The Pride Center at Equality Park

The Pride Center at Equality Park is a LGBT community center in Wilton Manors, Florida, that serves Broward County, Palm Beach County, and Fort Lauderdale. The center provides information, news and events that affect South Florida's LGBT community.[2][3][4][5][6] Established in 1993, the center is headquartered within a 30,000 square feet (2,800 m2) building with meeting and office space for individuals, programs, servies, and organizations.The goal of the center is to empower the LGBT communities and in South Florida.[2][7][8]

The Pride Center at Equality Park
Formation1993 (1993)
Founder
  • Alan Schubert
TypeCharitable organization
(IRS exemption status): 501(c)(3)[1]
PurposeHealthcare, Education, Ending HIV/AIDS
HeadquartersWilton Manors, Florida, United States
Area served
South Florida
MethodDonations and Grants
Revenue
$2.2 million
Websitepridecenterflorida.org

The center hosts more than 60 regularly-meeting groups each month. Support, social and educational groups focus on women, seniors, youth, men, transgender, recovery, health, the arts, athletics, spirituality, games and more. It is also a major site for HIV testing and prevention, education and counseling, and also offers holistic and comprehensive support programs for persons living with HIV/AIDS.[9][10][11][12][13] AIDS memorabilia that later would be displayed in the World AIDS Museum and Educational Center were first exhibited here.[14]

In 2015, Pride Center Florida generated more than $2 million in annual revenues, primarily from grants and government contracts of $1.2 million and $527,000 in annual members' dues and contributions. Net assets exceeded $6.2 million, including property and equipment valued at more than $5.3 million.[15] Programs are supported by a diverse group of local and national sponsors, such as Wells Fargo, JetBlue,[16] Whole Foods, Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Ketel One, Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention and Visitors Bureau, and AHF AIDS Healthcare Foundation.[2]

SAGE, the country's largest and oldest organization dedicated to improving the lives of LGBT older adults, is one of the center's most popular programs, including 398 active members with 175 LGBT seniors attending weekly get-togethers. In August 2016, SAGE estimated there are 43,000 LGBT older adults in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties.[17]

The agency organizes an annual Tropical Plant Fair each spring, including several dozen vendor booths.[18]

Alan Schubert

The Pride Center grew out of the initial vision of founder Alan Schubert, one of the earliest public leaders of Fort Lauderdale's gay and lesbian community. Schubert died of cancer on June 1, 2016. He was 70 years old. Schubert's legacy includes the Pride Center where the main building bears his name and a long history of financial support and bringing community resources together on behalf of causes that included the Broward Gay and Lesbian Youth Group, the Child Care Connection, the Jewish AIDS Network, Broward Public Library, Human Rights Campaign, Center One and Tuesday's Angels.[19]

Upon his death, The Pride Center said:

His impact on this community and beyond is immeasurable. In 1993, Schubert--philanthropist and gay pioneer--conceived the idea for the then Gay and Lesbian Community Center of South Florida. Alan determined that a safe community center in Fort Lauderdale could assist existing and new groups serving the LGBTQ communities. Twenty three years later this month, The Center continues to honor Alan's original vision. Alan and his husband Robert recently moved back to South Florida. Our Center family has enjoyed the opportunity to hear directly from Alan his joy at the growth and evolution of The Center. Our thoughts and prayers are with his partner Robert, their family and friends.

— The Pride Center, [19]

Housing for LGBT Seniors

In August 2016, a partnership between the Pride Center and Carrfour Supportive Housing secured financing to develop, build and operate South Florida's first supportive housing community that will significantly serve gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender seniors.[20][21][22] Carrfour's competitive application for tax credits won funding from Florida Housing Finance Corporation for housing credit and gap financing for affordable housing developments for persons with a disabling condition, providing the financing needed to begin construction of The Residences at Equality Park as an initial 48-unit apartment complex on the Pride Center's campus at North Dixie Highway and Northeast 20th Drive in Wilton Manors, Florida.[23][24][25]

The effort to create affordable, supportive housing in Wilton Manors began in 2012 when City Commissioner Tom Green proposed development of affordable housing for the community's primarily LGBT seniors.[26][27] Three years later, the proposal won unanimous support from the City Commission to create12,346 square feet of retail space and 130 affordable housing units within The Pride Center's five-acre campus.[2][28] Pride Center formally partnered with Carrfour to pursue funding, develop and operate the housing complex.[29]

