I have been a member of the Orlando Downtown YMCA for 15 years and I go there 3-5 days a week to exercise away my inner demons (otherwise known as cupcakes and fried cheese). I don’t join groups or go to classes, and I’m not a gym gadfly I just go and hop on a cardio machine, hoping that someday my abs and glutes and other assorted muscles buried in middle-age fat will decide to miraculously make a re-appearance.
Although I am a very active advocate of LGBT causes, I never really thought about LGBT politics at the Y. I have just always liked the friendly people there and the easy-going atmosphere. Then, a few weeks ago, the Wellness Director at the Downtown Y, Bridget Butler, invited me to attend an upcoming YMCA community function. I looked at the brochure she handed me, and knew immediately that I could not attend, as it was being held at a very actively homophobic church.
I mumbled something incoherently noncommittal, then agonized for a few days over whether I should say anything, and finally decided I would quietly advise Bridget the reason why I would not attend. After I bared my gay soul to her, she was enlightened and I felt relieved, but this didn’t seem good enough to me. We all know the Y has many LGBT members and employees. I couldn’t be the only one offended by this.
Suddenly I did care about the Y’s LGBT politics, so I did a little research. I found out that the Central Florida Y had an informal policy allowing LGBT partners of members to join on “family” memberships. This is good! Then I found out the Central Florida Y did not include sexual orientation in its EEO policy. This is bad! A mixed bag. So I pondered for a few more days and decided to take a stand.
I wrote a very lengthy letter, detailing my long relationship with the Y, applauding their informal “family membership” policy, and describing my concerns about the EEO policy and the choice of venue for the recent event. Then I delivered my epistle to every member of the Central Florida YMCA Executive Staff, Central Florida YMCA Board of Directors, and Downtown YMCA Board of Directors. There, my work was done! A little consciousness-raising is good for the soul. But honestly, at best, I expected either crickets or a polite brush off. And for the next few days, I imagined there was a great big neon target on my back whenever I walked into the Downtown Y to burn my cupcakes.
But then, I received a letter from the President and CEO of the Central Florida YMCA, Jim Ferber, advising that my concerns were appreciated and would be considered at the next Board meeting. This is maybe good! Sensing a potential opportunity, I discussed the situation with my compatriots on “Team Gay,” Orlando’s triple-threat LGBT rapid response unit, and Mr. Ferber soon received letters from Equality Florida and the Central Florida GLBT Community Center echoing my concerns.
Then, much to my ever-lovin’ lesbian surprise, I received a phone call from the HR Director of the Central Florida YMCA, Susan Peacock. She called to advise that, in response to my letter, the Central Florida YMCA had updated its EEO policy to include sexual orientation (inclusive of gender identity), and moreover was updating its membership policies to formally incorporate LGBT family structures. She also expressed that they understood my concerns about the venue of the recent event and felt badly that anyone had been offended. She stressed that use of this venue did not mean that the YMCA aligned with their religious or political beliefs, asked for any suggestions I might have about alternative venues, and said that they would certainly consider the suggestions I had made to make their future events more LGBT-inclusive.
She advised that I would receive a formal written response from Mr. Ferber, but had wanted me to know that they were taking these immediate actions, because they greatly value all of their members and employees and wanted their policies to be as welcoming and inclusive as possible.
My reaction to this conversation was—OMG! This never happens! This is very, very very good! A respected mainstream community organization expressly dedicated to instilling Christian values (it is the YMCA) proudly and unequivocally proclaiming it’s commitment to equality and fairness for it’s LGBT membership and employees, just because one member asked them to? Get out! I must be dreaming!
If this is just a dream, I have not woken up yet, so I think it may actually be true. I wanted you to know and share in this moment with me. Let it be proclaimed—The Central Florida YMCA values and cares about you! The Village People were right! It is fun to play at the YMCA
Now, if you have read my prior columns, you know that I am all about self integrity (come out and be proud!), and community activism (get involved!). All LGBT brothers and sisters need to stand together in our fight for equality and civil rights; and we all also need to get involved in the greater community and support those that support us. The Central Florida YMCA has embraced us as an integral part of the community that it values and serves. Now it’s our turn to embrace them. Join, donate, volunteer, promote, and support your local YMCA.
It’s family.
