LGBTQ+

The GLO Center Tuesday announced a three-year $483,238 award from the Missouri Foundation for Health. It will fund work to support grassroot efforts in a 20-county area around Springfield.

One group was opposed to, the other supportive of, a recently cancelled Pride Month event on the small rural city's public square. The event's permit was cancelled by city leaders, both rallies were organized after the cancellation.

Founded in 1996, GLO in Springfield is Missouri’s oldest LGBTQIA+ resource center.

After receiving threats this week, the nonprofit announced Tuesday they would go forward with Saturday’s event as planned.

The GLO Center Market is held at 518 E. Commercial in Springfield.

Earlier this month, the LGBTQ advocacy group received $83,000 from the Musgrave Foundation to launch the initiative for unhoused youth.

The archives, with the acronym, “OLGA,” are maintained by Missouri State University and preserve records of local queer history going back to the 1950s.

Allyson Tuckness was voted out as president in August. That vote was overturned in September and has led to a pending lawsuit. The library’s board of trustees has faced more than two years of public comments calling for labeling and/or sequestering of LGBTQ+ materials.

You can learn more about LGBTQ+ history in the Ozarks this October by exploring the Ozarks Lesbian and Gay Archives collection.

Organizers expect 5,000 attendees during a day of events that starts with a parade through downtown Springfield.