Spectrum LGBT Center (Spectrum) was a LGBT support organization in Marin County, California founded by Janie Spahr in 1982 as Ministry of Light. In 2015, it was folded into the Spahr Center, which ceased offering services under the Spectrum name in 2020.

Spectrum programs focused on LGBT youth and senior support groups and expanded into Marin, Sonoma, and Napa counties in California. ¹

Background

In 1982 Janie Spahr founded Ministry of Light to provide LGBT support services in Marin County, California. In 1993, the group was renamed Spectrum LGBT Center. In 1984, Spahr started the Marin AIDS Support Network. This later became the Marin AIDS Project (MAP). ²

In 2015, Spectrum was dissolved ³ and its assets of $12,542 were distributed to the Spahr Center. ⁴

Programs

Spectrum’s initial programs included a youth support group, a support group for LGBT parents, a family camp program for LGBT families, individual counseling, and community education in Marin County. ⁵

In 1993, Spectrum started a program that provided support services for lesbian and gay seniors. ⁶

The group’s 2015 tax return identified programs and services for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people in Marin, Sonoma, and Napa counties in California focusing on support and advocacy for LGBT youth and seniors, including a support group for LGBT youth ages 14 through 19, a support group and luncheon series for LGBT seniors, referrals to service providers who accept LGBT people, and training to providers and educators in middle and high schools. ⁷

The Spahr Center

In 2015 Spectrum and Marin AIDS Project announced a merger to a single non-profit organization to streamline costs and processes. ⁸ Spectrum and MAP continued as programs offered by the Spahr Center, which provides support services to the LGBT community in California’s North Bay area. ⁹ The boards of directors of Spectrum and MAP merged into a single board for the new organization. ¹⁰

Financials

In its last full year of independent operation, Spectrum had a budget of about $350,000. According to Spectrum’s executive director Paula Pilecki, funding for organizations that support the LGBT community decreased as same-sex marriage was legalized and LGBT issues became more mainstream. ¹¹

Leadership

Janie Spahr was the founder of Spectrum. She was an assistant pastor of First Presbyterian Church in San Rafael from 1975 to 1979, then executive director of the Oakland Council of Presbyterian Churches. ¹²

Paula Pilecki was executive director for 16 years, beginning in 1998. ¹³ She retired in 2015 when Spectrum and Marin AIDS Project merged. ¹⁴

Jennifer Malone became executive director of the Spahr Center from 2015, when Spectrum and MAP merged, until 2019. Previously, she had been executive director of Marin AIDS Project since 2004. ¹⁵

1. Spectrum Center for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Concerns. Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990 – Part III.) 2015.
2. “About Us.” Spectrum LGBT Center. Accessed June 3, 2022. https://www.spectrumlgbtcenter.org/about-us/
3. Spectrum Center for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Concerns. Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990 – Part IV.) 2015.
4.  Spectrum Center for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Concerns. Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990 – Schedule N, Part I.) 2015.
5. “About Us.” Spectrum LGBT Center. Accessed June 3, 2022. https://www.spectrumlgbtcenter.org/about-us/
6. “About Us.” Spectrum LGBT Center. Accessed June 3, 2022. https://www.spectrumlgbtcenter.org/about-us/
7. Spectrum Center for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Concerns. Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990 – Part III.) 2015.
8. Richard Halstead. “Marin’s LGBT groups merge.” Marin Independent Journal. February 6, 2015. Updated July 19, 2018. Accessed June 13, 2022. https://www.marinij.com/2015/02/06/marins-lgbt-groups-merge/
9. David Templeton. “Feature: Spahr Center rising.” Pacific Sun. June 1, 2016. Accessed June 13, 2022. https://pacificsun.com/feature-spahr-center-rising/
10. Richard Halstead. “Marin’s LGBT groups merge.” Marin Independent Journal. February 6, 2015. Updated July 19, 2018. Accessed June 13, 2022. https://www.marinij.com/2015/02/06/marins-lgbt-groups-merge/
11. Richard Halstead. “Marin’s LGBT groups merge.” Marin Independent Journal. February 6, 2015. Updated July 19, 2018. Accessed June 13, 2022. https://www.marinij.com/2015/02/06/marins-lgbt-groups-merge/
12. David Templeton. “Feature: Spahr Center rising.” Pacific Sun. June 1, 2016. Accessed June 13, 2022. https://pacificsun.com/feature-spahr-center-rising/
13. LinkedIn – Paula Pilecki. Accessed June 13, 2022. https://www.linkedin.com/in/paula-pilecki-8751b0101/
14. Josh Manuel. “Spectrum LGBT Center and Marin AIDS Project to Merge.” Spectrum LGBT Center. January 8, 2020. Accessed June 13, 2022. https://www.spectrumlgbtcenter.org/spectrum-lgbt-center-and-marin-aids-project-to-merge/
15. Richard Halstead. “Marin’s LGBT groups merge.” Marin Independent Journal. February 6, 2015. Updated July 19, 2018. Accessed June 13, 2022. https://www.marinij.com/2015/02/06/marins-lgbt-groups-merge/