What We Stand For
While over the last five decades things have improved for the LGBTQIA+ Community, not everyone can reap the benefits of such advances. The laws in 29 states still deny LGBTQIA+ Americans basic freedoms and protections, so a landlord may refuse to rent a home to us, or an employer may fire us simply because of who we love.
Furthermore, even within a state, there are huge gaps between the community living in a big city and those of us living in suburban areas, where the values of the population tend to lean conservative and there are no resources or even a support network for members of the LGBTQ+ community. Such a combination results in many cases in a borderline hostile environment.
That must change.
Your zip code should not determine whether you have access to basic human rights.
Visibility Club works to bridge the gaps that the LGBTQ+ community faces in suburban areas. It is our belief that our only path to equality is representation, in other words, having a seat at every table where decisions that affect us are being made, but representation will not happen unless our community is visible, so putting the LGBTQIA+ Family front and center and developing a true LGBTQIA+ network in Gwinnett County is our first step.
Furthermore, even within a state, there are huge gaps between the community living in a big city and those of us living in suburban areas, where the values of the population tend to lean conservative and there are no resources or even a support network for members of the LGBTQ+ community. Such a combination results in many cases in a borderline hostile environment.
That must change.
Your zip code should not determine whether you have access to basic human rights.
Visibility Club works to bridge the gaps that the LGBTQ+ community faces in suburban areas. It is our belief that our only path to equality is representation, in other words, having a seat at every table where decisions that affect us are being made, but representation will not happen unless our community is visible, so putting the LGBTQIA+ Family front and center and developing a true LGBTQIA+ network in Gwinnett County is our first step.
Our Story
Rolando Guzmán and his husband, Scott Bruce, lived in Gwinnett County for almost two decades, and they had yet to find LGBTQIA+ friends in the area. When Rolando found the social platform MeetUp he saw an opportunity to meet local friends. He created a group in December 2017, and within weeks the group had dozens of members. The group held its first event on February 18, 2018, and continued having social events at least once a month.
By May 2019, the group's membership had grown to hundreds of members, and they had developed a solid network. At the same time, the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall uprising was approaching, so the founders saw an opportunity to establish the first Pride festival in the county. They reserved Thrasher Park and leveraging their network secured live music performers including Debra Lynn Rodriguez, L. Marie, and Ashton May. They expected around 40 to 50 attendees but the media in the state noted the historical aspect of the event and by the time it took place on June 29, 2019, Norcross Pride had become the largest Pride event in the state outside of Atlanta.
After the success of Norcross Pride, it was evident that the group had to become a nonprofit organization, so on November 8, 2019, Visibility Club, Inc. was born.
While the COVID-19 pandemic slowed down the progress of the organization.
By May 2019, the group's membership had grown to hundreds of members, and they had developed a solid network. At the same time, the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall uprising was approaching, so the founders saw an opportunity to establish the first Pride festival in the county. They reserved Thrasher Park and leveraging their network secured live music performers including Debra Lynn Rodriguez, L. Marie, and Ashton May. They expected around 40 to 50 attendees but the media in the state noted the historical aspect of the event and by the time it took place on June 29, 2019, Norcross Pride had become the largest Pride event in the state outside of Atlanta.
After the success of Norcross Pride, it was evident that the group had to become a nonprofit organization, so on November 8, 2019, Visibility Club, Inc. was born.
While the COVID-19 pandemic slowed down the progress of the organization.
Our Finances
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