This is a Resource Guide for the GLBTQ Community in the North Central Florida area. There is a possibility that some of the resources are out of date, no longer available or not even included on this list. Please corrections or additions that need to be made!
Index:
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Alcohol and Drug Problems | Bookstores | Churches | Counselors | Health | Libraries | Nightclubs | Organizations | Phone Information | Political/Legal | Publications | Real Estate
Disclaimer
This page is a listing of resources for the GLBTQ Community in North Central Florida. This page does not reflect an endorsement of any service listed here by the Pride Community Center of North Central Florida. Corrections to this page can be sent to . All of the following content provided by the Resource Guide.
The publication of the names of any person, business, or organization shall not be construed as any indication of their sexual orientation. Any entry will be deleted on request, or on receipt of reliable information that it is unwelcome to those concerned.
Organizations: Top
Gainesville Community Alliance GCA was founded in July, 1991 to provide an environment in which Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgendered people and persons supportive of them may have an opportunity to meet through educational and social activities. Since then GCA has established itself as a positive force, creating several events that have become annual traditions. Membership is open to all Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgendered people and supportive friends. The annual dues are $25.00. Each member receives a newsletter, Community Ties, Email listserv group for event and information posting, discounted admission/cost for selected events, input to planning meetings held the first Monday of even months, free appetizers at Dinner With Paul events, stipend for hosting potluck dinners. Visit http://www.gcaonline.org. PO Box 357301, Gainesville, FL 32635-7301. Call: Joe Antonelli (352) 373-3557
Gainesville Front Runners is a local chapter of the International Front Runners, an organization of LGBT runners and walkers. The atmosphere is noncompetitive and open to people of all athletic abilities, and we have no membership dues. Following the Wednesday run/walk, we often go out to eat at a nearby restaurant. Currently, the Gainesville Front Runners meet Sundays and Wednesdays at the Thomas Center (302 NE 6th Ave, at the southwest corner of the parking lot near the fountain) at 6 p.m. (When daylight saving time is not in effect, the Sunday run only is at 5 p.m.) For more information email .
GatorBears is a group for masculine, hairy men and their admirers. There are many definitions of what a bear should look like. As far as this group is concerned, there are no physical ins or outs. All are welcome who are interested in bears. Founded in 1996 the Gatorbears is designed to be a social group of men who get together to have fun and enjoy the company of other gay men who share their interests. We have no "membership" requirements, no dues, and only a generalized "steering committee". The only thing we do ask of our "members" is that everyone who is interested in the group should join our mailing list. The list is a Yahoo!Group that we use to disseminate information about events, or to just share interesting news with the group. More information can be found at www.gatorbears.com. If you should have any questions please feel free to email us direct at:
Gay Parents Support Group (352) 361-9515
Human Rights Council of North Central Florida is a non-profit, educational corporation working to educate the public concerning lesbigay issues and the radical right. Contributor's names are kept strictly confidential. (352) 372-5192. PO Box 2112, Gainesville, FL 32602. .
Interweave Meets at Unitarian Universalist Fellowship. (352) 377-1669.
Lavender Menace. (352) 375-4596 www.afn.org/~lavender
Pride Student Union - University of Florida, 300-48 J. Wayne Reitz Union, Gainesville, FL 32611-8505. 392-1665 x.326 grove.ufl.edu/~pride e-mail:
Rainbow Alliance The Rainbow Alliance was formed in 1999 by staff and faculty members at the University of Florida. RA works to improve the LGBT environment at the University. Rainbow Alliance participates in the LGBT Concerns committee of the Student Senate. Programs include: the newsletter, RA-news; the Rainbow Alliance Fund at the University of Florida Foundation; and UFLGBTAC, an alumni club for LGBT graduates of the University of Florida and friends. For more information, e-mail: .
UF Sexism & Homophobia Committee. 202 Peabody Hall, University of Florida, Gainesville FL 32611. (352) 392-1261. UF Director of LGBT Affairs Nora Spencer. (352) 392-1261 x224. 202 Peabody Hall.
Nightclubs: Top
Gainesville has two GLBTQ nightclubs. They are busiest Thursday-Saturday nights.
University Club at 18 E. Univ. Ave. is the danceclub most popular with UF and Santa Fe students. Entrance is on the side of NE 1st Ave. Customers must be at least 18. Specials include open mike night, male revues, female musicians, progressive music. (352) 378-6814. www.ucclub.com
Spikes is discreetly located at 4130 N.W. 6th Street. Customers must be at least 18. Wheelchair accessible. (352) 376-3772 for more info.
