Since its founding in 1996, New Haven Pride Center has been a vital gathering space for the LGBTQ+ community and allies in New Haven, Connecticut. Born from activist efforts and community research that revealed a need for a unified meeting place within the vibrant regional LGBTQ+ culture, the Center opened its doors with a mission to create a safe haven for support, organizing, and connection. Over more than two decades, it has grown from an all-volunteer operation into a staffed institution dedicated to empowering Greater New Haven's LGBTQ+ individuals not just to survive, but to thrive and uplift one another. The Center's core work centers on four pillars: providing essential support services that address basic needs and case management, bringing community together through programming that combats loneliness and isolation, advancing advocacy and education that strengthen collective power, and specifically empowering LGBTQ+ youth through targeted programs and mentorship. What sets New Haven Pride Center apart is its deep roots in the community and its commitment to intersection-based work that honors the diverse identities and experiences within the LGBTQ+ community. The organization champions collaboration with other local and statewide organizations, recognizing that collective impact creates lasting change. Located in New Haven, CT, the Center continues the legacy started by founder John D. Allen, Ed.D., who envisioned a space where people of all gender identities and sexual orientations could gather, organize, and find belonging. Today, it remains a beacon of support, advocacy, and cultural celebration for the Greater New Haven region.
New Haven, CT