Welcome Bri Battle to the Center Board of Directors!

Bri Battle, the founder of QueerTalkDC, has been elected to the DC LGBTQ+ Community Center Board of Directors. Here is a short summary of her background and interests.

Where are you originally from and how long have you been in DC?

I am originally from Teaneck, NJ, and have lived in Washington D.C. for eight years, and love it! 

Please summarize in a short paragraph or two your interests and how they relate to serving on the Board. What impact do you see yourself having?

My interests are in betting on the queer community more broadly, I have put in countless hours of work to achieve this and I am excited to be continuing this work with the board. When I created QueerTalkDC my hope was that I was going to be able to improve the lives of all queers, most notably sapphic people, and I have been looking for more ways to do this and am excited to bring this mission to the board. 

What is your favorite spot in DC and what do you do there?

My favorite spot in DC is a tie between As You Are bar, where I love to go get work done on the weekdays, and go dancing on weekends, and Crush bar, which is were I like to go after brunch on the weekends!

What artistic influences inspire you, such as singers, bands, etc.?

Artistic influences that inspire me? Probably Chappell Roan. 

Who do you admire in the LGBTQ+ community?

In the community, I truly admire all of the sapphic people that are in leadership roles who also work to create space and opportunities for other sapphics. I try my best to uplift other sapphics whenever I have the chance, and so seeing other sapphics do this is truly inspiring. 

What are you most excited about regarding your involvement with the DC Center? I am truly excited to be a young black sapphic voice on the board and to provide a valuable perspective the city finds useful.

Do you recommend that people donate to and volunteer for the DC Center?

I absolutely recommend people donate to and volunteer for the center, the center has helped me out in so many ways and I am grateful for all of the resources and opportunities it provides. If you have the chance to help out, definitely do!

Join the DC Center in welcoming our newest Board Member: Chris Rothermel!
We are ecstatic to have him on our team.

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Read all about Chris’s background, interests, and inspirations below:

Where are you originally from and how long have you been in DC?
I’m originally from New Orleans, Louisiana. I’ve been in DC since 2005.

Please summarize in a short paragraph or two your interests and how they relate to serving on the Board. What impact do you see yourself having?
I’m always interested in making processes easier, faster, and cheaper. I’m hoping to bring my nonprofit expertise to the DC Center Board and create a documented onboarding experience for new board members.

What is your favorite spot in DC and what do you do there?
When I’m not home, I like to go to the Red Bear Brewing company. There is always something fun happening there.

What artistic influences inspire you, such as singers, bands, etc.?
I’m inspired by the openly queer unapologetic younger generation like Lil Nas X and Sam Smith.

Who do you admire in the LGBTQ+ community?
Mario Diaz, Jeffrey Marsh, MJ Rodriguez, Angelica Ross

What are you most excited about regarding the future of the DC Center?
I’m incredibly excited about the DC Center’s new home!

Welcome Vaun (She/Her) to the DC Center! She will be joining us as the Health and Wellness Intern. You can meet Vaun at the DC Center on weekdays and some evenings. Vaun is looking forward to supporting and participating in many of The DC Center events!

Birthdate, Astro Sign

August 19, Leo 

Where are you originally from? 

Pittsburgh

Why did you start working at the DC Center? 

I want to make a positive impact within my community

What has been your favorite part about working at the DC Center?

Getting to meet so many awesome people

What is your music anthem? 

Queendom by AURORA

What is your favorite part about the LGBTQ+ community? 

I love the bold fashion and colors

What is your favorite spot in DC and what do you do there? 

The Smithsonian castle Gardens, I love to sit and read or do work on my computer while I’m there.

What is your favorite queer movie?  

Bottoms

What color would you paint the White House, given the chance?  

Emerald Green

Who do you look up to in the queer community?
Billy Porter, he is from Pittsburgh and has given a lot back to the queer community in PGH

Welcome M (they/she/he) to the DC Center! M will be joining the team as the Social Media Intern. They are an honors student at the University of South Florida studying Mass Communications and Sociology with a minor in Queer & Sexuality Studies. You can meet M at the DC Center on weekdays and some evenings. M is looking forward to connecting with the DC LGBTQ+ Community and assisting with The DC Center’s social media pages. 

Birthdate, Astro Sign

May 18: Taurus Sun, Leo Moon, Leo Rising

Where are you originally from? 

I was born in Washington State and moved to Virginia when I was 14. 

Why did you start working at the DC Center? 

I felt it would be a great opportunity to work for an organization that truly prioritizes the community and supports all LGBTQ+ members. I am sure that the experiences I gain and learn here will help me throughout the rest of my career. 

What has been your favorite part about working at the DC Center?

