Pride Center of Staten Island

Pride Center of Staten Island is the flagship LGBTQ+ community organization and sole comprehensive resource facility serving lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer individuals, families, and allies throughout Staten Island. Established in 2004 to create a dedicated sanctuary and advocacy voice for the borough’s queer population, the center operates its headquarters on Willow Avenue in Clifton. For more than two decades, the organization has created a welcoming, inclusive environment where residents of all backgrounds, gender expressions, and ages can access vital resources, celebrate their identities, and build community.

The center’s youth services provide a vital lifeline for adolescents and young adults navigating school environments and family dynamics. Open weekday afternoons and evenings, the youth drop-in center provides middle and high school students with a warm, affirming space featuring computers, hot snacks, board games, and study tables. Through the Pride Power leadership program, young people organize anti-bullying campaigns, lead social justice discussions, and build self-advocacy skills. The center also hosts dedicated youth support groups, parent guidance circles, and family education nights that help biological and chosen families support their LGBTQ+ children.

Seniors and older adults receive specialized care through the acclaimed Golden Rainbow program. Recognizing the heightened risk of isolation among aging LGBTQ+ individuals, the initiative hosts weekly communal luncheons, wellness and movement classes, cultural field trips, and bereavement support groups. Case managers assist older adults with housing navigation, healthcare access, and public benefit enrollment. The center also provides identity-affirming peer support circles for transgender, nonbinary, and gender-expansive adults, offering peer validation and mutual support through all stages of life.

Comprehensive behavioral health and sexual wellness services represent core clinical competencies of the organization. Licensed mental health professionals deliver trauma-informed, culturally competent individual counseling, couples therapy, and specialized group psychotherapy addressing depression, anxiety, coming out, and minority stress. The health outreach team administers free, confidential rapid HIV and hepatitis C screenings, distributes barrier protection and harm reduction supplies, and connects clients to PrEP and PEP clinical navigators. In addition, the organization coordinates the innovative Luv on a Leash therapy dog program, deploying trained volunteer handler teams to provide comfort in schools, hospitals, and community centers.

Throughout the year, the Pride Center fosters borough-wide community visibility by organizing Staten Island PrideFest, the island’s signature multi-day cultural celebration featuring an outdoor festival at Snug Harbor Cultural Center, live music, community awards, and an annual 5K Rainbow Run. Staten Island residents seeking services, support groups, or counseling can walk into the Willow Avenue facility or connect with staff by phone or email. No one is turned away for lack of financial means. Community allies, volunteers, and corporate sponsors can support the center by joining committee leadership, assisting with PrideFest, or making tax-deductible financial donations to sustain LGBTQ+ services across the borough.