The Community Foundation provided Come Out Central New York with a grant to support the Empire State of Pride Conference at the SKY Armory in Syracuse, New York.
I’m excited to share that the Empire State of Pride Conference, which I co-produced with Stephan Hengst of Big Gay Hudson Valley, took place this past November at SKY Armory in Syracuse, thanks in part to a generous $5,000 grant from the Central New York Community Foundation. This support was not just financial — it was a catalyst for bringing LGBTQ+ organizers from across New York together in one room to share ideas, connect with each other and grow as leaders.
So, what does this mean? For many of us who organize Pride events, especially in smaller cities and towns, resources are often limited. Most Pride organizers are volunteers with a deep commitment to their local LGBTQ+ communities, but they don’t always have access to the tools and networks to make their events as impactful as they could be. The Empire State of Pride Conference is our chance to change that. With the grant from the Community Foundation, we were able to cover key production costs and ensure that the event was accessible to as many people as possible.
The main goal of this conference was to empower LGBTQ+ Pride organizers from across the state. We wanted to give them practical knowledge on everything from event planning and fundraising to embracing diversity and leveraging local tourism opportunities. But just as important is creating a space for connection. Many of us have been doing this work in isolation, and there’s so much power in coming together, learning from each other and building a stronger, more connected network of LGBTQ+ advocates.
A little about me—I’m the founder of Come Out Central New York, an organization dedicated to promoting Central New York as an incredible place for LGBTQ+ people to live, work and thrive. My journey in LGBTQ+ community work started eight years ago with a grassroots networking event called Syracuse Guerrilla Gay Bar, and that passion has grown into something much larger. At Come Out Central New York, we promote local LGBTQ+ events, businesses and services, and I have the privilege of working with some amazing people across the region.
The Empire State of Pride Conference is an extension of that work. I believe that by strengthening our Pride events and the organizers behind them, we’re not just putting on celebrations — we’re creating visibility, fostering acceptance and, in many cases, changing hearts and minds about what it means to be LGBTQ+ in places like Central New York. The grant from the Central New York Community Foundation helped us take this vision one step further, and I couldn’t be more grateful for their support.
I’m looking forward to the future and I hope this conference was the first of many that continue to bring us together and strengthen our LGBTQ+ communities across the Empire State.
Additional Information
- Empire State of Pride Conference: https://www.empirestateofpride.com
- Come Out Central New York: https://www.comeoutcny.com
- Big Gay Hudson Valley: https://www.biggayhudsonvalley.com
