LGBTQ+ Spectrum of Findlay officially shuts down

*^{Courtesy of LGBTQ+ Spectrum of Findlay’s Facebook page}*

A rural town south of Toledo has now officially lost its homegrown LGBTQ+ organization, but a statewide organization will take its place.

LGBTQ+ Spectrum of Findlay announced on Facebook that it ceased operations on Monday, August 4.

“While Spectrum will no longer be operating, our love for this community remains unwavering,” the post read.

Board President Jessica Grosso told The Buckeye Flame last December that Spectrum did not have the resources to meet a huge increase in need.

However, Findlay will not be without an LGBTQ+ organization. Columbus-based Kaleidoscope Youth Center is expanding into Findlay. KYC will continue much of Spectrum’s programming. The statewide organization is also the hub for Ohio’s Gender and Sexualities Alliances (GSAs) and supports LGBTQ+ youth through providing safe spaces, programming and leadership opportunities.

“We know that the need here in Northwest Ohio is really big, and we didn’t want Spectrum to close without having a plan in place,” Grosso said last December. “We reached out to KYC down in Columbus and we quickly realized that they were the perfect organization to move into Findlay.”

KYC is continuing Spectrum’s Pride in the Park on Saturday, Sept. 13. According to a release from Spectrum, its community organizer, Jessi Smith, has accepted a job with KYC as Community Outreach Manager for Northwest Ohio.

“Our gratitude runs deep for all the love, strength, support and allyship you’ve shared with us over the years,” the release said. “Please continue to uplift and empower LGBTQ+ voices wherever you go.”