The Night Zone is in Ocala: 9360 S US Highway 441, Ocala, FL. www.thenightzone.net
Churches: Top
Holy Trinity Episcopal Church is accepting of openly gay and lesbian individuals, and has an AIDS ministry. Counselor - Mary Saxton, available by appt. 100 N.E. 1st St. Gainesville, FL 32601, Fr. Jim Wright, (352) 372-4721. Services: Sunday at 8:00 a.m., 10:30 a.m. (10:00 in the summer), and 6:00 p.m.
MCC Ocala. 4273 W. Highway 40, Ocala 34482. 352-368-9929. www.mccocala.com/
Trinity Metropolitan Community Church, P.O. Box 140535, Gv, FL 32614, or 11604 S.W. Archer Rd. Gainesville, FL 32608. (6 miles west of I-75 on SR 24). (352) 495-3378. e-mail: www.mccgainesville.com/
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship: Unitarian Universalist congregations and their national association actively work to support equal rights and dignity for all people including gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people. Locally the UU Fellowship carries on that work. People may call for support, counseling or referral. Operating from the premise that "Civil Marriage is a Civil Right; Religious Marriage is a Religious Choice," Unitarian Universalist ministers offer religious marriage ceremonies to same-sex and opposite-sex couples alike, while energetically encouraging the other 49 states to follow Massachusetts' lead in recognizing same-sex civil marriage. 4225 NW 34th Street Gainesville, 32605, (352) 377-1669. Ministers are LoraKim Joyner and Meredith Garmon. UU Teen Group. Services on Sundays at 11
The United Church of Gainesville is an Open and Affirming congregation within the United Church of Christ. "Whoever you are and wherever you are on life's journey, you are welcome here." Since 1969 various national settings of the United Church of Christ have addressed the concerns of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people in church and society, calling for welcome, inclusion and justice. In 2005, the 25th General Synod of the UCC adopted an "Equal Marriage Rights For All" resolution. The full text can be read at: http://www.ucc.org/lgbt/ . United Church of Gainesville website: http://www.ucgainesville.org/. Open and Affirming Website: http://www.ucccoalition.org/. United Church of Christ website: www.ucc.org. 1624 NW 5th Ave., (352) 378-3500. Church services are at 9:30 and 11:00 AM on Sundays, with one service during the summer at 10:00 AM.
Bookstores: Top
There are five bookstores in town that have magazines and books of GLBTQ Interest.
Barnes and Noble has a magazine section and a "Gay and Lesbian Studies" section. (352) 372-3535. 3910 SW Archer Rd
Books-A-Million, large GLBTQ section under "Alternative Lifestyles" and magazines. 2600 NW 13th St., (352) 376-6623.
Goerings' Book Center, which has a wide selection, is located at 1310 W. Univ. Ave.
Wild Iris Books, feminist and lesbigay recovery, fiction, spirituality, and children's books. Also lesbigay videos (buy or rent), music, periodicals, and jewelry as well as gifts, local art & music. Specializes in LGBTQ, multicultural, feminist, and liberal spirituality. Workshops and classes available on varying topics. Displays community bulletin board for all types of ads, i.e. roommate search, garage sales, job offerings, community events, etc., free of charge. Business hours: Monday - Friday 11am - 7pm and Saturday 12am - 6pm. 802 W University Ave., Gainesville FL 32601-5115. (352) 375-7477 - fax (352) 375-7719. www.wildirisbooks.com, .
Libraries: Top
The Pride Community Center's own Audre Lorde Library has over 1300 books in a number of areas including lesbian fiction, gay male fiction, biographies/autobiographies/memoirs, self-help/relationships/motivational, sexuality and sexual behavior, erotica, dissenting opinions, travel/directories/Gayellow pages, History/Herstory, LGBT in Education/work/military, Humor, LGBT Youth/children, HIV/AIDS, poetry, religion and spirituality.
The Civic Media Center has a wide variety of lesbigay and non-corporate print, computer, audio, and video resources. Tues.-Sat., 11am - 7:20pm. 1021 W. University Ave., Gainesville, FL 32601. (352) 373-0010.
Publications: Top
Advocate, recommended national periodical for lesbigay news and issues, (213) 871-1225. May be bought at Goerings' and Iris.
Gainesville Iguana, progressive newsletter and calendar of events, national and local articles in its 10th year, subscription $5-10 sliding scale, (352) 378-5655, PO Box 14712, Gainesville, FL 32604.
Mama Raga, local lesbian monthly newsletter, $20 a year. PO Box 141674 Gainesville, FL 32614-1674. www.MamaRaga.com.
Real Estate: Top
Information: Top
Gay Switchboard, at (352) 377-8915, provides information on current events, social and support groups, local lesbigay nightclubs, supportive religious organizations, coming out, safer sex, AIDS, and community resources. Anonymous/confidential consultations and referrals are also given.
