User:MomoMitzi/Harriet Hancock Community Center

The '''Harriet Hancock Center''' operates out of a home purchased by the '''South Carolina Gay and Lesbian Pride Movement''' (SCGLPM) in 1994. SCGLPM closed the Community Center's old location on Rosewood Drive on August 8th, 1994. Purchasing the permanent location that the Harriet Hancock Center resides today at 1108 Woodrow St, Columbia, SC 29205.{{Cite web |title=Our Namesake |url=https://www.harriethancockcenter.org/our-namesake |access-date=2026-04-15 |website=Harriet Hancock Center |language=en-US}}Harriet Hancock Center, Box: 14, Folder: 473-476. South Carolina LGBTQ Collection, SCL-MS-2021.08.21. South Caroliniana Library. https://archives.library.sc.edu/repositories/3/archival_objects/401969 Accessed April 14, 2026.

The '''Harriet Hancock Center''' operates out of a home purchased by the '''South Carolina Gay and Lesbian Pride Movement''' (SCGLPM) in 1994. SCGLPM closed the Community Center's old location on Rosewood Drive on August 8th, 1994. Purchasing the permanent location that the Harriet Hancock Center resides today at 1108 Woodrow St, Columbia, SC 29205.{{Cite web |title=Our Namesake |url=https://www.harriethancockcenter.org/our-namesake |access-date=2026-04-15 |website=Harriet Hancock Center |language=en-US}}Harriet Hancock Center, Box: 14, Folder: 473-476. South Carolina LGBTQ Collection, SCL-MS-2021.08.21. South Caroliniana Library. https://archives.library.sc.edu/repositories/3/archival_objects/401969 Accessed April 14, 2026.

'''Harriet Hancock''' was part of the group who helped facilitated SCGLPM’s purchase of the residential building, financing a 10-year mortgage agreement with the previous owner, Gary Price; SCGLPM would then renovate the building using fundraiser earnings, funds raised through monthly center pledgers, and donated materials. All renovations were done through the work of contractors and volunteers of the SCGLPM, moving to the new location by late September of 1994 and would be established as the state’s first '''LGBTQ+ Community Center.''' {{Cite web |title=Our Namesake |url=https://www.harriethancockcenter.org/our-namesake |access-date=2026-04-15 |website=Harriet Hancock Center |language=en-US}}

'''Harriet Hancock''' was part of the group who helped facilitated SCGLPM’s purchase of the residential building, financing a 10-year mortgage agreement with the previous owner, '''Gary Price'''; SCGLPM would then renovate the building using fundraiser earnings, funds raised through monthly center pledgers, and donated materials. All renovations were done through the work of contractors and volunteers of the SCGLPM, moving to the new location by late September of 1994 and would be established as the state’s first '''LGBT Community Center.''' {{Cite web |title=Our Namesake |url=https://www.harriethancockcenter.org/our-namesake |access-date=2026-04-15 |website=Harriet Hancock Center |language=en-US}}

==== Namesake ====

==== Namesake ====

On April 15th, 2005, The '''SCGLPM''' hosted a 15th-year anniversary banquet at the Columbia Conference Center. On this day, the '''SC Gay and Lesbian Community Center''' would be renamed the '''Harriet Hancock LGBT Center''' for the Gay and Lesbian Community of South Carolina after co-founder '''Harriet Hancock''' in honor of her activism for the LGBTQ+ community.

On April 15th, 2005, The '''SCGLPM''' hosted a 15th-year anniversary banquet at the Columbia Conference Center. On this day, the '''SC Gay and Lesbian Community Center''' would be renamed the '''Harriet Hancock LGBT Center''' for the Gay and Lesbian Community of South Carolina. [[Ed Madden]] and Bert Easter suggested the name change to honor co-founder '''Harriet Hancock''' for her involvement and activism for the LGBTQ+ community.>{{Cite web |last=Moore |first=David Aaron |date=2022-09-30 |title=Getting to know Columbia’s legendary Harriet Hancock |url=https://qnotescarolinas.com/getting-to-know-columbias-legendary-harriet-hancock/ |access-date=2026-04-18 |website=QnotesCarolinas.com |language=en-US}}>

=== Pride March ===

=== Pride March ===

On morning of the annual Pride picnic for the gay and lesbian community of 1989, an event closed to the public and press; '''Harriet Hancock''' had a conversation with '''Jim Blanton''' that developed into the idea of organizing a march. This idea was lead by a challenging remark made in response to being asked by Hancock if Blanton would attend the Pride picnic at [[Dreher Island State Park|Dreher]] [[Dreher Island State Park|Island State Park]].Robbins, B. (2016). Harriet Hancock: Mother of SC Pride.

