An LGBT community center in Moscow
It is a quaint little place tucked away into the far side of town. It’s situated in an old garage building, the floors are cool gray cement past the office, overstuffed couches and TVs fill the large open room, and on the window is a bright rainbow decal.
Jackson Flynn | Rawr
Chris Bidamen is the HIV Programs Director at Inland Oasis, the only non-UI affiliated LGBTQA organization serving the Palouse.
Inland Oasis is the Palouse area’s only non-UI affiliated LGBTQA community center. The nonprofit organization is a resource base for anyone in the community as well as introduces medical providers to those who need it.
Chris Bidamen, director of Inland Oasis, said the organization started in 2004 to fill the unmet need for a community center for the LGBTQ community.
“In the general community there was an unmet need for something like this,” Bidamen said.
One of the services that Inland Oasis provides is free HIV services, on anything that is non-medical, Bidamen said. This means they provide free screenings, homelessness prevention and takes care of all the red tape in order to get those in need to a medical professional for five different counties in Idaho.
Bidamen, who has been involved with the organization since 2007, said the need for an organization like Inland Oasis grew after legislation in the area removed all the testing resources for students. Inland Oasis has a contract through the Department of Health, which states they are not allowed to charge for any of the services they provide.
“We also believe that cost should not be a barrier in access to care,” Bidamen said.
Art Bettge, Moscow City Council member, believes Inland Oasis is a key organization for the Moscow community.
Bettge said Inland Oasis is an umbrella organization to assist other groups in coordinating their efforts without duplicating all of their efforts. Inland Oasis also does a number of youth outreach programs and does a good job of providing initial contact for people who might have nowhere else to turn, he said.
“A lot of people who come for school to Moscow are from small, isolated rural communities where they might not know any other GLBT people,” Bettge said. “And it is a very lonely feeling out there. This organization provides a place where people can test the waters and find a little bit more about who they themselves are.”
Julia Keleher, director of the LGBTQA Office and Programs, said Inland Oasis is a leading community organization that not only provides HIV testing, but also has safe sex discussions for the community. She also believes Inland Oasis provides a good resource for the off-campus LGBTQA community.
“They are providing that safe atmosphere,” Keleher said.
Keleher is working with Bidamen and Inland Oasis to develop a group for Moscow LGBTQA youth at the community center.
Inland Oasis is not just a community center, they also coordinate events with the University of Idaho and Lewis-Clark State College. At UI, they host World AIDS day where they offer free tests all day in the commons. Bidamen said while he cannot go to Washington due to contract regulations to help those at Washington State University, he informs them that it’s an event that is happening so they can come here to get free testing.
Inland Oasis is also the main coordinator for the three-day long Palouse Pride event that happens every August in East City Park. They have Drag Bingo, a Tabikat production and a march.
“We have this organization here that is nowhere else in Idaho,” Bettge said.
Another of the main events Inland Oasis hosts is Family Thanksgiving. It’s an event targeted at LGBTQA students who can’t go home for the holidays, Bidamen said. Inland Oasis and the whole LGBTQA community are their family instead.
Bidamen added that while the organization has a strong foundation, he wished \ they had more visibility and wants to find ways to help increase awareness.
“We celebrate the diversity of the area,” Bidamen said. “Everyone, LGBTQ or not, is welcome.”
Claire Whitley can be reached at [email protected]