised by the many organizations Stonewall helps support. “Even with small budgets they are making a big impact in the community,” he explains. “Through Stonewall we are helping people to help themselves. The [Stonewall] Institute teaches these smaller groups how to stand on their own two feet and grow.” The Massachusetts native attributes his passion in Stonewall to the fact that they are not self-serving in any way and points out that the organization has many opportunities to get involved, from joining their grant committees to the young donor group, Quarter Share. “When people are inspired they make time and open their checkbooks. [Stonewall] is a] tight-knit group who never say ‘no’ but instead say, ‘How do we make this work?’ That says it all!” 

The Stonewall Community Foundation is located at 119 W 24th St. Visit StonewallFoundation.org or call 212-367-1155 for more info.

Joseph Barretto
New York Anti-Violence Project

“All LGBTQ civil rights must begin with a promise of safety for everyone in our community and AVP will not rest until that is a reality,” says Joseph Barretto, the Director of Development for the New York City Anti-Violence Project (AVP). For the last 30 years, AVP and its staff have dedicated themselves to its mission of “eliminating hate-based violence, sexual assault, stalking and domestic violence in lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and HIV-affected communities through counseling, advocacy, organizing and public education.” But AVP is not content to just wait for problems to arise; they are also integral in making sure they don’t happen in the first place. “Although we’re here to respond when violence happens to members of our communities, we also take a proactive, preventive approach through policy advocacy, education, trainings and outreach,” says the 35-year-old Queens native. 

“We’re celebrating our 30th anniversary this year and the need for the work that we do is greater than ever,” Barretto asserts. “Our ultimate goal is to create a world where all LGBTQ people can live without fear of violence in their lives.” And like so many others who deal with the darker side of life as an LGBT person, Barretto is only inspired by the work he and his organization do. “One would think that it would be depressing,” he says, “but in fact, it’s inspiring more than anything else.” 

New York City Anti-Violence Project is located at 240 W 35th St. Visit AVP.org or call 212-714-1184 for more info.

Josh Meltzer
Empire State Pride Agenda 

“I was trained as a marriage ambassador—one of the Pride Agenda’s organizing initiatives for marriage equality—during the winter of 2006. I was so impressed by the talent of the staff that I applied for a position as soon as one opened up,” says Empire State Pride Agenda’s communications director Josh Meltzer, who for the last three years has worked with the civil rights and advocacy organization to win equality and justice for LGBT New Yorkers on a wide spectrum of issues. Over that time Meltzer, 30, has also helped launch ESPA’s young leaders program, OffSprung! “People assume that LGBT professionals in New York don’t have the time or interest to help make their community better,” says the Colorado native, “but we’ve found the opposite to be true!” 

While navigating the complexities of the New York State government can be challenging, the Chelsea resident feels that the 20-year-old Pride Agenda “has built a stellar reputation in Albany for being an effective advocacy organization, leading the efforts to pass important laws like the Hate Crimes Bill, the Sexual Orientation Non-Discrimination Act, control of partner remains and hospital visitation rights for same-sex couples.” 

“Every little bit counts,” Meltzer says. “If you can only show up to man a phone bank for an hour that helps us get closer to winning important legislation for LGBT New Yorkers.” 

Empire State Pride Agenda is located at 16 W 22nd St. Visit PrideAgenda.org or call 212-627-0305 for more info.

Steven Gordon
Ali Forney Center 

“Despite the abuse and tragedy many of them have seen, at the end of day, all they really want is to laugh and have a good time,” says Steve Gordon of the teens he works with at the Ali Forney Center, one of New York’s LGBT homeless youth shelters and services centers. “We are a very holistic program,” says Gordon, 28, the director of the drop-in crisis center and medical services at Ali Forney. The seven-year-old organization, named for a homeless queer teen who became an HIV prevention worker before being brutally murdered in 2002, provides housing in addition to medical and mental health services; HIV prevention, testing and treatment; and vocational/educational training for some of the estimated 3,000–8,000 LGBT youth on the streets of New York. “These youth are the future of our movement,” says the Prospect Heights resident. “If we do not invest in their well-being now, how do we expect them to lead us [in] this millennium?” 

Volunteers are always needed at one of Ali Forney’s nine citywide locations. As Gordon adds, “My organization cannot do this work alone. We need the help of the entire LGBT community—whether it’s a donation of time, money or expertise. Times are tough and every little bit helps!” 

The Ali Forney Center is located at 224 W 35th St. Visit AliForneyCenter.org or call 212-222-3427 for more info.

Kyle Suchomel
The Trevor Project 

“Many of the youths who call our helpline feel that they have nothing and no one,” says Kyle Suchomel, a trained helpline counselor at LGBT crisis and suicide prevention hotline The Trevor Project. “The Trevor Project’s programs provide lifesaving support for America’s [LGBTQ] youth. “Anyone interested in curbing the violence, emotional pain and alienation that often contributes to the loss of young lives should consider getting involved,” the 24-year-old Georgia native implores. While the twelve-year-old organization is Suchomel’s first experience contributing to a gay cause, he has jumped right in and in two short years become responsible for the training of new facilitators in addition to serving as administrator for TrevorSpace.org, a social networking site for LGBTQ youth and their allies. “They are often rejected from their families and alienated by their communities but the youth I have spoken to account for the most intelligent, selfless, introspective and extraordinary people I have ever met,” says Suchomel. 

And they need our help. “Last year, eleven-year-olds Jaheem Herrera and Carl Walker-Hoover hung themselves after being bullied and perceived as gay at school,” Suchomel notes. “These children could have been the next Einstein, Shakespeare or Gandhi. [Volunteering] two hours can make a difference in saving young lives,” Suchomel says, something the Queens resident has taken to heart. “Because of my experience at The Trevor Project,” he says, “I am beginning graduate studies in social work this fall.” 

The Trevor Project is located at 80 Maiden Ln. Visit TheTrevorProject.org or call 212-509-0042 for more info.