Build Our Center (also known as Our Center Reno) is a far-left LGBT advocacy organization and community center in Reno, Nevada. It is the organizer of Northern Nevada Pride and hosts programs that allow minors to explore topics on sexual activity. 1 2
Build Our Center has conducted study groups using a “Queer Sex Education” curriculum produced by sexuality-education group Scarleteen for minors. In 2019, the Washoe County Board of Education removed Scarleteen from its recommended resources after criticism from parents due to Scarleteen providing guidance on how to engage in numerous sexual activities. 3
History
In 2009, Build Our Center was founded to replace its predecessor, A Rainbow Place, which it reports only ended due to a lack of funding. Build Our Center, also known as Northern Nevada Pride and Our Center, spent its first few years fundraising to build an LGBT community center in Reno, Nevada. 1
In 2014, Build Our Center held its first annual Northern Nevada Pride event, which also served as a fundraising event. In April 2016, the community center opened. 1
Build Our Center reports that in 2019, its Northern Nevada Pride was its most attended and best fundraising annual pride event on record, having raised over $50,000. 1
The Washington Free Beacon reported that from 2016 to 2021 Build Our Center “shuttered” due to inadequate funding, but since 2021, it describes Build Our Center (or Our Center Reno) as being a “premier left-wing advocacy group” in the Northern Nevada area and a meeting place for far-left organizations, including the Northern Nevada Democratic Socialists of America. 5
Scarleteen Queer Sex Education is a youth program with which Build Our Center partners through which teenagers and “emerging adults” take classes on sexuality. 2 The classes provide information about how to perform a wide variety of sex acts and encourages children to engage in them. 3
Transgender
Build Our Center has transgender support groups. Some of the groups are specifically for transgender youths as well as support groups that include transgender individuals, their families, and their friends. 2
Family
Build Our Center’s family programs host movies and game nights for families to attend and advertises it for families with LGBT children. It also states that it specifically chooses movies with a “queer cult following.” 2
Leadership
Jeromy Manke is the board president of Build Our Center and has served as the chair of Northern Nevade Pride since its inception in 2014. He is also the Diversity and Inclusion Chair of Young Professionals Committee for the Northern Nevada Human Resources Association (NNHRA) and is a salon owner. 6
Financials
In 2021, Build Our Center reported having $289,000 in total revenue and $181,000 in total expenses. It did not report spending any money on grants and spent $2,000 on salaries and compensation of employees. 7 8 Additionally, Build Our Spent reported spending $43,000 on occupancy and $88,000 on events. 9
References
- “About Us: Our Center.” ourcenter, January 6, 2023. https://ourcenterreno.org/about-us/
- “Programs: Our Center.” ourcenter, July 23, 2023. https://ourcenterreno.org/programs/.
- Simonson, Joseph. “Jacky Rosen Praised an LGBT Group That Teaches Children about Witchcraft and Masturbation.” Washington Free Beacon, August 22, 2023. https://freebeacon.com/democrats/jacky-rosen-queer-sex-education/.
- Simonson, Joseph. “Jacky Rosen Praised an LGBT Group That Teaches Children about Witchcraft and Masturbation.” Washington Free Beacon, August 22, 2023. https://freebeacon.com/democrats/jacky-rosen-queer-sex-education/.
Controversy
In August 2023, the right-of-center Washington Free Beacon published an article on Build Our Center, describing its activities as having “radical tendencies.” It reported that Scarleteen, a sexuality-education resource targeted toward minors used for “‘summer intensive’ study groups” by Our Center Reno had been removed as a resource by the Washoe County Board of Education after backlash from parents. Parents told the school board that Scarleteen resources that taught kids how to engage in sexual activity were made available “too much too soon” and were “very graphic for teens.” 4 Simonson, Joseph. “Jacky Rosen Praised an LGBT Group That Teaches Children about Witchcraft and Masturbation.” Washington Free Beacon, August 22, 2023. https://freebeacon.com/democrats/jacky-rosen-queer-sex-education/.[/noe]
Programs
Youth
GSA Consortium is a youth program at Build Our Center where high schoolers are joined by “queer friendly” organizations. Build Our Center’s website states that members receive advocacy training, some form of an education, and take Scarleteen classes. 4 “Programs: Our Center.” ourcenter, July 23, 2023. https://ourcenterreno.org/programs/.
- “Our Board.” ourcenter, May 5, 2023. https://ourcenterreno.org/our-board/.
- Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Build Our Center. 2021. Part I, Line 12.
- Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Build Our Center. 2021. Part I, Lines 13-18.
- Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Build Our Center. 2021. Part IX, Lines 16-24a.