SC Progressive Network. P. 20-22. Accessed on April 18, 2026. Retrieved from https://www.scpronet.com/modjeskaschool/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/hancock_booklet_web_sm.pdf {{Cite web |last=Prime |first=Eden |date=2023-10-17 |title=SC Pride, LGBT+ organizations want to spread Columbia's queer allyship, activism to state |url=https://www.postandcourier.com/free-times/news/sc-pride-lgbt-organizations-want-to-spread-columbias-queer-allyship-activism-to-state/article_419e143a-686a-11ee-8a6b-2f0ebfe478e1.html |access-date=2026-04-18 |website=Post and Courier |language=en}}

That’s not gay pride; that’s gay shame. If you march down Main Street, I’ll be glad to join you.

This challenge set by Blanton, who had grown tired of the gay movement being concealed, would lead Hancock to go around with a clipboard later that morning, asking those attending the picnic if there was any interest in having a parade next year by signing their names to be involved in marching publicly down Main Street. The weekend of [[Hurricane Hugo]] had hit many areas of the state but up to 50 people still met at Barbara Embick's residence in West Columbia the following Sunday. An organization committee would be formed with '''Jim Blanton''' and '''Barbara Embick''' as the first SC Pride March co-chairs. This group would form the organization named the '''South Carolina Gay and Lesbian Pride Movement''' (SCGLPM), and months of planning would start for the first Pride March of South Carolina in 1990. Spending several weekends in gay bars holding fundraisers and to increase exposure for the march.Courtesy of Richland Library, Columbia, S.C. The Walker Local and Family History Center. Digital Collection: Midlands Memories. Date Created: 2025-03-05. Press release following the first Gay and Lesbian Pride March in South Carolina. Jim Blanton, executive co-chair of the South Carolina Gay and Lesbian Pride Movement. (1990-07-09). P. 1-2. Retrieved: 2026-04-18. Retrevied from: https://localhistory.richlandlibrary.com/digital/collection/p16817coll7/id/1549/rec/1{{Cite web |title=Connecting Communities with the LGBTQ Columbia History Initiative {{!}} National Trust for Historic Preservation |url=https://savingplaces.org/stories/connecting-communities-with-the-lgbtq-columbia-history-initiative |access-date=2026-04-18 |website=savingplaces.org |language=en-US}}

==== June 11, 1990. ====

'''SCGLPM''' organizers, Harriet Hancock, Jim Blanton, Barbara Embick, and Steve Bates, held a press conference on the steps of the [[South Carolina State House]] to announce the first Gay and Lesbian Pride March to be held in Columbia on June 23, 1990. South Carolina Gay and Lesbian Pride Movement [SCGLPM], Box: 13, Folder: 458-470. South Carolina LGBTQ Collection, SCL-MS-2021.08.21. South Caroliniana Library. https://archives.library.sc.edu/repositories/3/archival_objects/401949 Accessed April 14, 2026.{{Cite web |title=About – Famously Hot SC Pride |url=https://scpride.org/about/ |access-date=2026-04-15 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Organizers of the first Gay and Lesbian Pride March |url=https://localhistory.richlandlibrary.com/digital/collection/p16817coll21/id/2934/ |access-date=2026-04-15 |website=localhistory.richlandlibrary.com |language=en}}

[[Mandy Carter (activist)|Mandy Carter]], who had helped organize [[North Carolina]]’s first [[Pride parade|Pride Festival]] two years prior was invited to Columbia to offer lessons learned in [[Durham, North Carolina]]. Spending months in the town, staying at Harriet Hancock's home.

==== June 23, 1990.  ====

The march assembled at the Plaza Inn at 1901 Assembly Street by 11 a.m. Beginning at noon from the intersection of Main and Richland Street and proceeding down Main Street to the [[South Carolina State House|South Carolina State Capitol]]. The Gay and Lesbian Pride March campaigned to pressure the General Assembly to repeal [[Sodomy law|sodomy laws]] and expand or create laws to protect homosexuals from violence and discrimination.Allard, J. (1990, June 24.) ''Marchers sound call for gays: Homosexuals vow to fight for rights.'' The State (Columbia, South Carolina): Metro/Region, B1. 1990, Box: 15. South Carolina LGBTQ Collection, SCL-MS-2021.08.21. South Caroliniana Library. https://archives.library.sc.edu/repositories/3/archival_objects/398270 Accessed April 18, 2026.Embick, B., Blanton, J. (1990, April 09.). Press Release: GLPM 1990., Box: 15. Folder: 500. South Carolina LGBTQ Collection, SCL-MS-2021.08.21. South Caroliniana Library. https://archives.library.sc.edu/repositories/3/archival_objects/398270 Accessed April 18, 2026.Embick, B., Blanton, J. (1990,June 11). An Open Letter to the Media. Box: 15. Folder: 500. South Carolina LGBTQ Collection, SCL-MS-2021.08.21. South Caroliniana Library. https://archives.library.sc.edu/repositories/3/archival_objects/398270 Accessed April 18, 2026.

===== Mission =====

===== Demands =====

===== Speakers & Entertainers =====

= Community Involvement =

= Community Involvement =