Who We Are

History

The History of the Bronx Community Pride Center

In 1995, a group of seasoned Bronx LGBT activists, community leaders, residents and health care practitioners mobilized to address the lack of sensitive and informed medical and social services available to the Bronx LGBT community. The Bronx Community Pride Center began as a referral hotline and training source to link LGBT people to appropriate care and train medical and social service providers, staff and medical students to understand the unique needs of the LGBT population in the Bronx. During this time the organization was known as The Bronx Lesbian and Gay Health Resource Consortium.After incorporating in 1996, the Consortium operated out of a small office in the South Bronx, which attracted local LGBT teens looking for a safe space, emotional support and services. Before long there were many LGBT people living in the Bronx advocating to build the Consortium into a thriving organization to serve the community for years to come, not just to serve the needs of LGBT teens, but to create a necessary resource for seniors, and the LGBT community in general. Ten years later, the Bronx Lesbian and Gay Health Resource Consortium has served as a lifeline for many of NYC’s most vulnerable citizens. Historically, a large population of LGBT residents have been excluded from social services, disenfranchised, verbally harassed and endured bias related violence. The lack of a safe space in the Bronx has driven most organizing projects that dared to form, to extinction. In 2004, Lisa Winters was hired as the Executive Director and has presided over a whirlwind of activity and exciting growth. The organization has expanded dramatically. In its new expanded role, it has been renamed, The Bronx Community Pride Center. The significant growth affirms how essential The Bronx Community Pride Center is and has become for LGBT people in the Bronx. The Bronx Community Pride Center is providing the community critical direct services, building skills and programming to empower the Bronx LGBT community.