Visions of Pride opens in Cape

They say necessity is the mother of invention. Other ideas are born of spite. You might say the opening of Cape's Visions of Pride community center sprang from both. Founder and executive director Denise Eaker saw a need for a local gay and lesbian center and support group after her own brush with hate.

In 1989, Eaker was living in Florida and wrestling with feelings of depression. She called a suicide crisis line and explained that as a lesbian she felt alone and isolated. The voice on the other end of the line berated Eaker, and told her she and her kind would burn in hell.

"That lit a fire in me to start a support group to help others like me who were hurting," says Eaker. She installed a hotline in her home and manned the phone herself. "And when the Internet came along, I went with that and it just took on a life of its own. We were very successful."

Eaker moved to Cape Girardeau when her grandparents fell ill, and immediately saw the same need as in Florida. She started out small- distributing flyers on cars, but has now leased a building and opened Visions of Pride. The first meeting was July 1. Eaker would rather not print the address, but those interested can call her on the hotline at 651-6220.

The center is home to several weekly support groups. INSISTERHOOD, a lesbian support group, meets on Mondays. On Tuesdays the Gay Man's Group meets, and Wednesdays EQUAL FOOTING, an LGBT group. On Fridays and some Saturdays the center hosts coffee socials and potluck dinners. All events begin at 7 PM.

"I want everyone to know that anonymity is strictly respected at these events," says Eaker. "Who we see here stays here, and there is a discreet entrance and private parking lot for anyone who isn't out yet."

The center also provides a LGBT library, an inspirational email list and a YAHOO! discussion group. For more information on any of these, contact Eaker at 651-6220, or email her at DELTADYKE@aol.com.