"A place WE call home"

 

Mission statement

To provide a safe space that can be used by the GLBT  community and its allies for organization meetings, social functions and events, and to learn about GLBT history and social activates. To provide a safe space to be you; to express yourself without judgment. We believe that the GLBT community members need to support one another to grow as a family.   The main campus building is a former residence that was converted into dynamic spaces to meet the needs of the community.

• Red is represented in our kitchen space that is very large and is the heart of the house to make meals for cookouts and gatherings.

• Orange is represented in the conference room that accommodates about 12-15 people comfortably for a general meeting.

• Yellow is represented by our beach-themed room dedicated to Roverta "Bo" Boen, of Bo's Coral Reef, who was one of the first leaders of the GLBT Community of Jacksonville from the 1960's to 2010.

• Green is represented in our HIV testing room with many educational materials and a comfortable atmosphere so that all can feel free to be tested for HIV without fear or embarrassment.

• Blue is represented by the Johnny Cole Library. This room holds over 100 books generously donated by members of the GLBT community. Books can be checked out at any time or simply enjoyed in a nice comfortable chair in the library.

• Purple is represented in our main living room space that will be used kind of like a coffee house space with comfortable couches and chairs with side table.

With great honor, the Directors of The Rainbow House have dedicated the organization to Frieda Saraga, who has been like a mother to the GLBT community in Jacksonville. Frieda can be credited with the forming of the Jacksonville chapter of PFLAG in 1991 in support of three of her children, and Positive Attitudes,  an organization that gives back to those effected by HIV/AIDS. Frieda goes out of her way to help any way she can from volunteering with JASYMN and, now, The Rainbow House, to leading the community in march as the Grand Marshal of the 2012 River City Pride Parade. It is out of great respect of this courageous woman we dedicate this house. It is our hope that we can use her shining example to help create a better community in Jacksonville and beyond.