First Gay Youth Center Planned for Baltimore

The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Community Center of Baltimore plans to open a drop-in center, the first of its kind in the city, this fall dedicated to the needs and challenges of LGBT youths.

According to The Baltimore Sun, the center will be the first in the city devoted to LGBT young people. It will open in time for the start of school.

"The drop-in center, which will be housed on the first two levels of the organization's four-story Mount Vernon building, will provide tutoring, mentoring, HIV testing and an overall support system for the youths," the Sun reports.

The youth center seeks grants and other funding to cover annual operating expenses estimated to run from $280,000 to $580,000. The center also seeks a partnership with the Baltimore city public schools to encourage school system employees to inform students about the center and to help interested schools establish gay-straight alliances.