The Society for Education, Action, Research and Counselling on Homosexuality
Organization profile published 1981

Publisher:  The Society for Education, Action, Rresearch and Counselling in Homosexuali, Vancouver, Canada
Year Published:  1981
Resource Type:  Organization
Cx Number:  CX2195

Abstract: 
The Society Of Education, Action, Research And Counseling In Homosexuality (SEARCH) describes itself as "a non-profit, non-partisan community services organization devoted to serving the needs and furthering the causes of British Columbia's gay male and lesbian population".

Within its downtown office, Search operates a gay switch-board providing information and peer counseling to callers and drop-ins (24 hour service). The office houses a gay resources library and bulletin boards for employment and housing information; the office is also used as a resource center by other gay groups for meetings, seminars, guest speakers and rap groups. Search operates and staffs a volunteer V.D. diagnostic clinic and a volunteer counseling clinic for individuals, couples and families.

The organization publishes educational pamphlets (e.g. Alcoholism in the Gay Community), a monthly newsletter and the B.C. Gay Resources Guide.

Search has served as a parent group to other gay organizations, such as the young Gay People's Association and the Society for political Action for Gay People. In the past, Search has functioned as an adhoc umbrella organization seeking to unite diverse elements within the gay community. Search hopes to expand its services and eventually be housed within the Vancouver Gay Community Center on a cooperative basis with other independent gay organizations. At present Search is funded and operated solely by members of the gay community or individual supporters.

Search has made representations to government bodies at the municipal, provincial and federal levels. The most recent of these being a brief submitted to the Special joint Committee on the Constitution, calling for the entrenchment of a sexual orientation clause in any proposed Charter of Rights.

This organization no longer exists.
This abstract was published in the Connexions Digest in 1981.