Springfield LGBTQ+ resource center faces multiple security threats
Community, Feature, News October 26, 2025, Comments OffOn the morning of September 22nd, 2025, Springfield’s own GLO Center—the oldest LGBTQ+ nonprofit resource center in the state of Missouri—had to shut its doors almost as soon as they were opened. Aaron Schekorra, the center’s executive director, was just opening the center for the day when he noticed something on the ground glimmering in the sun. What he bent down to find were two unfired bullets.
“Scratched on them—there’s a word on each of them. One of them says in all caps ‘die,’ and the other one says a slur for queer people,” says Schekorra. Not two weeks earlier, similarly engraved bullets were found after the assassination of podcaster Charlie Kirk, making the threat to the resource center clear. After the threats were made, the GLO Center shut down all in-person operations for the week, hosting meetings and support groups over zoom. The GLO Center began operating in person again on September 27th with the commencement of C-Street Pride, a block party hosted by the center itself, though they encouraged attendees to remain vigilant.
After the festival, the GLO Center resumed all operations as normal, until October 21st, not even a month later, when the center was broken into. When the center was opened that morning, the break-in was evident. Several items were stolen from the nonprofit, including their phone, and many locked storage areas were broken into. There is no reason to believe that the break-in is connected to the previous threats, but with the short time between the incidents, the GLO Center is not taking any precautions.
The GLO Center announced on October 22nd that they have begun fundraising for a high-end security system. The nonprofit has a goal of raising $6,000 to fund this project to make the center safer for all. Because the GLO Center plays a vital role in the LGBTQ+ community of the Ozarks, any threat made to them is a threat made to the community. The GLO Center provides a wide range of resources for LGBTQ+ people, including youth and adult support groups, mental health resources, and medical resources for those 18+.
While these threats and actions taken against the GLO Center can be disheartening, it’s important to highlight the positive changes in the Springfield community. On October 23rd, pop sensation, Willard native, and proud supporter of the GLO Center, Chappell Roan, announced the formation of her new foundation, the Midwest Princess Project: a nonprofit donating funds to LGBTQ+ organizations like the GLO Center. Roan’s recent pop-up tour, “Visions of Damsels and Other Dangerous Things”, has already raised over $400,000 for the foundation in ticket sales.
With this support, LGBTQ+ people all over the country will be able to access the resources they need to be true to themselves. To donate to the Glo Center or Roan’s Midwest Princess Project, go to www.bit.ly/glo-safety or www.midwestprincessproject.org. The world is a dark place, but it is imperative that you continue to be true to yourself. Especially in a time when so many are scared just to be who they are, it is important to have pride. Be brave. Be proud. Keep fighting.
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