What was once called the GLCC (Gay and Lesbian Community Center) of South Florida recently bought and
moved into a prime piece of land with two buildings in the heart of
Wilton Manors and is now called The Pride Center. Recently Allen and I
took a visit there to look it over and I must admit it is very
impressive.

Some background history:
In 1993, philanthropist and gay pioneer, Alan Schubert, conceived an idea of
a Gay and Lesbian Community Center that would provide a place for all to meet in
Fort Lauderdale. The goal was to provide a center that would work hand-in-hand
with existing organizations and new groups in need of support to ensure that all
facets of the gay and lesbian community would be served. The Gay and Lesbian
Community Center of South Florida has emerged as a bastion of pride, service and
education. Their first location was on Andrews Avenue right on the edge of Fort Lauderdale and Wilton Manors.

They have evolved over the years and provide comprehensive telephone crisis
counseling, suicide prevention, information and referral services, as well as
HIV testing, and prevention programs targeting all aspects of our community. The
GLCC Calendar of Events provides additional information about meetings, groups
and testing dates and times.

There are rooms of all sizes for all kinds
and sizes of meetings. They have Halloween parties and serve
Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter and Passover dinners for those in the
community who might be alone or in need. They rent out meeting and/or
party space and have weekly women's, youth, senior group meetings in
addition to HIV prevention seminars.

 

They offer special groups for teenagers
as well as seniors plus having movie nights, presenting gay themed
plays. There are exercise groups and coffee klatches, a  Flea Market the first Saturday of every month plus town meetings held by most politicians running for office.

They are, and have been, in the forefront
of offering HIV and AIDS testing in addition to counseling and
recommending the best medical professionals.

They offer
community bulletin boards for business cards, announcements or personal
cards and messages. As a member you can get Merchant Discounts and at
the same time they reach out to area bars, businesses and in cyber chat rooms, distributing condoms and STD's prevention messages.

They have a computer center available to all and are in the midst of completing a working kitchen.

The Pride Center serves over 15,000 adults and youth in Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties. More than 45 groups meet in a safe environment to socialize, educate
and support the community.  The Pride Center has served and continues to
serve as a role model for all such centers and hope each major city across the United States will someday be able to offer such a center in their community.