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LA-based LGBT volunteer group does straight-up good by Zamna Avila
EDGE ContributorMonday Jul 27, 2009As the LGBT political movement continues to takes shape throughout the country, some groups are using social networking Web sites to make a difference.
Members of Gay for Good in Los Angeles say they are using volunteerism and good faith to build bridges with community organizations throughout the basin.
"It exposes some straight people to gays in a very positive way," 50-year-old television producer Richard Ayoub, said. "This movement will spread out nationwide. It’s just too great of a concept."
Inspired by the passage of Proposition 8, the election of President Barack Obama and the movie "Milk," Steve Gratwick, Frank Roller and Tony Biel decided to dedicate one weekend day a month to do a community service. The three men formed Gay for Good last December, but the idea was spontaneous.
While on a hiking trail the trio, members of the gay and lesbian group Take a Hike LA envisioned a project that would provide a service, send a message and build bridges beyond LGBT Angelinos.
"People are wanting to connect in a way a way they would never think about 12 months ago," Gratwick, 41, said. "It’s connecting through volunteer work but it’s also fun."
Gay for Good co-founders decided to use Facebook to promote their idea. And, after about a month of planning and organizing, Gay for Good formed partnerships with other local groups.
Tree People, an environmental non-profit, was among the first to make an alliance with Gay for Good. Their first collaboration was a mountain restoration project at the Malibu Creek Park, where the groups removed invasive weeds that easily burn during fires and planted native plants that are drought tolerant. Roughly 50 Gay for Good volunteers participated. And roughly 75 of the 200 people who attended a second event in the Angeles National Forest were Gay for Good contributors.
"I look forward to building a lasting relationship and continuing to work together with Gay for Good and the gay community," Lisa Sotelo, volunteer manager for Tree People, said. "I’m happy they are using our group to help bridge their community with the straight community."
Ramona Marks, office manager for Friends of the Los Angeles River, agreed. Gay for Good helped her organization pick-up thrash at Marsh Park in Los Angeles in May.
"We picked up trash; it wasn’t about gay or straight." "We are insular in our groups to some degree," she said. "The idea that you can put a face to your cause ... makes it more personal ... Instead of thinking ’gays came down and helped pick up trash,’ you think ’Steve came down and pick up thrash.’ We picked up trash; it wasn’t about gay or straight."
In less than eight months, the group has gained an online membership of about 700 people through Facebook and Gmail. An average of 50 people volunteer at each event. And Gay for Good hosts monthly social gatherings.
"In the gay community you have to mix it up, be appealing and get an interest," Gratwick, a social worker at The Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center, said. "We wanted to build a fun and variety into volunteering. By having the social mixers in addition to the service projects, it balances the work with some play."
Ayoub added, however, play is not limited to the mixers.
During a recent project at Lockwood Avenue Elementary School in Los Angeles, Gay for Good joined forces with Friends of Lockwood to help paint and landscape the school. Organizers helped to secure $1,000 in paint from Jill’s Paint, a $500 gift card from the Home Depot for the landscaping and roughly $500 of food from Papa John’s Pizza. Roller also secured a disc jockey that played music while volunteers worked.
"What Tony, Steve and Frank do is take care of everything," Ayoub said. "All you have to do as a volunteer is show up. It’s so ’turn key’ that it is a very magical, beautiful experience."
The extra effort it takes to plan and organize the events pays off tenfold, Gratwick said.
"It’s satisfying in a way that... spending leisure time on just fun and entertainment never was as much," he said.
Organizers plan to launch an official Web site of their own by September and launch chapters in other cities by October.
Search "Gay for Good" on Facebook or e-mail gayforgood@gmail.com for further information.
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