Reaching out to Madison’s LGBT community

by Megan Costello, News Reporter

Dedicated to providing support services and a safe community environment, Madison Outreach continues to be an umbrella of comfort for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender students and residents of the city of Madison.

“The mission statement is working toward equality opportunities as well as ensuring the quality of life for the LGBT community,” executive director John Quinlan said.

Quinlan, who has been the executive director of Outreach since October 2002, added that in coalition with the University of Wisconsin Campus Center it “is an important place for LGBT students, but also being involved with [Outreach] is a door to a larger LGBT community.”

As an outlet, the Outreach center provides information regarding LGBT resources, support services, housing, roommate searches, employment and volunteer opportunities. It also contains a library with over 5,000 volumes of books ranging from fiction, reference, self-help, “coming out” and criticism.

Overall, Quinlan noted, “We’re a community center, a safe place to hang out.”

As a non-profit organization since July 1, 1998, Madison Outreach also works to connect the LGBT community to the various support groups in Madison.

“We provide a directory of all LGBT groups; there are over 130 listed,” Quinlan said.

The various LGBT groups in Madison include Action Wisconsin and Rainbow Family Wisconsin. Groups such as Action Wisconsin have been involved in political changes regarding same-sex marriages.

Action Wisconsin organized a protest against the Legislature banning same-sex marriages Tuesday, which drew more than 200 people to the Capitol.

Rainbow Family Wisconsin provides a network for LGBT families and children to connect and support each other. While working with other groups around Madison, Outreach allows a chance to connect with the larger community.

As it provides connections around campus, the center also works with volunteers. A large number of Outreach volunteers are students, Quinlan said. Many volunteers are involved in everything from various committees in the Outreach program, to office work and answering business phones.

As a support group and resource center, Madison Outreach continues to be a link for the LGBT community in Madison.

“We connect people to where they want to be,” said Nikki Baumblatt, a volunteer at Outreach.

Students interested in volunteer opportunities can contact Madison Outreach at (608) 255-8582 or visit the center at 600 Williamson St.