Southern Fried Queer Pride Loses Space for CLUTCH Community Center
thegavoice.comAfter four years of fundraising and developing a community space, Southern Fried Queer Pride has announced that they lost the space for the CLUTCH Community Center following issues with landlords.
On September 24, SFQP released a post on Instagram updating the community, writing they broke the five-year lease they signed in December 2023 because they “experienced a series of aggressive tactics from the landlords — from delaying permits to refusing to meet the agreed-upon building codes.” “After four years of rejection from properties across Atlanta unwilling to support our mission, this moment felt like a triumphant step toward full autonomy and a brighter future,” the organization said. “We would finally have a needed space to expand and grow into, along with our community.
As of May 2024, we no longer have our space. Our dream was shattered.” According to SFQP, the landlords of the space reneged on their agreement to offer rent-free occupancy until SFQP reached full operational capacity and bring the building to code, pressuring the queer organization to pay rent “for an unfit space.” SFQP launched their fundraising campaign for CLUTCH in August 2021 and spent $21,000 of raised funds for inspections, architectural work, and permits — all of which was lost. “The experience has been a bitter pill to swallow, but a hard-earned lesson on the challenges marginalized communities face in securing safe and accessible spaces,” the organization said.
CLUTCH was set to be a Black queer- and trans-owned brick-and-mortar space for the LGBTQ community to commune, heal, and build by offering artist studios, performance venues, community meeting spaces, and a community garden.