Public Outreach

Since 2010, Pride Center Florida has published a quarterly newsletter, known as the Pride Center Voice. The newsletter is distributed in print and electronically. The organization also maintains an active social media presence, including on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.[2]

Notes and references
  1. GuideStar.org , accessed 2016-08-28
  2. - Pride Center Florida Official Website.
  3. Miller, Marissa (February 2, 2016). "A Concierge for Same-Sex Weddings in Florida". New York Times.
  4. Diaz, Johnny (June 12, 2016). "As gay pride month begins, LGBT community reacts to mass shooting". South Florida Sun Sentinel.
  5. Fox, Sheldon (June 13, 2016). "As LGBT community mourns Orlando shooting victims, local entities show support". WSVN Channel 7.
  6. Diaz, Johnny (June 18, 2016). "Wilton Manors Stonewall Festival: 'We are not going to be intimidated'". South Florida Sun Sentinel.
  7. Diaz, Johnny (September 17, 2015). "The Pride Center planning to build playground in Wilton Manors". South Florida Sun Sentinel.
  8. Shapiro-Sacks, Jennifer (July 1, 2015). "LGBT center hosts first Diversity Honors". South Florida Sun Sentinel.
  9. Balter, Julie (February 22, 2016). "Equality in LGBT health care". Miami Herald.
  10. Zinn, Dori (August 26, 2016). "Mobile Mural Looks to Bring Attention to HIV/AIDS". South Florida Gay News.
  11. "2013 IRS 990" (PDF). The Pride Center. June 1, 2014. Retrieved August 28, 2016.
  12. Berardi, Tucker (August 17, 2016). "Daddy's and Ice Cream: Pride Center launches new social". South Florida Gay News.
  13. Sturgis, Christina (August 16, 2016). "'Gayborhoods' Offer Higher Home Values". Tampa Bay Times.
  14. Forman, Ross (August 26, 2014). "World AIDS Museum opens in Fort Lauderdale". Windy City Times. Retrieved September 15, 2014.
  15. "Consolidated Financial Statements 2015 and 2014" (PDF). The Pride Center. June 1, 2016. Retrieved August 28, 2016.
  16. "JetBlue achieves top score in LGBT workplace equality". JetBlue. November 19, 2015.
  17. Rothaus, Steve (August 23, 2016). "SAGE for LGBT seniors to at last launch affiliate in Miami-Dade County". Miami Herald.
  18. "2016 Tropical Plant Fair" (PDF). The Pride Center. March 1, 2016. Retrieved August 28, 2016.
  19. "Pride Center Founder Dies: Cancer claims Alan Schubert". South Florida Gay News. June 8, 2016.
  20. Mask, Carina (June 12, 2016). "The future of senior housing for the LGBTQ community". Miami Herald.
  21. Goldberg, Samantha (August 26, 2016). "First Affordable LGBT Senior Housing to Rise in South Florida". Multi Housing News.
  22. "Carrfour plans affordable housing at Pride Center in Wilton Manors". South Florida Business & Wealth. August 28, 2016.
  23. Owers, Paul (August 23, 2016). "Affordable housing project in Wilton Manors will cater to LGBT seniors". South Florida Sun Sentinel.
  24. Kallergis, Katherine (August 23, 2016). "Carrfour, the Pride Center team up for LGBT senior housing in Broward". South Florida Real Estate News.
  25. Bandell, Brian (August 23, 2016). "Developer reveals plans for LGBT-focused senior housing community". South Florida Business Journal.
  26. Boo, Robert (February 1, 2016). "Home Sweet Home: Center explores paths to affordable senior housing on campus" (PDF). Pride Center Voice.
  27. Borg, Jeff (May 2, 2016). "Welcome to South Florida's gayborhoods". Miami Herald.
  28. d'Oliveira, Michael (November 5, 2015). "Senior Residences Planned for Equality Park". South Florida Gay News.
  29. Croce, Brian (August 26, 2016). "Senior LGBT Development on Tap for South Florida - Carrfour Supportive Housing has been selected to build 48 affordable apartments on The Pride Center's campus". Multi Family Executive.
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