2024 Center for Alternative Lifestyles Founders

Founded in October of 2000, Eileen, Kathy, and Shauna pioneered what is today known as Sioux Falls Pride. The Center for Alternative Lifestyles has changed names over the years, but its mission and goal of providing space for the LGBT+ community to come together remain strong. 

Picture it: The Defense of Marriage Act was passed, and Don't Ask Don't Tell was in full effect in the Military. Long before social media, the original Ellen show was canceled due to its star Ellen Degeneres coming out as a Lesbian on her hit show and in real life. People were still afraid to come out and it was still hard to find information, resources, and networking in the LGBTQ+ community. Sioux Falls Pride consisted of a couple events at Touchez, a picnic, and volleyball games at Rotary Park with about 100 people. 

The Center(s) of Equality started as a "house" that had meeting rooms where they provided counseling sessions for multiple reasons including Mental Health, Self Acceptance, HIV, Addiction, and Trans issues, to name a few. The house hosted viewing parties for the HBO hit series Queer as Folk, and the L-Word as well as other queer-related topics. This provided a networking opportunity or just a place to fit in and know that they were not alone. Additionally, they helped direct people needing medical or housing assistance resources, HIV testing, or other necessities in the community. 

The Center for Equality always has shown its concern for our youth. They held the Inaugural Youth Conferences and Drag shows with many youths from multiple states and the Sioux Falls area in attendance. They hosted LGBTQ+ teen dances at the Washington Pavillion and other locations. They sourced the volunteers and had speakers to share their strengths and hopes. They also did grant writing trying to obtain funding during the Bush/Cheney political era. 

They planned, organized, and carried out Sioux Falls' FIRST BIG PRIDE at the Taylor parking lot and subsequently at the Fair Grounds. They made the Sioux Falls LGBTQ+ Community visible. Kathy & Eileen's actions set in place most of what we see today in our community. 

Kathy, Eileen, & Shauna are vanguards, fierce, hardworking women who will not know just exactly how many lives they truly affected by their vision, hard work, and follow through. They taught us to be PROUD of ourselves and each other. They inspired Sioux Falls, helped find us safe spaces, and reassured us ALL that we are OK, we are VALID, we are LOVEABLE, and we deserve MORE.