By Jennifer Terman

Driving down San Francisco’s Market Street, it is clear to see that the diversity of the city is ubiquitous. Every person has a unique style of dress, of ambiance, of walking. Drivers zigzag their way through tangled intersections. Every building is a different shade, a different architectural design, each offering up something else to the world.

Such a diverse building is the one with many panes of glass and the typical Victorian-style San Francisco architecture, with turquoise blue-green detail, sitting prominently on Market Street, just off of Octavia Boulevard. In between the two connecting buildings of paned glass and turquoise edging are the words “The Charles M. Holmes Campus of The Center” or, as more commonly identified, the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender (LGBT) Center.

The Center is filled with different programs to aid the community and gets approximately 9,000 visitors each month who participate in the 400 activities offered, according to the sfcenter.org website. “What really draw people in are the programs,” said youth program coordinator who chooses to be identified as Beck.

The Youth Center is a crucial part of what the Center has to offer to those who are between 14 and 24 who are overcoming the challenges and struggles of acceptance and community incorporation.

“It’s been a lot easier to be around the community, and to be around other people,” says London-native Andrea, 20.

The Center offers hot meals and the opportunity to socialize with people with similar backgrounds and stories.

“The Youth Center has Tuesday movie night and a place to eat,” said a 22-year-old who wishes to be called Jay R. “I’ve come here for two years.”

“Every second and fourth Tuesday of the month, youth arts and crafts are also offered,” said Beck.

Some people rely on the youth food nights to get through tough times. “I come to food night a lot around the fifth of the month,” says Andrea. “Food stamps are low around that time.”

Another function the Youth Center hosts is the annual Queer Youth Prom, its third year in session. “It was a lot of fun,” said Andrea.

The Prom lets people have fun, and for the not-so-outgoing, help ease people out of their shell.

“I’m not much of a social butterfly, but I love to dance, so that helps,” Andrea said.

The Digital Storytelling Project and the Free Your Mind Arts Program are also events that allow for creative outlets.

Youth internships are also offered as a way to help LGBT youths grow in the community.

“I’ve been going here for two years,” says Jay R. “I did an internship here through the youth center. It helped me get a job and get experience that I didn’t have before.”

The job included “talking and giving support for teams to come out in school,” said Jay R.

The Center has given many people jobs as a way to make a difference in the community.

“My first time here was applying for a job,” said Beck. “The youth is my favorite part of working here. It’s great to see the youth grow,” said Beck.

Helping local schools acknowledge anti-discrimination is a very important goal and focus of the Center, according to Director of Community Development Roberto Ordenana.

“It’s a matter of working with schools, helping educators talk to students and helping school districts make connections,” Ordenana said.

”There are people here who work with Gay-Straight Alliances and the San Francisco School District to bring people together to help the acceptance of queer youths,” said Beck.

San Francisco Newcomer’s Assistance Program is designed to keep positive role models and support groups for gay and bisexual men who are new to San Francisco by providing support groups and social events and a “buddy system” which allows for connection between new and established members.

“The Center has a buddy program, which is an HIV prevention program which works with the idea that if you increase a sense of community, you decrease the risk of unsafe behavior,” Ordenana said.

“I began work in the LGBT community in the field of HIV prevention in a program called the STOP AIDS Project,” Ordeñana said. “I really wanted to work on broader LGBT issues. The basis of involvement is to make communities stronger.”

The Center not only offers LGBT-related proceedings, as every Tuesday nights at 5:30 Alcoholics Anonymous meetings take place.

“I’ve been here since May. Meetings really help me stay sober. I’m grateful to have a place to go them,” said an anonymous member, 27. “I come every Tuesday night and get a little serenity.”

The Center also welcomes people who just want to sit and observe.

“I’ve come here twice,” said Jess, 18. “For a place to have some quiet, I guess.”

There is always opportunity for increased participation, as well.

“I mostly just want to meet new people from all sorts of places,” Jess said. “I’ll probably get involved once I meet some people.”

Jennifer Terman is a journalism student at SF State. She wrote this class for Jour 221 Newswriting in the fall of 2009.