The Center: 7 Rivers LGBTQ Connection

The Center was among more than 100 LGBT organizations nationally that signed onto a public statement in May 2023 calling for Target to bring back its special LGBT pride merchandise to the sales floor and online for Pride Month. ²

Background

The Center: 7 Rivers LGBTQ Connection describes itself as a social service and referral agency for LGBT people that provides advocacy, education, and other programming in 11 counties constituting the Seven Rivers Region covering Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Iowa. ^{3  1}

About 75 percent of the group’s services target La Crosse County, Wisconsin. ¹ The organization works in the Wisconsin counties of Buffalo, Jackson, La Crosse, Monroe, Trempealeau, and Vernon; the Minnesota counties of Fillmore, Houston, and Winona; and the Iowa counties of Allamakee and Winneshiek. ⁴

The group says it is a “safe space where all LGBTQ+ and questioning folx are welcome”  ⁵ and formally recognizes that it occupies the ancestral land of the Ho-Chunk people. ⁶

Activism

The Center: 7 Rivers LGBTQ Connection was among more than 200 LGBT organizations nationally that signed onto a public statement in May 2023 calling for Target to bring back LGBT pride-themed merchandise to the sales floor and online in full for Pride Month (June). The groups demanded the retail chain release a public statement reaffirming its commitment to the LGBT community. The statement from the groups called for “Target and the business community to reject and speak out against anti-LGBTQ+ extremism going into Pride Month.” ⁷

The Center’s website says, “When you introduce yourself, tell the person you’re meeting your pronouns.” It continues, “It makes other people more comfortable sharing their pronouns and can help others refer to you how you want them to.” The site encourages people to include pronouns in their email signature blocks.  ⁸

Leadership Controversy

In November 2023, Alesha Schandelmeier announced on social media that she was stepping down as the executive director of The Center, noting a “mass exodus of volunteers,” staffing changes, and pressure from The Center’s board of directors. Schandelmeier said she understood The Center had a funding problem that led to cutting all paid staff to keep programming going. But she said, “It feels as if I am being set up for failure. I had attempted multiple times during the last board meeting to express my concerns, and they were not heard nor acknowledged.” ⁹

Programs

The Center: 7 Rivers LGBTQ Connection promotes understanding regarding sexual orientation and gender identity. It holds discussion groups, community events, educational opportunities, and works with businesses, organizations, schools, and faith-based organizations.  ³ The Center works with other area nonprofits such as the YWCA, Black Leaders Acquiring Collective Knowledge, and Cia Siab, Inc.  ¹

The Center set up a transgender support group called TransForum. It also set up a program for parents called PANDA. ¹

The Center established the “Fresh Out of the Closet” program in 2019 for transgender individuals to access free clothes that fit their gender identities.  ¹ Separately, the organization also has what it calls a “Our Gender Affirming Closet” that is open by appointment only. ¹⁰

The GALAXY program is for “LGBTQQIAA” youth ages 13 to 20.  ⁵

The Center says its LGBT Resource Center for the Seven Rivers Region encourages the LGBT community to share interests and activities by providing a central location that is alcohol-free and smoke-free.  ⁵

In 2024, the organization began “The Drag Closet” to help new drag performers during their “So You Think You Can Drag” show.  ¹¹

History

The Center: 7 Rivers LGBTQ Connection was founded in 2004 as a master’s degree project by Kelly Teachout in 2003. Teachout brought together LGBT activists to share the data and explore the potential for establishing a resource center for the La Crosse LGBT community. An advisory board drafted the first mission statement of The Center, which stated, “We are a voice and presence promoting understanding and building connections regarding sexual orientation and gender identity.” ¹¹

In 2005, The Center established the Christa Matter Memorial Library. The following year, it organized the first annual PRIDEfest. That same year it started a “Gender Queer/Transgender” meeting group at the University of Wisconsin La Crosse.  ¹¹

In 2007, The Center started the GALAXY program, a Queer Prom at Rainbow’s Edge, the La Crosse Pride Motorcycle Poker Run and Bicycle Pride Run, and an AIDS candlelight vigil.  ¹¹

In 2008, The Center hired Roseanne St. Sauver as its first executive director. In 2009, The Center hired more staff.  ¹¹ In 2013, Jackson Jantzen became the new executive director and went to the White House to talk about the impact of the Affordable Care Act, better known as Obamacare, on LGBT communities.  ¹¹

Leadership

Shannon Raney is the executive director of The Center: 7 Rivers LGBTQ Connection. ¹²

Alec Lass is the president of The Center: 7 Rivers LGBTQ Connection. He works at University of Wisconsin-La Crosse in the race, gender, and sexuality studies department, and studies queer history and drag communities. ¹²

Bill Ives is the vice-president of The Center: 7 Rivers LGBTQ Connection. He works in the youth services department at the La Crosse Public Library and promotes “inclusive media and programming” for area children and teens.  ¹²

Scott Klawiter-Grosskopf is the secretary of The Center. He is a licensed social worker. He has worked at La Crosse County Human Services working in child protection. ¹²

Steven Kunz is the treasurer of The Center. He works at the Mayo Clinic Health System.  ¹²

Elizabeth Digby-Britten is a past president of the board who remains on the board. She is the restorative justice coordinator for the YWCA.  ¹² Eddie Luker, is a former president who returned to the board to focus on fundraising.  ¹² Other board members include Anna Sprague, Ashley Burton, Eddi, Jenny DeRocher, Laura Abellera, and Sarah Kay.  ¹²