Ensuring that LGBTQ+ people are protected at the local, state, and federal levels are critical to creating a safe and affirming community. Check out how to get involved!
Each year nominations are accepted for the Central Maryland LGBTQ Ally of the Year award, one recipient receives the award. Allies are very important to the LGBTQ community. Not only do they perform advocacy for LGBTQ, they typically are involved in circles outside of the LGBTQ community. It is often those actions outside the community that are most effective but often unrecognized within the community. This award recognizes those actions.
Recipients:
2023:
Ally of the Year: Ed Mooney (Community For Frederick, PFLAG Member)
Ally Organization of the Year: Frederick Social
LGBTQ+ Organization of the Year: Fur The More
Lifetime Achievement Award: None
2022:
Ally of the Year: Honorable Jan Gardner (Frederick County Executive 2014 – 2022)
Ally Organization of the Year: Frederick County Health Department
LGBTQ+ Organization of the Year: Dublin Roasters
Lifetime Achievement Award: None
2019:
Ally of the Year: Jenny Ryan (Teacher, West Frederick Middle School)
Ally Organization of the Year: Grace United Church of Christ
Lifetime Achievement Award: Brian Walker (Founder, The Frederick Center)
2018:
Ally of the Year: Di Creedon (Volunteer, The Frederick Center)
Ally Organization of the Year: Frederick County Public Schools Board of Education
2017:
Ally of the Year: Lisa Marcus (Professor, Hood College)
2016:
Allies of the Year: Bob Rice and Ted Hallock (Frederick Church of the Brethren, HIV Ministry)
Ally Organization of the Year: Text Design, Inc.
2015:
Ally of the Year: Tiffany Fossett (Volunteer, The Frederick Center)
2014:
Ally of the Year: Lois Jarman (President, PFLAG Frederick County)
2013:
Ally of the Year: Kim Dine (Chief, Frederick City Police Department)
The Frederick Center advocates on behalf of the LGBTQ+ community and through its Legal Services Committee has put together a pro bono event to provide the LGBTQ+ community with a free legal advice clinic. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet for fifteen minutes, one-on-one with local volunteer attorneys who can answer their questions and provide legal information and advice about specific legal matters they may have.
The Frederick Center and Participation in Central Maryland’s Civic Life
Founding Board member Brian Walker often stated that one goal he had for The Frederick Center was to provide Central Maryland with a go-to resource to provide an LGBTQ+ perspective to help make the policies and processes of local organizations as well as City, County, State, and even Federal commissions, working groups, and agencies more affirming.
The Frederick Center’s staff and volunteers currently participate in the following civic efforts:
- Child Fatality Review
- Frederick County Coalition for the Homeless
- Frederick County Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Commission
- Health Equity Task Force
- School Equity Task Force
- School Health Council
- Tobacco, Alcohol Cessation Task Force (name?)
- Trauma Responsive Frederick
- United in Kindness
If you are interested in participating in one of these groups or in another civic effort that is not currently listed, please send an email expressing your interest to [email protected]
The Frederick Center provides training with a requested donation for Central Maryland government agencies, local businesses, social service groups, and non-profit organizations on LGBTQ+ awareness and do’s and don’ts when interacting with the LGBTQ+ community.
LGBTQ+ 101 is commonly used for:
- Criminal justice agencies
- Non-profits
- Educational organizations
- Government agencies
- Social groups
- Corporate environments
Training can be in a variety of formats:
- Formal speaking presentations
- Informal discussions
- Interactive scenario sessions
- Policy consultation
The Frederick Center, in partnership with Frederick County Public Schools, has launched an Education Equity Commission to look at how we can better support LGBTQ+ students during their educational journey.
This commission is in its beginning stages and does not have much information to report. This will be updated as the work is brought forward. More information, please contact [email protected]
The Frederick Center is partnering with Frederick Health Hospital and Frederick County Health Department to address healthcare inequities for LGBTQ+ people.
After The Frederick Center completed a Health Equity Index survey, we set out to identify the gaps and barriers to proper healthcare for LGBTQ+ people.
Some successes of the committee:
- Increased training for healthcare providers
- A recommended intake form for proper collection of SOGI data
- Partnerships with statewide and national organizations
- Developing workflows for Electronic Medical Record (EMR) software to collect SOGI data.
The Frederick Center runs an HIV Test Kit Distribution Program to provide the OraQuick Home HIV test kits to central Maryland individuals who want to take a test in the privacy of their own home. Email [email protected] for more info. This program also organizes the local World AIDS Day conference, the Frederick AIDS Walk, and tables at public and private events to distribute HIV kits and information. Various generous partners contribute and fund this program. FYI: Free on-the-spot testing is available at the Frederick County Health Department on specific days. They are also the contact point for those having a positive test result, seek counseling, need referrals, and would like to attend the local support group.
