District 202
2524 Nicollet Avenue (1992-1997), 1601 Nicollet Avenue (1997-2009), PO Box 8139, St. Paul (2010)
Minnesota’s first community center for LGBT youth was not the first space dedicated to its target audience in the Twin Cities. Club Vogue holds that distinction; it was a non-alcoholic dance club within the same building as Rumours and Innuendo in downtown St. Paul. Unfortunately, Club Vogue’s regulars were too rowdy for other businesses in the Rossmor, and the venture closed in 1992.(1)
Board members began assembling funds for the new youth center in 1991. They realized the plans with private donations, financial assistance from local churches, and a generous $20,000 grant from the Minneapolis foundation. Even before it opened its doors in December of 1992, Minnesotans were curious about District 202’s name.
(1)Southgate, David. “New Bars Open in St. Paul,” Equal Time, 4/24-5/8, 1992 (2)Southgate, David. “Youth Center to Open Dec. 1.” Equal Time, 10/23-11/6, 1992. Front Page (3)“Gay Youth Center Gets New Space for Old Goals.” The Minneapolis Star-Tribune, 5/24/1997
Part of Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN: 100 Queer Places in Minnesota History, (1860-1969), (1969-2010)