Our mission.

The Spectrum Center’s mission is to advocate for and secure full inclusion and empowerment for the LGBTQ+ community in the Pine Belt of Mississippi through the provision of resources, community support, and direct action.

Our story.

The Spectrum Center (TSC) was founded in 2014 by a group Lesbian and Queer activists who were organizing at the time for marriage equality. They knew that in order for our community to thrive, we needed a space of our own, so they pooled their funds and purchased the little house that used to be a nursery on 2 25th Ave. They started with folding chairs and empty walls, and over the years the volunteer leadership changed and programs shifted. Still a volunteer only organization but with art on the walls and a comfy couch, TSC now hosts over 6 monthly events, provides thousands in financial assistance, advocates in local government, and changes lives every day. Just over 10 years later, we are still going strong with the ideal of a fully inclusive space built around the idea of justice and liberation at the forefront.

our guiding values

  • TSC believes that whole body wellbeing is a right rather than a privilege and that all people deserve to have their needs met with empathy and open mindedness.

  • TSC strongly believes in the power of a connected, active, and engaged community. We believe that community is built from the ground up through mutual care for each other and that a strong community is invested in bravery, care, and stewardship of the world and the people around us.

  • TSC believes in the power of visibility to change the lives of those within and without our community through exposure to Queer & Trans people who are proud of who and how they are.

  • TSC believes in equity and freedom for all people. We approach equity with an intersectional and decolonized lens, believing that it is the systems of capitalism, oligarchy, and white supremacy that separate and divide us and that it is our responsibility to employ strategies that recognize how these systems affect us and our diverse identities.

  • TSC believes in staying curious about our community, the issues we face, and the solutions we find. We believe in listening and learning, exploring new perspectives and ideas, and adapting and innovating based on lived experiences, feedback, and setbacks.

what we do.

RESOURCES: TSC provides support to the community through resources, referrals, and direct mutual aid. Resources & referrals to LGBTQIA+ friendly and affirming businesses, healthcare providers, recreational programs, and more provide the community with the confidence to seek the support they need, whether it be medical or otherwise, at safe and welcoming vendors. Our mutual aid fund helps individuals directly by providing immediate financial support for housing, utilities, and medication, and our free clothing closet offers a variety of clothing to anyone in need, no questions asked.

COMMUNITY SUPPORT: TSC hosts and produces monthly, quarterly, and annual events open to the public to build and bolster the Queer community in the Pine Belt Area. These events include barbecues, entertainment shows, support groups, social gatherings, special interest groups, and October’s Pine Belt Pride week. We provide food, drinks, entertainment, resources, community connections, art projects, and games, and attendees are encouraged to express themselves, enjoy each other’s company, learn more about TSC, become involved with our work, and cultivate personal connections.

DIRECT ACTION: TSC also leads efforts to organize local, regional, and state level advocacy efforts, including lobbying for legislation in the City of Hattiesburg and in the state legislature. We also assist individual community members advocate for themselves and provide advocacy and resource training to the community at large.

looking ahead.

Our top 5 goals for the future of TSC:

  1. Open a community fridge

  2. Remodel & preserve our historic building

  3. Pass a Non-Discrimination Ordinance in the City of Hattiesburg

  4. Establish a gender affirming surgery grant program

  5. Open a safe, affirming & inclusive shelter for at risk LGBTQIA+ folks