Updated at 6:26 p.m.
One of the state’s largest organizations supporting the LGBTQ+ community is closing its doors due to lack of state and federal funding.
After 26 years, the Pride Center of Vermont will “pause operations” on Friday, the board of directors announced Thursday.
This includes closing its trans program, the SafeSpace anti-violence hotline, HIV testing and harm-reduction services.
“While we are pausing regular operations, we are exploring every opportunity to continue supporting our program participants, particularly SafeSpace survivors and Health & Wellness participants, and will be communicating with them directly to ensure continuity of support,” Pride Center of Vermont’s board of directors said in a press release Thursday afternoon.
Two people who worked at the Burlington-based nonprofit organization confirmed that six employees were laid off Thursday morning and informed that the organization would close by 2 p.m. Friday.
In its release, the board apologized for the short notice to staff and acknowledged the harm it has caused employees, program participants and the broader pride community it serves.
“This was not a decision anyone wanted to make. It comes after months of difficult conversations and a shared realization that we cannot adequately serve our community without first restructuring and assessing long-term sustainability,” the release states.
It is not a permanent closure, the release said, and the board is trying to raise approximately $350,000 needed to revive operations.
“If you’ve benefited from our work, believe in our mission, or simply want to stand up for equity and community, please consider giving today,” the release states.
The board said the nonprofit offers “lifesaving” services and programs to thousands of Vermonters every year and that it would be a tragedy for the Pride Center to close indefinitely.
The afternoon news sent ripples of shock among pride groups and advocates who raised concerns about federal funding priorities and the threats LGBTQ+ communities face nationwide.
In that climate, this is an especially difficult loss for Vermont, said James Lyall, executive director of the ACLU of Vermont.
“Queer and trans Vermonters need and deserve access to spaces where they can seek refuge and be fully seen and celebrated for who they are. That is what the Pride Center has offered for over two decades. As the fight for liberation continues, we will honor their vital legacy,” he said in a statement.
When Ember Nova Quinn came out as transgender seven years ago, they said the Pride Center was the first place they turned to and found solace and community.
“It’s where I got to talk to another trans person about my life and it was really important,” they said, because they didn’t have trans people in their lives at the time. “… It was so cool to go there and just sit in a room with like eight or 12 trans people and to just talk.”
The closure doesn’t only affect the LGBTQ+ community but also many others who hold additional identities that are marginalized, said Xusana Davis, Vermont’s executive director of racial equity. They are now made even more vulnerable by losing this important organization, she said.
Essex Pride was “devastated” to hear about the Pride Center closing, said Kris Smith Thyme, president of the community group. They called it “a profound loss.”
“For decades, the Pride Center has been a lifeline, offering resources, advocacy, support, and connection to countless LGBTQIA+ Vermonters. Their work has saved lives, built bridges, and created spaces where queer and trans people could be seen, celebrated, and cared for,” Thyme said in a statement.
Vermont has lost a critical community resource, said Jessica Barquist, spokesperson for Planned Parenthood of Northern New England and Planned Parenthood Vermont Action Fund.
“This is a stark reminder that federal attacks on our rights and community funding sources are having real life impacts on us in Vermont, even when we have strong state protections in place,” she said.
Dana Kaplan, executive director of Outright Vermont which primarily serves young people, said they are having conversations with people at the Pride Center to understand their needs and how others can help.
“This moment underscores how important it is for all of us to continue investing in LGBTQ+ organizations of every size and focus. Our collective resilience depends on it,” he said.
