Mixed reaction follows news of NoCo Community Center closing

After months of rumor and innuendo the Northern Colorado LGBT community learned the fate of its community center: The Lambda Community Center of Fort Collins shut it doors Dec. 31.

The news came Dec. 13. The day before, Lambda’s board decided to dissolve the organization, its debt too large to shoulder.

In its place, The GLBT Community Center of Colorado, based in Denver, opened a satellite office there Jan. 3.

Talks between Lambda and The Center on how to keep a viable LGBT community center open in Northern Colorado began in April after the IRS seized Lambda’s bank account.

Combined, Lambda owed $35,000 in back taxes to the federal and state government, said former Vice President of the Lambda board Barb Bue.

Carlos Martinez, chief executive officer of The Center, said a merger was discussed, however, because of Lambda’s outstanding liabilities it was decided this was the best option.

The Center paid Lambda $24,000 for its assets. That money was used to pay off Lambda’s remaining debt, Bue said.
“We will continue to offer the same programming,” Martinez said. “And we hope to expand.”

Lambda had one part-time employee. Martinez said he hopes to add a full time person and expand on youth and elder services.

However, the first step will be to conduct a community needs assessment and put together a Northern Colorado advisory board.

The Center is also creating a board seat to represent the new office.

“We want to be respectful of the Northern Colorado community and their needs and desires,” he said.
Bue said closing Lambda was a difficult decision and hopes the community accepts The Center – Northern Colorado.
“We did not expect it to end this way,” Bue said. “But I feel good about this happening.”

The public first became aware of the financial problems at Lambda when the organization abruptly canceled its Pride celebration in June.

Martinez said Pride would return to Fort Collins, Sept. 8, 2012. The later date will allow students at Colorado State University to participate, he said.

Reaction from the Fort Collins LGBT community has varied.

“The Lambda Center helped me come out,” said Irene Chavez. “I was still in the Army and a bit afraid, they were a big help to me and my family. I hope the Denver Center will be able to provide similar support to others like me.”

But not everyone was happy about Lambda’s services. Cara Kay said she hopes new leadership will make good on its promise to expand services.

“My partner and I just started dating a few months ago. She has a 12-year-old daughter who is having a lot of problems with the fact that her mother is gay,” Kay said. “She just wants a normal family with her mom having a husband or boyfriend. We wanted to find help at Lambda. I hope the Center coming to Fort Collins will have programs to help us.”

Nikki Kushner contributed to this report.