United Way 2-1-1 for North Central Florida is a free and confidential 24 hour information and referral helpline that links people with questions and problem to resources with answers and solutions. To get or give help, please call (352) 375-4636.
Political/Legal: Top
ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) PO Box 12044 Gainesville, FL 32604.
Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund, newsletter, (212) 995-8585. U.S. Department of Justice Hate Crimes Hotline, (800) 347-HATE.
Stonewall Democrats of Alachua County. 901 NW 8 Ave., Suite A-3. stonewalldemsac.blogspot.com
UF Office of Academic Affairs, for faculty that are the victims of sexual harassment or homophobia, (352) 392-1254.
UF Office for Student Services, for students that are the victims of sexual harassment or homophobia, (352) 392-1261.
Counselors: Top
Individuals:
Emily Franck Hoon, PhD, (352) 375-4666.
Caroline Pace, PhD, LMHC, LMFT, (352) 376-5543.
Trisha Biggers Peterson, PhD, feminist counseling, relationships, (352) 375-1414.
Jennifer Sager, Ph.D. (352) - 379-2829 www.jbsager.com
Organizations:
Alachua County Crisis Line, 24-hour telephone crisis intervention and counseling service offered by trained volunteers; short-term crisis counseling. All services free. 218 SE 24th Street, Gainesville, FL 32641. (352) 264-6789. http://crisiscenter.alachua.fl.us/
Alachua County Victim Services and Rape Crisis Center, community-based agency that offers emergency outreach to victims, comprehensive advocacy, support groups, and 1-on-1 counseling services to victims of all types of violent crime. A counselor-staffed 24 hour hotline is available. 218 SE 24th St, Gainesville, FL 32641. Call (352) 264-6760, or toll-free (866) 252-5439.
Gay Switchboard, see above, (352) 377-8915.
Peaceful Paths Domestic Abuse Network, for women, (352) 377-8255; out of area code, (800) 393-7233.
UF Counseling Center, students and partners, (352) 392-1575.
UF Sexual Assault Recovery Service, counseling for female and male students who have experienced sexual assault. Confidential and free. Also for partners, family, and friends of victim. UF Student Infirmary, room 230, or (352) 392-1161 ext. 231.
UF Student Mental Health Services, 24hr, (352) 392-1171.
Alcohol and Drug Problems: Top
Alcoholics Anonymous Free to Be, GLBTQ group, (352) 372-8091.
Corner Drugstore, unbiased counseling, and specific information about all drugs, collect calls accepted, (352) 378-1588.
Narcotics Anonymous, (352) 375-9624.
Health: Top
AIDS/HIV Services and Education:
AIDS/HIV Testing and Counseling, Alachua County Public Health Unit, also performs syphilis testing, for all ages 12 and up. Payment on a sliding scale from $0-20.
AIDS Hotline, United States Public Health Service, (800) 342-AIDS.
Florida AIDS Education and Training Network, serving the HIV/AIDS education needs of health care providers, (352) 392-6969.
Gainesville Area AIDS Project (GAAP), An Organization of People Living with HIV/AIDS, and People Who Care...Having Fun! P.O. Box 5554 Gainesville, FL 32627, www.gaaponline.org, 373-4227 (gaap)
Florida AIDS Hotline, HRS, (800) FLA-AIDS.
HIV Outpatient Services, offers housing referral, day care, dental care, clinical services, home health care, case management, transportation, hospice, counseling, and nutrition. Health Planning Council, (352) 377-4404.
Park Meadows Health & Rehabilitation, a 154 bed, licensed nursing facility meeting the long term health care needs of HIV+ individuals. 3250 SW 41 Place, Gainesville, FL 32608, (352) 378-1558.
Project AIDS Care, Medicaid Waiver Program, outpatient and home health care services, Linda Tambor, Alachua County Public Health Unit, (352) 955-2364, or Denise Terrell, Marion County Public Health Unit, (352) 629-0137.
General Health:
ACORN Clinic, low cost medical/dental services (352) 485-1133 or (352) 485-1515
Herpes Support Group Hotline, Wednesdays 6:00pm-7:30pm, (352) 376-9000.
Hospice, North Central Florida, comprehensive home care for the terminally ill, (352) 378-2121.
STD Clinic, (Sexually Transmitted Disease) Alachua County Public Health Unit, confidential testing for herpes, syphilis, hepatitis B, genital warts, chlamydia, gonorrhea, and trichomonas, for all ages. Payment on a sliding scale. For appointment, (352) 955-2415. For counseling, (352) 955-2364 ext. 162.
