We Are Family (WAF) records

We Are Family (WAF) is a nonprofit organization that provides support, resources, and leadership development opportunities to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, intersex (LGBTQI) and straight ally youth. Founded in 1995 by Tom Myers after his son came out as gay, the organization initially focused on the use of direct mail to provide information to people that LGBTQI youth might seek out for counsel and support. In 1997 the organization moved into its first office space located at 93 Spring Street in downtown Charleston, South Carolina. That same year WAF began SafeSpace, a support group for LGBTQI youth, which continues to this day. In 1997, Warren Redman-Gress was hired, later becoming the executive director, and working at WAF until 2000. In 1998 and 1999, WAF co-hosted the “Growing Up Gay” conference with PFLAG, Lowcountry AIDS Services, and the Lowcountry Gay & Lesbian Alliance. From around 2002 to 2006, WAF had offices at 327 Folly Road, Unit B in Charleston. From the end of 2006 through 2010, WAF had no paid staff or physical office space. Melissa Moore became the executive director in 2010 and continued in that position through 2018. In 2018 WAF briefly partnered with the City of Charleston to operate the “All of Us” day center at 529 Meeting Street in Charleston. That same year the organization moved out of that location to 1801 Reynolds Avenue, Unit B in North Charleston, South Carolina, where they had their offices and a thrift store, Closet Case Thrift Store. Housed in the same building is the Alliance for Full Acceptance and Charleston Pride, the location acting as a resource center for the Charleston-area LGBTQI community. Nijeeah Richardson became the executive director of WAF in 2019.