Wishing you happy holidays and a delightful New Year!
Thank you for your support!
SUPPORT THE PRIDE CENTER
The Pride Center has thrived and grown this year in ways we didn’t think possible last year. We can’t wait to tell you all about it! We also want to share with you the impact that donations and partnerships have on mental health programming for youth, safe spaces for transgender and non-binary folks, or even a Pride Paw-rade for our fur babies to strut their stuff. Our job is to transform your support into tangible good for the LGBTQ+ community; we ask that you let us know how we did in 2023, and if you can, return the enclosed envelope with a pledge of support to expand and enhance this work in 2024 and beyond.
As 2023 comes to a close, The Pride Center of the Capital Region wants to thank every one of you for making this year of services, events, and rural expansion possible. 2023 has been the most dangerous year on record for LGBTQ+ folks when it comes to anti- LGBTQ+, especially anti-trans, legislation and policy across the country. We are lucky to live in New York State but are not immune to our challenges with rural spaces, LGBTQ+ inclusion, and affirmation.
The Pride Center of the Capital Region proudly offers free mental counseling and case management services to the LGBTQ+ community and their allies in the 10 counties we serve. In 2022, we were able to provide over 100 hours of counseling each month to clients ranging from 13 to 73, the majority of whom identify as transgender or non-binary and many of whom suffer from depression, anxiety, and thoughts of self-harm. Our counseling programs reach maximum capacity often, with a weeks to months-long waitlist typically. With additional funding, we can hire additional mental health staff to meet the needs of our community. We're also looking to pilot new telehealth options to reach additional rural areas.
The Pride Center formed many impactful partnerships over the past year to host educational, celebratory, and advocacy-focused events. The Pride Center’s event season began in March when we held the region’s first Transition Expo at the Blake Annex. Community service providers alongside clinicians, and finance institutions, joined to discuss transgender healthcare rights and access with the community. In May, we partnered with Mohawk Hudson Humane Society on our 2nd Annual Paw-Rade, bringing visibility to pet adoption as well as isolation in the queer community.
Throughout Pride month, the Center raised flags at City Halls across multiple counties, hosted a block party, and 5K run, and of course, had our annual Pride Parade and Festival, engaging over 40,000 people and hundreds of vendors and other nonprofits. This year we had more local, affirming churches and state agencies participate in the love than ever before. Pride month also saw the inclusion of a joint gender marker/name change clinic between The Pride Center, Copps Dipaola Silverman, PLLC, and local resource, The Legal Hand of Schenectady, as well as a lunch and learn in collaboration with Upper Hudson Planned Parenthood and In Our Own Voices to discuss LGBTQ+ folks and anti-LGBTQ+ legislation.
In September, The Pride Center provided our Aging with Pride cruise for LGBTQ+ seniors, free for anyone 55+. We had so many last year we upgraded on boat size and had over 200 people register! The fall season also saw the Center partnering with organizations like the Alzheimer's Association and Albany Guardian Society, where we hosted a Learning Exchange for local and state partners on safe spaces for LGBTQ+ seniors. This year we have also worked with the Gloversville Library to support a youth group that meets twice a month, and a monthly meetup for LGBTQ+ folks who like the outdoors called Queer by Nature. Through all of these collaborative efforts, the Pride Center advanced understanding and community for those in the Capital Region. One area we have grown that is most needed is offering services in our more rural communities.
Reaching every corner of the ten counties the Center serves is vital to our mission. Your support will allow the Pride Center's life-saving services and message of hope to extend further into the countryside; LGBTQ+ visibility saves lives. With additional funding, we aim to establish satellite offices and regular programming in counties outside the heart of the Capital District. This would involve hiring local coordinators and providing transportation options to bring people together.
Your support today will allow us to take these expansion plans from ideas to reality. Every gift makes a difference in the communities we serve!
Nathaniel Gray
Executive Director
Pride Center of the Capital Region
On behalf of all Pride Center staff, interns, and volunteers – THANK YOU!
This year’s annual gala was a hit and secured the Pride Center’s ability to continue its work with LGBTQ+ folks in the Capital Region and beyond in 2024. The gala saw over 200 people, raised thousands of dollars, sold numerous auction items, and had a great time doing so.
Our gala would not have been possible without the diligence and hard work of The Pride Center staff, interns, and volunteers who helped turn Franklin Plaza into pure, queer joy. Also, a huge nod to the staff at Franklin Plaza for their amazing help all night as well as The Pride Center board.
We hope you and your family have a wonderful holiday season, and we can’t wait to see you next year!
THANK YOU FOR MAKING OUR GALA SO SPECIAL!
Building the Advocates of Tomorrow: A Model Queer Advocacy Program with Russell Sage College
For the past two years, the Pride Center of the Capital Region has partnered with Russell Sage College to implement a groundbreaking Queer Advocacy Program. This program teaches LGBTQ+ college students vital skills in advocacy, empowering them to create positive change both on their campus and in the wider community. With an intergenerational approach, elder LGBTQ+ activists also share their experiences to pass the torch to the next generation.
