We are a safe space uniting the community and advocating for LGBTQ+ rights.
Since our founding in 2015, we provide resources for our people and advocate for the LGBTQ+ community. Through our center, we host support groups, supply emergency food, hygiene products, masks & clothing, facilitate community education, provide senior services, host sexual wellness workshops, offer mental health support, and accommodate community gatherings for progressive groups.
2015
It all started with a community gathering…
In October 2015, community members came together at The Sanctuary to discuss how Montgomery could organize against policies that were severely damaging to people of color and queer individuals. Out of this meeting, an umbrella organization named Montgomery Pride United (MPU) was created. Our wonderful partners at the P.O.W.E.R House gave us the space to meet each week as Montgomery Pride United began to survey the needs of the community and plan its first ever Pride march and festival for 2016. Photo Credit: LGBTQ+ Alabama and National Event Photography.
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2016
We began to mobilize with our empowering LGBTQ+ march to the State Capitol.
In January 2016, MPU came together with community groups for the Remove Roy Moore Rally at the Alabama Supreme Court. Along with building our organization, MPU planned a Pride march and rally in front of the Alabama capitol building and our first Pride Festival at the Sanctuary. After the Pulse shootings, it was more important than ever to take a stand for our queer community. The march in June was the first time in many years an LGBTQ+ organization marched down the streets of Montgomery. Since then, Montgomery Pride United has been committed to building relationships with groups across the state and provide resources that can empower queer people. Photo Credit: LGBTQ+ Alabama and National Event Photography.
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2017
MPU moves into its first center and begins community programming
In MPU’s first home, routine programming led by community members began. Programs such as our monthly “Out and Proud Open Mic Night”, “Other Voices” – a support group for LGBTQ+ people of color, our Trans and Gender Non-conforming Community Night and our Grief & Loss Support Group. We also built the Lil Food Pantry – an open source pantry for community members to retrieve food and hygiene products.
MPU also began showing up for great organizations across Alabama including the Black Sheep Relief Center in Selma, Medical Outreach and Advocacy, Hands On River Regions, Adelante Workers Center, P.O.W.E.R House, and more. We also had our 2nd annual Pride March and Rally with more events and a total of over 300 attendees. In late 2017, MPU also led a counter protest to Kim Davis and the movement in refusing to issue marriage licenses for same-sex couples. Photo Credit: LGBTQ+ Alabama and National Event Photography.
2018
MPU strengthens its advocacy efforts and begins the search for a permanent community center
After three years, MPU began to search for a permanent home — we are deeply grateful for our numerous volunteers that helped set-up our monthly yard sale to raise funds and donated. Montgomery Pride United also began to lobby for LGBTQ+ people experiencing homelessness and those facing discrimination in their jobs, their schools, and in their homes. We worked with researchers from Auburn University to assist in archiving and collecting stories of queer people from the South. Our third annual Pride march and rally was successful even with increasing amounts of counter-protestors in the local area.
2019
MPU moves into a brand new community center
In late January, we held the opening of the Bayard Rustin Community Center and Thrift Store — MPU’s central space for programming, resources, convening, and events at 635 Madison Avenue. The center continues to hold our food pantry and one of the largest LGBTQ+ libraries in the state.
At the same time, our community witnessed the tragic loss of Dana Martin, a Black Trans woman that was a light in our community. This was also the first murder of a Trans individual in the United States — right in Montgomery. We honored her memory in our Vigil For Victims of Hate and Violence.
In 2019, MPU recorded 550 instances of services and 5,399 of volunteer hours. These instances involved case work with people that visit edour center, community presentations on LGBTQ+ topics, and more! Our fourth annual Pride March and Rally had the largest attendee number to-date — over 600 attendees. Photo Credit: LGBTQ+ Alabama and National Event Photography.
2020 – 2021 – 2022
Moving Forward During COVID-19
At the start of the year, we suffered another tragic loss of our close community member and volunteer, Emerald Kelliher. She will be deeply missed – and remembered for her flouncy hats, joyous spirit, and generous warmth. Among other things, she was an activist, daughter, caretaker, and friend.
Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, Montgomery Pride United continued its programming over Zoom and has provided food, hygiene products, clothing, masks, and hand sanitizer for the community. Community members could call us or reach out through Facebook if you are in need of food delivery or would like to pick something up at the center. We also were available for assistance with finding resources available in the community.