"Out & About"

In "Out and About" we interview local LGBT community members we think you should know. Each person's story is but one piece of the puzzle, the story of who and what we are.

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An Interview with Kevin Serrin

Kevin Serrin is Chairman of the Board of Directors for Capital City Alliance (CCA). Corey Davis interviewed him for this piece.

Corey Davis (CD): In your own words, tell me:  What is Capital City Alliance?

Kevin Serrin (KS): CCA is an LGBT rights organization that was founded about eight years ago by several prominent members of the Baton Rouge gay and lesbian business community.  The founders of CCA were influential in a number of areas, including research, political fundraising and raising the awareness of the LGBT community in Baton Rouge to the larger community.  Our primary focus now is to unify and serve the needs of the LGBT community.  Through our survey work with LSU (the quality of life survey for LGBT residents of the Baton Rouge area), we’ve identified a number of areas to focus on, and our main goal over the past year has been to create a web site that will serve as a clearinghouse of information to the LGBT community, our friends and families, and visitors to the capital region.  We are about to realize that goal, and I’m very proud of that.

CD: How did you initially become involved with CCA and ultimately wind up as its chairman?

KS: After hearing about the work of organizations like One Baton Rouge, Forum 35, and having a progressive-minded Mayor in Kip Holden, I felt the time was right to establish a gay rights-type of organization in Baton Rouge.  I hadn’t heard of CCA, because the organization had been inactive since I moved here in 2004.  Since CCA had existed in the past, and had some name recognition, it was recommended to me to use the CCA name but reorganize it with a fresh Board and new purpose.  I wanted to give LGBT citizens a sense of community and a place at the table for discussions about ways to improve Baton Rouge.  I guess I became Chair of the Board because I was willing to take on the task.

CD: Are you suggesting that there is a lack of LGBT leadership in the greater Baton Rouge area.

KS: I think there is a lack of LGBT leadership in general, not just Baton Rouge.  It’s easy to get burned out working on these issues, so leadership is difficult to sustain.  I see glimmers of progress, but no unifying voice.  I don’t consider myself to be a leader; I prefer to work in the trenches under someone else’s leadership. Until that person comes along, I’m willing to do what I can. My dream is for an attractive, articulate and charismatic individual with natural leadership skills to get involved.  Anybody out there interested?

CD: How is this CCA different than the CCA of the past previous iteration AND how is it different from the organization you wanted to start at first? If you had started a brand new organization, what would you have named it? Are you trying to marry the three concepts or constructs in your head and in your work?

KS: Previously, CCA was led by several affluent members of the Baton Rouge business community.  It also had more of a political focus than I’m interested in right now.  My vision for CCA is a multi-step process.  First, I want to improve communication and organization among LGBT people in the region.  Next, I want to develop a strategic plan to serve the needs of our community.  Next, I seek collaboration from all interested individuals and organizations, both gay and straight.  My feeling is that we’re all in this together, and we should work as an organized team to achieve our goals.  Finally, I want to act in a way that will bring us the recognition and respect of the broader community.  Also, I would like to have the words ‘gay and lesbian’ in our name or a name that alludes to the fact that we are a gay organization.

CD: As chairman, where do you want to take CCA and how will you know you've arrived?

KS: First, I want to make sure the CCA Board of Directors does not work in a vacuum.  There are a lot of organizations - both gay and straight - that I hope will work closely with CCA.  As I mentioned earlier, we learned a lot about the needs of the community through the survey with LSU, so I hope we will be able to address many of those concerns.  For instance, the number one thing that gays and lesbians want to see in Baton Rouge is a community-oriented web site.  We’ve accomplished that goal.  I would like to see us become more organized with an effective communications mechanism to reach out to the entire gay and lesbian population of Baton Rouge, be it for social issues, like advertising a gay pride event, or other issues that affect the quality of life of gays and lesbians in the city. I’ll know we’ve arrived when CCA becomes recognized and respected throughout the state, and I hear comments like "CCA really has its act together."

CD: What I hear you expressing is a fear that CCA won't be effective at what it says it’s going to do. But it also sounds like you're saying something more about how LGBT organizations historically or typically form, function, survive, and do business. Is that true?

KS: It’s definitely true.  There are many challenges in running a grass-roots type of organization.  You’ve got volunteers with different opinions on what should be done.  You’re working with no budget and, at least initially, no funding.  These are hurdles that all organizations like CCA must overcome.  I’m confident that with sustained and effective leadership, committed volunteers, a vision for the future, and sufficient funding, CCA will become the respected and effective organization that Baton Rouge needs and deserves.

CD: How has being chairman of CCA changed or impacted your life?

KS: It’s made me see how difficult it is to garner interest in a cause that is dear to my heart and initiate change in a city that, I think, desperately needs it.  Working with CCA has been both rewarding and frustrating.  When I first put out the word that I wanted to start an LGBT rights organization in Baton Rouge, I thought we would be swamped with people wanting to get involved and help but, so far, that has happened.  There seems to be a lot of apathy in Baton Rouge.  So, it can get me down a bit, but then I think that once CCA becomes more visible, we can start making a difference.  I just have to remember that things move at a slower pace here.

