About Us

Founded in 1994, we've worked tirelessly to serve the needs of the LGBTQ+ community, empowering thousands of individuals to live authentic lives. 

Our Mission

The Pride Center of New Jersey is a volunteer-led, nonprofit community hub that brings LGBTQ+ people together to build lasting social connections and explore their identities in an inclusive, safe, and welcoming environment.

Our Values

Inclusivity — Facilitate opportunities for individuals to develop meaningful relationships through shared experiences. 

Connection — Foster programs that appeal to a variety of sexualities, gender identities, age ranges and interests across all walks of life.

Safety — Promote and maintain a safe physical space as well as a culture where you can be your most authentic self.

Our Journey to Today

The Pride Center of NJ has grown over many years to become a safe haven for all members of the LGBTQ+ community, but we originally started out as a small committee working out of people's homes. Without a physical space for many years, it was the passion project of many dedicated individuals. Working to carve out queer spaces and combatting discrimination, the founders of the Pride Center worked hard to be responsive to the community's needs, originating many programs and services that we continue to offer to this day. Today we have an active membership and volunteer base with robust attendance in a range of programs, support and social groups, and activities that promote fun, wellness, and community. The groups and services offered by The Center have enriched the lives of thousands of LGBTQ individuals over the years who may otherwise have had nowhere else to turn. At The Center, everyone is welcomed with open arms.

Click here to learn more about our history!

Our Leadership Team

Alycia H. (she/her)

Vice-President

Volunteering since 2021

David W. (he/him)

Recording Secretary

Volunteering since 2024

Edward L. (he/him)

Treasurer

Volunteering since 2025

Our Services

We've been proud to grow our service offerings considerably since opening our doors in 1994. We do our best to be responsive to the needs of our community, so our offerings may change, but we will always be committed to building a community of acceptance for all LGBTQ+ individuals. If you ever feel there is a gap in our program or service offerings please reach out to us via our contact form.

Social / Support Groups

One of the primary goals of the Pride Center is to foster a welcoming and inclusive environment for all individuals to express themselves authentically, which is why we are proud to host any group of people equally committed to serving our community.

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Youth Programming

We offer dedicated programming for all individuals under 18 years of age. Generally the youth are welcome to simply unwind in the space, but we also encourage them to design and participate in their own initiatives.

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Curated Resources

We maintain and curate a database of LGBTQ+ friendly resources that can help you lead your most authentic and meaningful life. If you want to suggest additional resources for our resource library, please reach out to us directly via our contact form.

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Community Partnerships

We regularly partner with organizations throughout the community so that we can extend our program offerings to our members. Whether you want to partner with us or want to see what we having coming up, click below to learn more.

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Events & Celebrations

One of the ways we like to give back to the community is through celebration. We host a number of events throughout the year aimed at offering members of the community time to unwind, socialize, and make friends.

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Interested in more of our history, click through our timeline below!

First Meeting Held in Highland Park Home

Originally existing solely as the Community Center Development Committee under the Personal Liberty Fund, we held our first meeting in 1992 in a Highland Park home. With about a dozen people in attendance, we took our first steps towards realizing the Center.

First Physical Space Secured

In the early years we primarily focused on fundrasing efforts until we got our first physical location in 1994 in New Brunswick. Although still a committee under the PLF, we officially took the name "Pride Center of New Jersey" and began expanding our services.

Officially Incorporated

In the Spring of 1997, we officially became "The Pride Center of New Jersey, Inc."

The Beginnings of the Youth Drop-In

Outgrowing our prior space, the Center moved to a location in North Brunswick. We continued to deepend our impact by expanding services, including the Youth Drop-In, which is still active today!

Moved Back to Highland Park

The Center moved again in early2008 to space in Highland Park and continued to offer its longtime programs as well as new groups and educational forums.

Our First Fundraising Gala

Coming up around our 25th anniversary, we decided to throw a fundraising gala to celebrate our successes over the years. Since then the Annual Gala has proved to be a great source for funding many great initiatives throughout the year.

Transition to Virtual/Hybrid Programming

Wanting to do our best to continue offering services to the LGBTQ+ community, we transitioned most groups and other program offerings to a virtual/hybrid model. Although there was a bit of a learning curve, we reached an entirely new audience, able to reach members of the community far outside out usual radius.

Our Mission