Pride Center FXBG

One of the benefits of my job is seeing the positive impacts on the community. Moving to Fredericksburg, Virginia, has been one of the best decisions I've ever made. It feels like home in a way that few places ever have. However, it has not been without concerns or challenges.

On October 10, 2018, I read an article from the September 28th issue of the Washington Blade titled "2 gay men attacked near D.C. police station." It was quite concerning. If two gay men could be attacked near a police station, only 50 miles north of here, the same thing could possibly happen in my new community. Although I had already created a group for gay and bisexual men earlier that year, this incident highlighted the need for greater support for the wider LGBTQ community.

When I moved here in 2016, there was no support or activities for the LGBTQ community. I had heard that there had been a Pride Organization holding annual Pride events, but it no longer existed. There was a college group, but it was limited to the local university and wasn't very active. I also heard about local Drag groups that had "retired" (e.g. Downtown Dollies). The need was apparent, so I decided we needed an LGBTQ Community Center.

(my chart and whiteboard planning a LGBTQ Center in 2019)

By 2019, I was meeting with funders to secure money for the center. We got a tentative yes, but the excitement was short-lived when they couldn't get the additional funds needed. However, in 2020, we were able to open Mosaic Care Center, offering PrEP and LGBTQ and Trans affirming healthcare, which other local providers were refusing to do.

(our sign being installed)

After Mosaic Care Center opened, a new Pride Organization, Fredericksburg Pride, was founded in 2021. It was a relief to see the increased visibility for our LGBTQ community and exciting for the area to now have Pride festivals again. I was even more excited to announce the opening of the Pride Center in the summer of 2022.

The Pride Center has become a hub for new LGBTQ groups, a place for them to meet, organize, connect to resources, and grow. Two years later, it feels like such an accomplishment to offer so much to the LGBTQ community. I'm optimistic about what the future holds.