The DC Center office! The environment is so welcoming and they have so many services for the community including the food pantry, community closet, computers, library, and even free hygiene kits. I love a space that makes everyone feel welcome and included. 

What is your music anthem? 

I am currently addicted to Jeff Buckley and the entire Grace album. I am unsure of where my attraction started, maybe pinterest memes?

What is your favorite part about the LGBTQ+ community? 

This was really difficult to choose but I am settling with our style. The LGBTQ+ community is constantly setting trends that change history (literally!). Our wardrobe is a big part of our identity and I respect that.

What is your favorite spot in DC and what do you do there? 

I think the Grilled Cheese Bar in DC (GCDC). I would go often in high school. It has become a fun memory to come back and visit in the city whenever I am downtown. 

What is your favorite queer movie?  

It is tied between But I am a cheerleader and D.E.B.S. Both are the perfect gay romcoms that bring me comfort. 

What color would you paint the White House, given the chance?  

Easy, Pink! Color theory says pink is a happy color and I think the country could use a bit of that. 

Who do you look up to in the queer community?
I have never been good at choosing one role model so I want to say my queer friends (past, present, and future ones!). I find inspiration in all of my friends. They are the ones who motivate me to push forward and continue growing. 

Where are you originally from and how long have you been in DC?
I was born and raised in North Alabama. I have lived in a few different cities of Alabama, but prior to DC I was in Huntsville. During the pandemic, and unable to travel, I decided I needed a change of pace. After a lot of research, I landed on DC and have been here 2 ½ years and loving it! Roll Tide!

Please summarize in a short paragraph or two your interests and how they
relate to serving on the Board. What impact do you see yourself having?
Having served on two other boards in the past, when I moved to DC, it was very important to me to find another non-profit that was a good fit for me, my background, and my skills, as well as one with a mission I believed in. My professional background is primarily financial, having served as treasurer for a non-profit, worked for a bank, two government contractors, and now a global consulting firm.

As we all know, non-profits are notoriously looking for better ways to budget, be creative, and to make their limited funds go as far as possible to help the most people. I hope to use my knowledge in helping The DC Center do just that.

What is your favorite spot in DC and what do you do there?
The Kennedy Center! I am a big patron of the arts and love going to the symphony, opera, and theatre performances.

While symphony and opera music aren’t everyone’s idea of “easy listening,” it is my sanctuary. To close our eyes and let the music take you somewhere is what makes me feel safe and worry-free.

Who do you admire in the LGBTQ+ community?
Sam Smith. Like them, I am also a millennial, and I have had the great pleasure of following their career from the beginning, as well as seeing them in concert. I find every album to be relatable and easy to get lost in. I admire Sam’s ability to be their self, regardless of what others may think of them, as well as the courage it takes to put your vulnerability into words for the world to hear.

What are you most excited about regarding the future of the DC Center?
The new location of the DC Center. I am very excited about the future of how the DC Center will grow and strengthen their partnerships, relationships, and influence in the LGBTQ+ community it serves.

Welcome Celia (she/they) to the DC Center! Celia will be joining the DC Center team as a Social Media/Advocacy Intern. She is a student at the University of California, Berkeley studying Gender and Women’s Studies. Celia looks forward to connecting to and advocating for the DC queer community along with bringing forth more awareness to all the wonderful resources the DC Center has to offer.  

Birthdate, Astro Sign

July 26th / Leo Sun, Cancer Moon, Libra Rising 

Where are you originally from? 

I am from Orange County, California.

Why did you start working at the DC Center? 

I am new to DC and am seeking to cultivate and get involved with the local queer community. The DC Center was the perfect place to do so. 

What has been your favorite part about working at the DC Center?

The best part of the internship is working alongside the wonderful team at the DC Center as well as the ability to serve the community. 

What is your music anthem? 

Right now it is ‘Faith’ by SAULT. It’s uplifting and hopeful. 

What is your favorite part about the LGBTQ+ community? 

I love the way we challenge the dominant culture and weave our own paths no matter how they look to others. I love the way we offer the world alternative forms of communal, personal, romantic, and familial relationships. Most of all, I love the way we take care of each other.

What is your favorite spot in DC and what do you do there? 

My favorite spot in DC is any of the Bussboys and Poets restaurants. There is actually one very near the DC Center! I like to go there for brunch on Sunday and am looking forward to their open mic.

What is your favorite queer movie?  

My favorite queer film is a poignant Bollywood film called Fire.

What color would you paint the White House, given the chance?  

Sage green.

Who do you look up to in the queer community?

All the beautiful and brave Black and brown trans and lesbian women who have pioneered radical action and feminist thought that have transformed our lives, politics, and beliefs such as Marsha P. Johnson, Sylvia Rivera, bell hooks, Audre Lorde, and Miss Major to name a few.