CD: For a southern city (I started to say, for a small city) Baton Rouge appears to have a lot going in terms of the LGBT community. There's CCA and Progressive Lunch, and One Baton Rouge, which is not "gay" per se, but is supportive? What gives?

KS: This is a very interesting question.  On one level, Baton Rouge is similar to CCA.  It’s trying to craft an identity.  Baton Rouge is not a sleepy, southern city anymore – as much as many people would like to see it stay that way.  The greater Baton Rouge area has an estimated population of anywhere between 600,000 and 800,000, depending on whom you ask and when.  A city of that size should be able to sustain a vibrant nightlife and arts community.  While there are a few gay and lesbian bars and organizations, I don’t think it compares to cities like Austin, Nashville or Raleigh.  There are many people who would like to see better nightlife opportunities in Baton Rouge, but there seem to be just as many who are happy meeting gay friends at typically ‘straight’ establishments and centering their social lives around close-knit groups of friends.

Jeff Stafford has done tremendous work with the Progressive Business Lunch Group.  This group brings a variety of people together one day each month to network both professionally and socially, and enjoy a nice meal to boot.  Jeff is working on a ‘Progressive Business Directory’ that will highlight gay-owned and gay-friendly businesses.  The directory will be both printed and web-based.  The Directory is one recent example of how CCA is collaborating with other local organizations to serve the needs of the community.

CD: I've heard Baton Rouge compared to Austin, TX, at least in terms of what BR wants to be. To what extent is that a fair comparison?

KS: I’ve never been to Austin, but from what I know, Austin does have similarities (capital city, large state university).  Austin is a somewhat progressive city located in a fairly conservative state.  So, I think there are things city planners in Baton Rouge can learn from cities like Austin.  The people of Austin are also huge supporters of the city’s infrastructure, public schools, entertainment, growth, the environment.  Those things are very attractive to businesses looking to relocate.   Presently, I don’t think Baton Rouge has the same level of support for things like public education, entertainment districts and the like.   But, I’m hopeful!  Recent votes in Baton Rouge and new real estate developments are steps in the right direction for us.

CD: What does it mean to be out in the south?

KS: I think it takes a certain level of confidence in yourself and faith in your family, neighbors, co-workers and friends.  I’m completely out at work, and my straight colleagues even attend (and enjoy) the New Orleans Gay Mens Chorus Concerts (I sing in the chorus and always invite them to the concerts).  When I moved here nearly four years ago, I decided I would not go back in the closet, so I’ve always treated my being gay as a non-issue.  So far, I’ve encountered almost no negative experiences, at least to my face.  However, there is a huge, and justifiable, fear among some LGBT people that being out in the South would threaten their jobs, their relationships with family, etc.  I think the very strong presence of many evangelical organizations in Baton Rouge adds fuel to that fire.  Certainly the results of the LSU quality of life survey support some of those fears.

CD: Is there a "gay community" in Baton Rouge? What would you say to those who say there isn't?

KS: In my opinion, there are fragmented groups of gay people in Baton Rouge.  You’ve got people who center their lives around religious groups like MCC and social groups like the Krewe of Apollo.  But in the literal sense of the word ‘community,’ I would say no, at least not right now.  “Community” to me   means a common sense of purpose, a common communications network, and a sense of togetherness.   We aren’t there, yet, in Baton Rouge, but my dream is that that is something CCA can help improve.

CD: You and I are transplants to Baton Rouge. How has that influenced your perception of the LGBT community here?

KS: My partner is from Lafayette, LA and went to LSU.  I’m a huge college football fan, so we made many trips to Baton Rouge over the years.  So, I was familiar with the area before we decided to move here.  Having lived in Washington, DC all of my adult life, I was very used to being able to find any kind of gay-related social or sports group.  I belonged to gay bowling leagues, volleyball leagues, hiking, etc.  Not only do those kinds of organizations not exist in Baton Rouge, there is no way to solicit interest in them.  I’m hoping the CCA website will help people solicit ideas like those and new organizations will form.  That will help form the gay ‘community’ you asked about earlier.

CD: What's the "gayest" thing you've ever done in Baton Rouge?

KS: When my partner and I first moved back here, we went to a local garden center for a landscaping project.  We parked next to a car with one of those hateful ‘Marriage = One Man, One Woman’ bumper stickers.  It so happened that the owner of that car was returning to the car with a handful of plants.  When she looked at us, my partner grabbed me by the back of my neck and kissed me very passionately on the lips, right in front of her.  She looked like she was going to burst into flames.  It doesn’t get much gayer than that!

 

What do you think about what Kevin Serrin has to say? Respond to this interview in the discussion below.

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"Out & About" profiles local LGBT community members we think you should know. If you know someone who you think should be profiled here contact us. Put "Out & About" in the subject line.