By
GayIndy.Org News

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Indianapolis-- After over 20 years of service to the community, the Indianapolis Gay and Lesbian Switchboard is calling it quits.

Once a 365-day-a-year service, volunteer shortages had reduced the switchboard's hours in recent years to Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings. The service used trained volunteers to take calls from local GLBT and questioning people who needed referrals or just someone to talk to.

According to the organization's website, "a call to us puts you in touch with someone who will listen, be supportive and offer further resources to assist you with your problem, concern, or question."

Long-time switchboard trainer Deb Busard explained that in addition to difficulties in recruiting and maintaining volunteers, there has been much less demand for the service due to wider availability of information from other sources. "Most folks are getting their needs met elsewhere" she stated, citing sources such as this website (GayIndy.Org), OutWord Bound, and OUTlines.

Funding was also an issue according to Busard. A 501 (c) 3 not-for-profit corporation, the switchboard relied on community donations to remain viable. "We are no good at fund raising," she stated flatly, "and (we) have been unsuccessful in finding anyone to help us in that area as well"