The New Haven Pride Center has successfully navigated a challenging financial period, celebrating its survival at the start of Pride Month. The local nonprofit, which faced potential closure due to a lapse in its nonprofit status and over $200,000 in federal tax debts, managed to raise $500,000 through a concerted fundraising effort known as ‘Project Phoenix.’

Community Support and Leadership

Board Co-Chair Hope Chávez, alongside fellow board members and local politicians, announced the center’s reopening at a press conference. Chávez expressed gratitude for the community’s support, which included significant contributions from the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven and its President/CEO Karen DuBois-Walton. The funds raised will allow the center to continue serving the LGBTQ community in New Haven.

Despite the financial hurdles, the Pride Center’s board has expanded to six members, and its headquarters at 50 Orange St. remains a meeting place for groups like the Rainbow Elders. The organization is actively seeking a new interim executive director to lead its efforts moving forward.

Commitment to Inclusivity and Support

Local leaders, including Mayor Justin Elicker and state Treasurer Erick Russell, emphasized the importance of the Pride Center as a safe space for the community. They pledged ongoing support as the center works towards a full reopening. The event highlighted the center’s role in providing essential services such as food pantries and clothing closets, and its significance as a symbol of acceptance and love for individuals who may feel marginalized.

Russell also addressed broader national challenges, noting that the LGBTQ community faces increasing pressures, but affirmed Connecticut’s commitment to anti-discrimination and support for gender-affirming care and marriage equality. The Pride Center’s survival is seen as a testament to the resilience and unity of the local community.

Original reporting: New Haven Independent — read the source article.