Issuu

MARCH 2026 LIFE SUPPORT

THE NEWSLETTER THAT DOES GOOD!

Inthisissue:

Bayard Rustin by Alex HIV/AIDS Awareness Days by Rowan Volunteer Spotlight: Hannah by Kyle

New Collaboration - Humanities Behind Bars by Sarah Gayming Section by Shay Meet the Staff

Upcomingvolunteertrainings:

Importantdates:

March 8th - International Women’s Day

March 10th - National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

March 17 - Bayard Rustin’s Birthday th

March 17th - St. Patrick’s Day

March 20th - National Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

March 21st - Two-Spirit and Indigenous LGBTQ Awareness Day

March 31st - International Transgender Day of Visibility

BAYARD RUSTIN

by Alex

Bayard Rustin was an American Civil Rights activist and gay man who successfully strategized the movements towards equality Even though he was involved with big events like the Freedom Rides, the Selma March, and the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, he’s not widely known. For his birthday, let’s explore and celebrate the life of Bayard Rustin

Bayard Rustin was known for his dedication to nonviolence and effectiveness at sound strategy Born on March 17, 1912, he was raised as one of 12 children by his Quaker grandparents in Pennsylvania where his grandmother was involved with the NAACP. In 1948, he studied Gandhian nonviolence in India, which he incorporated into his work with the Civil Rights Movement with Martin Luther King, Jr

His activism increased in the 1940s when he was appointed youth organizer for the proposed 1941 March on Washington aimed at desegregating the armed forces. While that march did not occur, he used his experiences to organize campaigns and teach nonviolent action for the Fellowship of Reconciliation (FOR) and co-found the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE). His work with CORE included the Journey for Reconciliation campaign after the 1946 Supreme Court victory of Morgan v Virginia, desegregating interstate buses, which started the Freedom Rides

Despite his proven effectiveness as a leader, Bayard encountered multiple hardships He was arrested multiple times serving a 2+ year sentence as a conscience objector to World War II and a later 22 day sentence to a chain gang in North Carolina for violating state segregation laws His biggest blow, however, came shortly after his arrest and conviction in 1953 for homosexual acts While occurring at the same time as the McCarthy Lavender Scare, some saw Bayard’s public outing as a potential detriment to Civil Rights causes, forcing him to resign from FOR and work behind the scenes in other organizations

Bayard didn’t let anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment stop him, though In 1956, he began helping Dr Martin Luther King, Jr with the Montgomery Bus Boycott Bayard brought practical application of nonviolence, connections within the Civil Rights Movement, a mind for strategy, and charisma with words King asked him to serve as his advisor moving forward He helped King organize the SCLC and the Prayer Pilgrimage for Freedom. He also helped in the editing of some of King’s speeches and papers

In 1963, Bayard took on what would be his most challenging task: organizing the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom Asked to help by the same man who appointed him for the 1941 march, Bayard took the job of Deputy Director despite opposition to his appointment by several Civil Rights leaders. Moreover, he only had 2 months in which to coordinate logistics for this demonstration In the end, the event was a success, bringing 250,000 people to Washington D C during which King delivered his famous “I Have a Dream" speech

Even after being outed, Bayard never shied away from all parts of his identity In the year after the March on Washington, he continued his work for Civil Rights, human rights, and economic justice The year before his death at the age of 75, he testified in favor of New York’s Gay Rights Bill His influence permeates so much of what we know as justice, and he deserves to be celebrated. Happy Birthday, Bayard.

HIV/AIDSAwarenessDays

by Rowan

With National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day and National Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day both happening this month, March can be a good time to take a moment and reflect on HIV/AIDS. According to the Virginia Department of Health, HIV/AIDS impacted approximately 28,000 Virginians at the end of 2025, with significantly higher rates in the Southeast Virginia area and in the Black community In the Hampton Roads area, the Life Center has been supporting individuals with HIV/AIDS since 1989 and continues to do this important work. Among other services, the Life Center provides HIV testing, an HIV care clinic, and help regarding housing, health insurance, and medical appointment transportation More information can be found on the Life Center website

National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day takes place on March 10th Since 2005, this initiative of the National Institutes of Health has focused on health impacts to women and girls, particularly women of color. Like most health issues, there is a large disparity between research and knowledge of how HIV impacts women vs their male counterparts This initiative focuses on ensuring that women and girls receive care that is tailored to their specific needs and encourages testing as women are less likely than men to be screened for HIV in the first place.

National Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day takes place on March 20th, the first day of spring The date was chosen by the community to take place on a culturally important date regarding beginnings, the seasons, and the cycle of life This day of awareness has been held since 2007 focusing on the American Indian, Alaskan Native, and Native Hawaiians communities as a Native lead and CDC funded initiative that has gained the support of additional external agencies The initiative focuses on promoting testing and education within a demographic that has the lowest rating of individuals who know their HIV status, while also supporting community events where people can connect and discuss HIV/AIDS at a local level.

March 2026

Volunteer spotlight: Volunteer spotlight: Hannah Hannah

The heart of this newsletter is about connecting and highlighting our extraordinary volunteers here at the Life Center, and this month we are psyched to shine a light on one of our Food Pantry helpers, Hannah (she/her)! Hannah is originally from Savannah, Georgia, but she moved to the 757 to pursue a theater tech degree at Hampton University. She has been volunteering with the life center since November 2025 and loves the queer community she has found in this space.

Hannah has volunteered at a variety of places, such as the Hoffler Creek Wildlife Reserve in Portsmouth, Virginia, but chose to transition her volunteer efforts to the Life Center after witnessing the devastating food insecurity brought on by the pausing of SNAP benefits last fall. Hannah appreciated how the Life Center filled the gaps with their grocery store-styled pantry, allowing patrons to get what they need, no questions asked.

When asked what drives her love of volunteering, Hannah stated that she loves being with people and helping where she can. At the pantry, she stocks and organizes shelves, carries people’s bags to their vehicles, keeps the place tidy, and offers assistance whenever possible. “Don’t be afraid to offer assistance,” Hannah says. “I’m an introvert and it feels weird offering to help sometimes, but you get used to it and you can see it makes a world of a difference.”

by Kyle

Every once in a while Hannah’s creative skills get roped in for a fun side quest opportunity at the Life Center. Last winter during the holidays, Hannah was asked to use her crafty theater tech skills to help decorate. If you were there in person, you may have seen her beautiful ribbon reef hanging in front of the pharmacy! Goes to show that as a volunteer, you may sign up for one thing, but if you have other skills you think are useful, they can probably be put to good use!

Come spring, once her school schedule changes for her final semester at HU, Hannah hopes to join the outreach team as a way to exercise her love of human connection. And what a great fit, I might add, as Hannah is a joy to converse with. Thank you Hannah for your time, your energy, and your passion for the queer community!

NEWCOLLABORATION!

HumanitiesBehindBars

bySarah

The LGBT Life Center is excited to announce a new partnership and collaboration with Humanities Behind Bars (HBB). In future newsletters you can anticipate enjoying written contributions by LGBTQIA2S+ individuals who are currently incarcerated by the prison industrial complex. While these systems work to isolate individuals from their communities, humanity, and artistic expression, we are working together to break down the barriers preventing these connections. The process of communication with individuals who are incarcerated is intentionally designed to be difficult and slow. Because of this, it may be a couple of months before you see this column grace the pages of the LGBT Life Center newsletter In the meantime, we'd love to share more information about Humanities Behind Bars and how you can contribute to their cause in whatever way ismostaccessibletoyouatthistime.

The mission of HBB is "to build an alternative world that ends systems of oppression and carceral punishment and works to create healthy, resourceful, and resilient communities bound together by extensive care networks. We seek to center the voices, visions, and liberation of those who have been intentionally targeted by the carceral system by imagining what communities can achieve and how they operate independently Morespecifically,weunderstandourworkasbeing rooted in the rich and entangled historical contributions of radical Black and Indigenous feminist thought and praxis." It may be March now, but Black History Month continues to live on as we witness 1 in every 100 Black individuals in the US currently being incarcerated for at least one year, and we must acknowledge and break down the structures that moved the enslavement of people from plantations to prisons. HBB offers avenues to learn about these systems and create connections with individuals who are incarcerated while taking active steps toward the abolishment of these systems

