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How One Man Created A ‘Safe Space’ For Pittsburgh’s LGBT Community

Rebekah Zook
/
90.5 WESA

Michael David Battle spends his time doing many things: he’s the author of two biographies (and is in the process of writing another), he delivers sermons at community events, he orchestrates town hall meetings, digital story-telling projects and yearly retreats for Pittsburgh-area leaders to share their ideas. He even travels to the White House on occasion.

But his true brainchild is the Garden of Peace Project, an initiative that is rapidly bringing together, and aiming to improve the lives of, members of Pittsburgh’s LGBT community.

Garden of Peace Project started as a series of events meant to connect the LGBT population, as well as provide a fun atmosphere for growth and development. But Battle said eventually people attended the events for more serious reasons.

“The reality hit me very quickly when folks were like, ‘I’m homeless. I don’t have food. I don’t have healthcare…I can’t find a doctor,’” he said.

It was the prevalence of problems like those among members of the LGBT community that led Battle to create what he calls “safe spaces” within the city for people to gather. They’re spaces he said were previously nonexistent.

Battle said he uses his own experience as a black, transgender man to anticipate the struggles of others.

“Our relationships can be so fragile, because we’re trying to survive,” he said. “It causes a lot of tension to be around people who are also just trying to get by.”

Battle said he works to strengthen those relationships through hosting regular events, and even opening up his own home to people in need.

“At the last town hall meeting we held, people were asked where the safe spaces in the city were, and over half of the people said my house,” said Battle. “I just try to do simple things that keep people safe. We’re literally just cooking and talking.”

Currently, Battle holds two major events each month. But he said he’s scaled back this year. In addition to Garden of Peace events, Battle leads writing and strategic planning workshops, including a writing event in which people write open letters about their experiences as transgender members of the Pittsburgh community.

The Garden of Peace Project previously operated out of a space at The Union Project, but is currently in the midst of a move to Melwood Avenue in Oakland. Battle said he expects to open the new location in May of 2016.