It’s been nearly two years since Hurricane Helene swept across Western North Carolina, leaving so many community members in need – and so many people across the country eager to step up and support. In the weeks after the storm, the Campaign for Southern Equality was honored to support the collection and distribution of essential supplies, following the tremendous leadership of partners like BeLoved Asheville – and our office became an in-person space to help our community access resources, supplies, services, and support.
When natural disasters occur, LGBTQ+ people can be impacted in compounding ways – because relief institutions and processes may not be built with our needs in mind, and past experiences can lead to discomfort with frontline relief institutions. For weeks after the storm, many of our friends and neighbors in Asheville could not reliably get into their homes, and getting in touch with therapists or doctors was particularly challenging, with reduced access to power, wifi, and cell service. Many trans community members reported particular challenges of feeling heightened gender dysphoria because of the hurdles to taking regular showers, washing gender-affirming clothing, or losing critical items in the flood.
Every Thursday throughout the fall of 2024, more than 100 LGBTQ+ community members in Asheville and the surrounding area convened at the WNC LGBTQ+ Resource & Supply Center. We offered a hot lunch prepared by local chefs, free haircuts from affirming barbers and stylists, essential supplies, queer-specific resources, and navigation support to help people identify where else they could get help. Plus, we had fun music, coffee, and snacks to give folks an affirming, welcoming space to visit during that difficult time.
As we shifted into 2025, we heard from attendees that offerings like these were sorely needed, and so, thanks to generous support from donors, we continued hosting this drop-in style event, now monthly – the WNC LGBTQ+ Resource & Resilience Center. So many amazing service providers continued plugging in and sharing their talents – including legal consults, chair massages, reiki, oracle readings, and other arts and skills workshops. Community members made heart-warming friendships and connections.
Our team at the Campaign for Southern Equality has been so grateful to provide this space for the past two years – and now, we are winding down the project. There will be four more LGBTQ+ Resource & Resilience Center events in 2026, but the project will not continue in 2027 as we prioritize our broad portfolio of work that reaches LGBTQ+ people all across the South. We understand that endings can be challenging and change can be hard – and we are sending a lot of love to everyone who found joy, solidarity, and strength at the LGBTQ+ Resource & Resilience Center. In the months ahead, there will be more opportunities to build connections and develop plans beyond this space – including at these four final dates, one each month for the rest of 2026. We would love to see you there:
- Thursday, August 27th
- Thursday, October 1st
- Thursday, October 29th
- Thursday, December 17th
We’re deeply thankful for so many organizational partners who made the WNC LGBTQ+ Resource & Resilience Center possible, including LGBTQ+ Center of Durham, Elevated Access, Pisgah Legal and more. We’re also grateful to the First Congregational United Church of Christ of Asheville for providing the space.
The LGBTQ+ Resource & Resilience Center would not have been possible without the generous engagement of our service providers – who made time every month to share their talents with the LGBTQ+ community in Asheville. We want to express enormous gratitude for every provider, including:
- Hot Lunches with Chef J. Chong
- Western North Carolina Community Health Services
- Pisgah Legal Services
- Massages by Travis Bekina, Holiday, Kenni, Geri Hubbe, and Nelly
- Haircuts with Vanu (Dream House Hair Studio), Dru Wright, Crain (Trust Studios), Moon and Nur (The Indigo Barber)
- Aflorar Herb Collective
- Reiki for Today with Marshall
- Mending with Emily Dake
- D&D with DM Drew and DM Avi
- Oracle Readings with the Mothqueen
- Tarot with Gina and Shifra
- BIPOC Affinity Table with Blu
- Leila’s Lattes
- Astrology Reading with Xocean
- Weaving with Elm
- Legal workshops with Meghann Burke and Diane “Dizy” Walton
- Live Music with Tina & Her Pony
- Somatic Coaching with Pavini
- CSE Pups: Chewie, Rocky, Dio, and Baldwin
There are many ways to get involved with the Campaign for Southern Equality, and in 2027 we are excited to focus on programming that continues to help and affirm LGBTQ+ Southerners while supporting our commitments to equity in race, gender, and class. Our Trans Youth Emergency Project continues to be a lifeline for hundreds of families of transgender youth nationwide grappling with healthcare restrictions. Our newly-launched Trans in the South Access Project is helping transgender adults in Southern states build power and agency as they access the services they need. Our Healing & Resilience team helps the queer Southern community get grounded and centered even in the face of big challenges. Our Southern Equality Studios program hosts free queer artist meetups, connects creatives in the South and provides an intersecting space for art and activism. Our Research team explores and analyzes the ways that the policy landscape impacts LGBTQ+ Southerners. And our Supportive Schools program continues to help LGBTQ+ youth and families navigate challenges and opportunities at school. You can stay in the loop by signing up for our email list, and by following on social media at @SouthernEquality.
