Chatham’s This is Me! Gay-Straight Alliance and the GLCC are powerful supporters of LGBTQIA youth in Pittsburgh. Graduate student Jason Lucarelli spoke with us about what they’re doing and how you can join in.
HC Chatham: How did you get involved with the GLCC? With This is Me?
Jason Lucarelli: The Gay and Lesbian Center of Pittsburgh is one of the most respected to the gay community of Pittsburgh, and an agency that I have been affiliated with for almost 12 years. I’ve worked with Lyndsey Sicler, who is the director of the GLCC on a variety of efforts to provide resources to the LGBT community, such as funding for HIV, youth, and the transgender community.
One value that I always incorporate into my service efforts is collaboration. As a graduate student at Chatham University, I got involved with This is Me, because I wanted to find a group that I could collaborate with on an ongoing basis to raise awareness for and to contribute to the LGBT community and represent my academic program and Chatham as a whole.
What is the event you have on February 28?
On the 28th, This is Me and myself will be collecting donations for homeless youth, throughout the Pittsburgh area; we will also be providing a pizza party at the GLCC’s weekly youth night where we will have the chance to introduce ourselves and to hear from the youth on what their interests are, so that we can design other projects that will allow us to continually contribute to LGBT youth community throughout the Pittsburgh area.
What is your role in the planning process?
I am the primary organizer of our service effort, and I am working to create an ongoing relationship between the GLCC and Chatham University including both the undergraduate and graduate student body.
How can people support your event?
People can drop donations at the various drop off sites on campus, or can contact me at Jlucarelli@chatham.edu to arrange for donations to be collected. We are collecting toiletries such as deodorant, body wash, toothpaste, tooth brushes, tooth paste, wash rags, etc.
Why is working with the GLCC/This is Me important to you personally?
Working with the GLCC and This is Me is important for me for so many reasons. First and foremost, the GLCC was the first place that I was able to find a safe zone as I came to terms with my sexual identity. For that, I feel very fortunate to have the chance to develop a project that I am able to give back to such a wonderful organization.
And working with This is Me is important for me personally because it’s important that members of the LGBT community show their presecnce on campus and take pride in themselves and giving back to the LGBT community.
Beyond the event, how can people get involved with the GLCC?
Volunteering with the GLCC is a wonderful way to support the LGBT community throughout the Pittsburgh and surrounding areas. Volunteers are needed to help collect donations for the GLCC’s homeless services, supervise youth programs, sort donations, help in the GLCC’s library, and help at Outrageous Bingo, which is a monthly fundraising event for both the GLCC and the Shepherd Wellness Center of Pittsburgh.
If anyone is interested or would like to refer a friend or family member to the project feel free to contact the GLCC at info@GLCC.org or contact me at Jlucarelli@chatham.edu.