Ask Howard Brown to Celebrate the ENTIRE "Community"

To Whom It May Concern:

When Howard Brown announced its Lifeline Appeal in November, we regarded the health centers possible demise as a life or death situation for many of our friends and colleagues. Howard Brown has paved the way for HIV+ and transgender healthcare, and the health centers sliding-scale rates ensure that underserved populations in the LGBTQ community, including low-income folks and youth, have access to essential healthcare needs. We asked our community to raise money for Howard Brown so that the health center could continue to provide marginalized sectors of the LGBTQ community with accessible and affirming healthcare.

Now Howard Brown has offered to celebrate those who fought to save it, and we are saddened to see so many Howard Brown clients and supporters excluded from the celebration. In a recent press release that salutes the community efforts to save Howard Brown, the health center has publicized an event for the community, by the community with tickets that cost a minimum of $100 (http://www.howardbrown.org/default.asp?id=1706).

We are hurt by the language of this press release. Howard Brown is well-aware that LGBTQ people, particularly transgender people and youth, face disproportionately high rates of unemployment and homelessness. Asking people to spend $100 to attend an event that celebrates them alienates the very community that Howard Brown aims to serve. As it has been publicized, this event denies that individuals without disposable income are members of the community. But we all supported Howard Brown's Lifeline Appeal with time, money, and resources that some of us did not even have to give.

We understand that Howard Brown needs to raise more money to sustain itself and recognize that many nonprofits raise money in ways that may be inaccessible. If this celebration is one of those events, we ask Howard Brown to advertise it honestly rather than masking an expensive fundraiser as a celebration. If Howard Brown truly wants to celebrate the community, we ask that Howard Brown find an alternative, inclusive means of acknowledging all community members. We are open to engaging in a dialogue with Howard Brown so that we can work together to celebrate the entire LGBTQ community in supporting Howard Brown.