GLYS WNY Inc. & The Pride Center of Western New York: Stronger Together for Our Community

We're thrilled to share some exciting news that marks a major milestone for LGBTQ+ services in Western New York: GLYS WNY has officially entered into an agreement to acquire the operational oversight of the Pride Center of Western New York.

This step isn't just a change in leadership - its a powerful evolution of the work our organizations have been doing for decades. It's a move rooted in shared history, common values, and a deep, unwavering commitment to the LGBTQ+ community of Western New York.

Why this matters:

Both GLYS WNY and the Pride Center were founded during the early days of HIV/AIDS crisis, a time when safe spaces, advocacy, and community care were desperately needed. In fact, we even share some of the same founders. Throughout the years, our organizations have collaborated, shared resources, and built parallel paths of service to meet the needs of LGBTQ+ Adults, Families, and Youth across the region.

Today, we're taking that partnership to the next level.

With this transition:

• The Pride Center will remain an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit, continuing to steward its vital community programming grants.

• GLYS WNY will provide operational oversight of the Pride Center, while maintaining its own programming and offering the same support as always to LGBTQ+ youth in the area.

• Evergreen Health will continue to lead healthcare services for individuals across the region. Allowing each organization to focus on its area of expertise.

In short, this new structure lets us do more of what we each do best - with greater coordination, stronger support systems, and a renewed commitment to serving every member of our community.

Why now?

This merger comes at an important time. In the face of changing political climates and increased risks to LGBTQ+ rights, its more critical than ever for GLYS and the Pride Center to join forces. By combining our strengths, we're positioning ourselves to protect, expand, and defend the resources our community depends on.

As Ray Ganoe (President & CEO of Evergreen Health) and Jack Kavanaugh (Executive Director of GLYS WNY) discussed during the planning process, we are stronger together. THis merger allows us to focus on what matters most: supporting LGBTQ+ individuals with dignity, care, and determination.

What Comes Next

We're commited to transparency as we move through this transition.

We'll continue to share updates as plans evolve, and we invite you to reach out with any questions, ideas or concerns. This next chapter is about community - and your voice matters.

We're grateful about what lies ahead, and we're grateful to have you with us as we build a stronger, safer, and more vibrant future for LGBTQ+ people in Western New York.

Stay tuned for more updates - and thank you for being part of our story.