Happy Pride, friends! Every June, we celebrate LGBT+ Pride Month to honor the movement for LGBT+ rights and celebrate Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender accomplishments, arts, and culture. Unfortunately, the fundamental human rights of this community continue to be under attack. As allies, we must be vocal in supporting our neighbors, friends, and community members and condemn those who would harm them. So this month, we decided to highlight some of our favorite LGBT+ organizations, businesses, and creators.
Please show your support by following them and donating or patronizing their business if you can!
Around the Capital Region
There are so many great organizations here in our local region to support!
The Pride Center of the Capital Region
Website: https://capitalpridecenter.org
Did you know The Pride Center is the oldest continuously operating LGBTQ center in the country? Since 1970, they have worked to promote the well-being of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer-identified people and those affected by discrimination based on gender identity and expression. They host a variety of programs and support groups that provide a safe space for the community.
Capital Pride 2023
Website: https://www.518capitalpride.com
Organized by The Pride Center of the Capital Region, Capital Pride Parade & Festival is our yearly Pride celebration! This year it takes place on Sunday, June 11th, in downtown Albany.
In Our Own Voices, Inc
Webiste: https://ioov.org
In Our Own Voices works to ensure the physical, mental, spiritual, political, cultural, and economic survival and growth of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender people of color communities. They host events, workshops, and trainings and advocate on the local, state, and national levels.
Planned Parenthood Empire State Acts
Website: https://www.plannedparenthoodaction.org/empire-state-acts
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
Planned Parenthood Empire State Acts is the independent, non-partisan, non-profit organization representing Planned Parenthood in New York. We’ve been lucky enough to work with them over the years to help amplify their goal of ensuring statewide access to family planning services and sexual and reproductive health care for all.
Bard & Baker Board Game Cafe
Website: https://www.bardandbaker.com
Bard & Baker is a fabulous, LGBTQ+-friendly board game cafe in downtown Troy. Everyone can feel welcome while enjoying a bite to eat and playing a board or card game with friends. They’ve hosted a variety of LGBTQ+ events, including Queer D&D (Dungeons & Dragons), Queer Speed dating, and Queer inclusive socials.
MINNA
Website: https://www.minna-goods.com
MINNA is a queer-led home goods store carrying ethically-sourced handcrafted products located just down the road from us in Hudson, New York. You can shop their small-batch, handmade goods here!
JACOB ALEJANDRO
Website: https://jacobalejandro.square.site/
JACOB ALEJANDRO isn’t just a coffee shop. Their website proclaims them a “Coffee Culture and Coffee Education company serving great coffee to great people.” Owned by the husband and husband team of Alejandro and Jake Griffin-Diaz, they created the company to share their passion and knowledge of specialty coffee
National Organizations to Support
The Trevor Project
Website: https://www.thetrevorproject.org/
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Tik Tok
A fan-favorite of the Overit Crew, The Trevor Project focuses on suicide prevention for LGBTQ+ youth. Those experiencing struggles can get free help from trained counselors through phone, chat, or text. They also host TrevorSpace, an online community for LGBTQ+ young people between the ages of 13-24 years old to connect and communicate in a safe space.
The Human Rights Campaign
Website: https://www.hrc.org
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Tik Tok
The mission of the Human Rights Campaign is to end discrimination against LGBTQ+ people and realize a world that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all. Browse their tools and resources for equality and inclusion here.
LGBT+ creators to follow
Jammella Anderson
Website: https://freefoodfridgealbany.com/ / https://www.lilthriftma.com/
Instagram (Free Food Fridge) | Instagram (Lil Thrift Ma)
Jammella Anderson is a Queer and Black Albany-based community activist, abolitionist, trauma-informed yoga teacher, and doula. Jammella’s experience with food insecurity, her work with food insecure populations, and her knowledge of the disparities within underserved communities in Albany and the greater Capital Region motivated her to start the food justice program, ‘Free Food Fridge Albany.’ This project works with AND for the community to help end the food apartheid epidemic that systemic oppression has created within majority communities.
Jammella also curates vintage, thrift, and handmade goods for all bodies and all genders at Lil Thrift Ma.
Kel Lauren
Website: https://kellauren.design
Kel Lauren is a nonbinary designer who teaches design courses through Youtube and freelancers for music merchandise companies. Their goal is to make design education accessible to all seeking to learn for free, and they’re committed to making design safe and accessible to all.
Pattie Gonia
Pattie Gonia is a Queer environmental activist who incorporates drag into the outdoors. He partners with like-minded companies and together raises funds for outdoor trips, scholarships, and job opportunities in the environmental sector for people within the LGBTQ community.
Kevin James Thornton
Website: https://www.kevinjamesthornton.com/
Kevin James Thornton is a multi-talented comedian and creator sharing “heartfelt and occasionally cringe moments of self-reflection about growing up gay in a religious community.”
The conversation continues
Let’s keep the conversation going! Who are your favorite LGBTQ+ creators, businesses, and organizations? Give them a shout-out by tagging them on social media!