The program began in 2022 with funding from the Community Foundation of the Greater Capital Region. Last year, sessions educated students on different advocacy styles like research, public speaking, and relationship-building. An intergenerational panel allowed elders to discuss the history of the LGBTQ+ rights movement and current issues facing the Aging with Pride (LGBTQ+ and over 55 years old) community. Students learned how to channel frustration into effective advocacy and find their personal advocacy strengths.
This year, the program is expanding its impact. Future sessions will cover intersectionality, positionality, and self-awareness to empower advocates from all backgrounds. Students will learn how to respectfully advocate for communities they may not be a part of. Understanding identity and privilege is crucial for creating inclusive change.
The Pride Center's longstanding partnership with Russell Sage's Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Geoffrey Miller, has been instrumental. Geoffrey has supported programming and helped conceptualize expanding the network to other local colleges which will allow for training more advocates across the region.
The program directly benefits both students and elders. For students, it builds mental fortitude to understand and counter growing anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric. They learn to advocate for issues like supporting queer youth mental health and protecting transgender rights. The elder panel provides intergenerational wisdom during a time of unprecedented hate. It also identifies issues like ensuring LGBTQ+ long-term care facilities uphold New York State’s nondiscrimination policies.
Future plans include an Intergenerational LGBTQ+ Advocacy Day at the state capitol in 2024. Students and seniors will put their skills into action by directly lobbying on priority issues. With the Pride Center's proximity to state government, it is the ideal location to train the next generation of grassroots advocates.
This model program demonstrates the profound impact of multi-generational collaboration. It empowers students while honoring elder experiences and will create widespread change as it expands to more and more schools. In an era of growing attacks against our community, well-trained advocates are needed more than ever. This program cultivates the leaders who will guide the LGBTQ+ rights movement into the future and offers a blueprint for communities everywhere to follow.
The Queer Advocacy Program will ensure the issues facing LGBTQ+ individuals of all ages in New York State receive proper attention and, most importantly, will develop a cohort of advocates passionate about creating a just world for all.
FULL CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Join us for a fabulous weekend of skiing and community with the Pride Center of the Capital Region and our event partners, Belleayre Mountain, the Ulster County Tourism Board and I LOVE NY LGBTQ. Registered guests will be able to purchase a NYS Pride Ski Lift Package at a special rate and will receive a lunch voucher for each day they purchase a lift ticket.
Love a good Après Ski? We're bringing a DJ for Saturday afternoon and hosting a proper Tea Dance in the lodge from 4-7pm. This is sure to be a weekend not to be missed!
REGISTER
Get ready for SNOW-GA!!! Join The Pride Center and Gloversville Library for a snow person-building activity on the Gloversville library property, followed by a tea and yoga practice led by Joanna Herron to warm up once back inside. Each person will get a mug of tea during the program along with a bag of loose-leaf tea to take home. We'll discuss the health benefits of tea (allergy soother and turmeric ginger), stretching, yoga, breathwork, etc. The tea is graciously provided by Flying Saucer Tea Station.
Location: Gloversville Library, 58 East Fulton St., Gloversville, NY
When: Saturday, January 13th, 2024 starting at 1pm
This event is free but registration is required. We can't wait to see you there!
INFO + REGISTRATION
This month’s newsletter is proudly sponsored by ACS PRINTING!
We are proud to print all of our materials at a ACS Printing in Arbor Hill. They are a family-owned, Black-owned printer in Albany who have been excellent in their work. We know how important it is to spend the money you donate wisely, and in alignment with our vision of a more equitable Capital Region for all.
Did you know The Pride Center offers FREE mental health counseling and case management? Provided by LGBTQ+-affirming staff and interns, these essential services are open to all LGBTQ+ folks and allies, ages 10 and up.
Click HERE to find out more and make an appointment.
FREE COUNSELING & CASE MANAGEMENT
SHARE YOUR FAVORITE RESOURCES
LGBTQ+ resources are not always easy to find in the Capital Region. Making sure that you are provided with safe, competent, and affirming services is something we strive for at The Pride Center. Do you have a physician you love? How about a business that always feels affirming or safe? Please share your LGBTQ+ affirming resources with us HERE!
THE PRIDE CENTER'S MONTHLY NEWSLETTER AND MONTHLY CALENDAR OF EVENTS ARE ALSO LINKED BELOW FOR ANYONE IN NEED OF PRINTING THE CONTENT.
We encourage our fellow community service providers to print copies of the monthly newsletter and calendar to make available at resource tables and bookstands in their space.
PRINTABLE NEWSLETTER
PRINTABLE CALENDAR
Your contributions enable us to continue delivering services and support to the LGBTQ+ community in the Capital Region and beyond.
Thank you for your tireless support!
