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Akron’s Premier Multicultural LGBTQ+ Resource Center

The Bayard Rustin LGBTQ+ Resource Center

Colorful Geometric Equality For All Pride Statement Sticker

The Mission

"We need in every community a group of angelic troublemakers."-- Bayard Rustin

The Bayard Rustin Center is dedicated to expanding care for all LBGTQ+ individuals. Within Summit County, people of color, men, women, and non-binary, continue to experience the highest rates of HIV infections. The Bayard Rustin Center takes a culturally, inclusive approach to address the client's needs. Our experienced staff has a strong understanding of the needs of LGBTQ+ and is able to provide caring, empathetic approaches to The Bayard Rustin Center is the only statewide LGBTQ+ drop-in location. Our services include HIV, STI, and COVID testing services, housing referrals, mental health support, anti-violence programs, a food pantry, a clothing closet, weekly community meals, and discussions.

Happy diverse young friends celebrating gay pride festival - LGBTQ community concept

The Black community within Summit County is experiencing high rates of HIV among women and men. With decades of experience and a strong grasp on culture and intersectionality, we are able to provide tailored care to our clients through a culturally centered approach.

We believe in uplifting and amplifying BIPOC LGBTQ+ voices within Summit County and surrounding areas. As the only Black-owned and BIPOC LGBTQ+ - focused drop-in center in the state of Ohio, we are here to provide support & testing for all people who want an equitable share of Federal and State funding coming to Summit County to specifically target serve the BIPOC community. We are committed to providing services, supporting resiliency, and ending generational patterns of stigma among youth.

The Vision

"To be afraid is to behave as if the truth were not true." -- Bayard Rustin

Our vision is to elevate advocacy efforts for individuals living with HIV/AIDS and the LGBTQ+ community at large. This includes those who have faced the challenges of stigma related to sexual and gender orientation within the

community.

Our History

"We are all one -and if we don't know it, we will learn it the hard way." -- Bayard Rustin

In 2000, the Akron Brother Circle was formed as a support group for same-gender-loving men, this group grew to become a part of the Akron AIDS Collaborative.

The Akron AIDS Collaborative was formed to help support individuals and their families in addressing newly diagnosed HIV cases and related issues.

Today, the Akron AIDS Collaborative continues its work under the Bayard Rustin LGBTQ+ Center.

Our Executive Director

“Let us be enraged about injustice, but let us not be destroyed by it.” -- Bayard Rustin

Stanford 'Steve' Arrington has been a community activist and advocate in the field of HIV/AIDS. In 1990, he founded 'Blacks, Gays. and Lesbians United Against AIDS' in Denver with the Colorado AIDS Project.

Steve's work emphasizes combating stigma, discrimination, and inequalities affecting people of color living with HIV/AIDS.