Dear Friends,
What can I say? June is upon us again and we have so much to celebrate. We had a great Pride Season kickoff between the TRANSition Expo, 5K, and a restart to our Aging with Pride Potlucks at the First Presbyterian Church. We have been working behind the scenes this spring, while maintaining our free mental health care and group programing, to bring you a series of events that encourage community, authenticity, joy, and connectedness.
We can only do this work thanks to the contributions of our community year round. Many folks don’t know that as an organization, we currently do this work entirely on community and sponsorship contributions to our organization and major events. While we work to grow our mental health programming through larger gifts, grants, legacy giving and other support, we are so grateful to be the longest continually operating Pride Center in the country, and to be so because you, the LGBTQ+ community of the Capital Region, value and support our work.
This Pride Month, if you’re able, please consider using our new system online to become a one-time or recurring donor. We understand that for some it might be possible to give the equivalent of another streaming service ($15) each month, for others perhaps a nice meal ($100); some folks might even be able to give closer to a car payment ($250). Whatever you are able to contribute, it is going directly to a mental health program that serves majority youth, and majority transgender, gender nonconforming, and nonbinary clients, daily support groups in Albany and across the region, more events throughout the year to celebrate the queer community, and a stronger presence as your advocate right down at the Capitol of New York State.
Thank you for your consideration and support, now let’s party!
Nathaniel Gray
Executive Director
Pride Center of the Capital Region
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IT'S PRIDE MONTH!
Our Pride Guide is officially out on the streets and online. Use the link below to check out all the events, meet the staff and board of the Pride Center, and learn more about our gracious sponsors and supporters.
GET YOUR PRIDE MERCH AT THE PRIDE FESTIVAL
Be sure to swing by the Pride Center information booth at the event Sunday June 9th to get exclusive Capital Pride merch! We sold out of our ‘Respect LGBTQ+ Youth; Protect LGBTQ+ Elders’ in last year’s color, so we’ve updated to pink this year! Holographic stickers, oversized clack fans, and more!
As the Capital Region Pride Parade unfolds this year, we take a moment to remember and celebrate Ed/Marsha Davis, who helped shape this event into the vibrant parade we know today. Out of respect for their journey and identity, we refer to them as Ed/Marsha throughout this memorial, recognizing the period they identified as Ed and their later years as Marsha. This year, the parade honors them posthumously with Dr. Ray Werking serving as the Grand Marshall-in-Memoriam, a role he proudly takes on to honor his lifelong friend Ed/Marsha and their shared dedication to the LGBTQ+ community.
Ed/Marsha initially became involved with the Pride Center as a supportive parent, seeking to build a safe and inclusive environment for their two daughters. This personal mission expanded into broader community engagement, where Ed/Marsha and their family initiated and hosted regular Sunday suppers, fostering a nurturing space that became a cornerstone for community bonding and support throughout the 2000s.
Dr. Ray Werking, who knew Ed/Marsha from junior high school, recalls a particularly telling moment that encapsulates Ed/Marsha’s enduring memory for friends: “At one of the initial kickoff barbecues at the Pride Center, I was heading down the stairs when I heard my name called out. It was Ed, who had recognized me instantly. That moment of reconnection highlighted the strong, lasting bonds Ed/Marsha nurtured within the community. It was then I truly understood the depth of their commitment, not just to their own family but to all of us within the community.”
As the organizer of the Pride Parade, Ed/Marsha applied their meticulous attention to detail and profound love for the community to elevate the event from a simple march to a grand celebration, attracting thousands. Their professional experience as a transportation supervisor paralleled their parade management—both roles requiring precision, care, and an ability to keep everything moving smoothly.
The transition from Ed to Marsha reflected not only a personal journey of identity but also mirrored societal changes in understanding and accepting gender diversity. Ed/Marsha’s life story is a powerful narrative about the fight for visibility, acceptance, and the right to be oneself, all while being a support for so many others.
Dr. Ray Werking, reflecting on his honorary title, expresses his gratitude and the deep personal significance of this role: “It’s a profound honor to serve as Grand Marshall-in-Memoriam for my dear friend Ed/Marsha. This role allows me to celebrate their remarkable legacy and the indelible mark they left on our community. I am grateful for the opportunity to continue their work, ensuring that the parade remains a vibrant symbol of unity and acceptance.”
As we march today, let’s remember Ed/Marsha’s legacy of dedication and love. Their work has profoundly shaped the Pride Parade, creating a legacy that enriches our community. In honoring them, we renew our commitment to the principles they championed: inclusivity, celebration, and unwavering support for every individual’s right to love and live authentically surrounded by those who love us exactly as we are.
REMEMBERING ED/MARSHA DAVIS – A PILLAR OF PRIDE AND PARENTAL LOVE
From Left to Right: Corey Polesel, Dr. Ray Werking, Ed/Marsha Davis
From Left to Right: Dr. Ray Werking, Ed/Marsha Davis
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!
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