For the Pirate's Booty Treasure Hunt go to the events calendar!
For the Pirate's Booty Treasure Hunt go to the events calendar!
our legacy
First City Network is Georgia’s oldest LGBTQIA organization: founded by gay & lesbian pioneers willing to endure discrimination and violence in order to build a safe community in 1985 Savannah.
Originally working from the living rooms of its members, FCN began a community newsletter called Network News & steadily grew, moving into church spaces and then an office on Savannah’s south side, before working as a coalition with other LGBTQIA organizations to establish First City Pride Center in midtown Savannah.
embracing the cultural diversity of our community through fun, positive social interaction and networking
A NEW ADDITION TO THE WEBSITE!
THE CHAIRMAN’S CORNER
MUSINGS BY BOARD CHAIR GERRY NELMS
It's the byline First City Network has used for years "First City Network (FCN), Georgia's oldest LGBTQIA organization: was founded by gay & lesbian pioneers willing to endure discrimination and violence in order to build a safe community in 1985 Savannah."
Well, a lot of things have changed since those early days of FCN and some people (myself included) had suggested that we aren't pertinent to current times and maybe it was time for FCN to “close our doors” and dissolve. But, after further thought, I realized that with some reorientation and adjustments FCN could indeed become pertinent to changing times. Instead of closing OUR doors we needed to overcome the new doors of challenges that current times present to the LGBTQ+ community.
continued on the Chairman’s Corner page
what fcn is all about
coming out support
volunteering
making new friends
fun social events
Meet Our Board of Directors
Would you like to be a board member? Attend our next board meeting to contribute your talents to the board or join one of our committees! Email chair@firstcitynetwork.org to see what positions are available.
Gerry Nelms
CHAIRMAN
Stuart Marvin
VICE CHAIR/TREASURER
JJ Fetter
EVENT PLANNING
71 years old / came out (outed) 1970
Originally from Grand Rapids, Michigan I moved to Savannah in the Fall of 2021. For 35 years I was sole owner of Wolfmark Advertising and worked with small business in developing advertising and marketing plans with a specialty in piano nd dealers. I also have personal experience in neighborhood and historic district developemt and promoting AIDS awareness. I’m also creator/editor of https://thegayexperience.com/ an online LGBTQ history resource.
John Hogan Trinh
SECRETARY
53 years old / came out 1988
Originally from Apalachin NY, I moved to Savannah in the Spring of 2022 from Rochester NY. For 26 years I was married to a wonderful lady who passed away in 2015. I met my husband soon after and we were married in 2020. We moved to Savannah to be closer to family and escape the frigid weather. I am a former ordained priest, and I currently work in non-profit management. In my free time I enjoy traveling, baking, and gardening.
Mark Krueger
CO-FOUNGER
I am one of the founding members of First City Network, and have been a board member and president on several occasions. When First City Network started, attacks on gay men in the historic district and verbal and media attacks on the LGBTQ community by politicians, police and church leders were all too common, Lawrence Marley, the founder of FCN, was the first to stand up to them. And when white-owned gay businesses denied entrance to Black gays, FCN spoke up. FCN was the first to offer assistance for people with AIDS in Savannah.
FCN has an important social role to play in Savannah but my two areas of interest are ensuring that the LGBTQ community has a voice, as well as volunteerism. I'm proud that FCN has provided volunteers and/or donations to the Humane Society, Phoenix House for people with AIDS, Safe Shelter For Battered Women, Grace House For Homeless Men, Pride and many others.