March2026

HBB is based in Tidewater, VA, but can be founddoingmonthlyactivitiesinbothHampton and Norfolk. You can find them at Eleanor's Bookstore (801 Boush St, Unit B) in Norfolk on the second and last Thursdays of each month at 6:30pm for their Abolition School. Can't makeitinperson?Virtualattendanceisalsoan option that can be requested on their website or socials found at the end of this column. All are welcome to join the Abolition School, the goal of which is to create a space of deep learningandturnthatlearningintopractice

Additionally, on the first Thursday of every month at 6pm, you can join in their Pen Pal/Postcard Writing program hosted at SeeWhich Books (15 S Hope St) in Hampton. This is a great way to learn about how to connect with individuals who are currently incarcerated. If you know you'd like to join in letter writing, but can't make it to this event, you can request a PenPal via their "contact us" featureontheirwebsite

If neither of these options are within your capacity currently, monetary support is always needed and appreciated. Funds that are donated not only go to covering the basic expenses of the programs offered by HBB, such as the materials for letter writing, but also directly go to support individuals whoareincarcerated,allowingthemtoaffordbasic items at the commissary like soap and toilet paper. Donation information can be found on HBB's websitelistedbelow.

We look forward to sharing this upcoming column in future newsletters and hope that you are able to learn more and contribute to HBB in the meantime. For more information about HBB, their programs, how to make donations, or to sign up for their newsletter, please visit their website at www.humanitiesbehindbars.org. You can also find information about upcoming events on their Instagram @humanitiesbehindbars or their Facebook@humanitiesbehindbars.

March2026

byShay

Prefertodothisdigitally?tinyurl.com/March26WS

MEET OUR STAFF

Editor

Kyle Fillhart (He/Him)

is a local 757 trans man and volunteer editor for the LGBT Life Center volunteer newsletter He is also involved with the Hampton Roads Reproductive Justice League and trans advocacy group Men in Transition You can usually find Kyle running between Norfolk's queer bars and spaces, or hanging out at home making collage art with his husband and two cat babies.

Writer

Alex (They/Them)

is a professional writer from Atlanta, GA, where they started their LGBTQIA+ community work in 2016. Moving to be near their chosen family, they moved to the 757 hoping to make it home. They earned their PhD researching how people tell stories using technology and learning obscure grammar and tech lore. In their free time, Alex is learning to play roller derby and making playlists for every occasion.

Writer/ Game Creator

Shay Wilson (They/Them)

is a proud parent of two cats, a grant writer at a local nonprofit, and an amateur harmonica player After graduating last spring with degrees in Gender Studies and Writing & Rhetoric, they moved across the country from Utah to the South Hampton Roads area. Here, Shay continues to nurture their passions for writing, advocacy, video games, bad jokes, and spending time with their cats.

Writer Rayah Soriano (She/They)

is a freelance writer for the LGBT Life Center volunteer newsletter and works on her independent Substack blog in her free time. Coming from a background of teaching early childhood education and being trained as a pharmacy technician, she’s passionate about giving back to those in marginalized communities. Her work focuses on the advocacy of public health issues such as harm reduction and drug policy reform Beyond writing, she is passionate about educating on drug safety and supporting complete bodily autonomy.

Writer Rowen (They/Them)

is a wetland scientist and aspiring juggler. They spend most of their time trying to paint while their cat spends most of her time trying to drink out of the paint water cup They are happy to be writing again and sharing space with queer community

Writer Ari (Xe/Xem/Xyr)

is from Hampton Virginia and a parent of two. Xe is passionate about xyr fiancé, community, and everyone having equality and equity to ensure a stable quality of life. Ari loves Hampton Roads so much and spends a great amount of time riding buses, visiting libraries, and learning about every resource offered within the community.

Designer/Writer

Sarah (They/She)

is a photographer, artist, and writer who enjoys getting out of their academic work and into creative ventures for local orgs Coming from the Mexican borderlands to the 757, they bring with them their passion for disability justice, harm reduction, abolition, and land back movements. They keep grounded (and busy) thanks to their partner, four amazing human children, and four feline fur babies.

OUR MISSION

LGBT LIFE CENTER IS A TRUSTED LEADER THAT STRENGTHENS THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITIES AND ALL INDIVIDUALS LIVING WITH HIV THROUGH IMPROVING HEALTH AND WELLNESS, SUPPORTING FAMILIES AND COMMUNITY, AND PROVIDING TRANSFORMATIVE EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY.