THE BASICS Pride Lafayette wants to appeal to a broad range of people. Everyone is welcome to help us and participate in our activities--regardless of whether you're straight, gay, male, female, or identify as anywhere in between. Here are some examples of who will find a place in our organization. See if one of these profiles describes you: People simply looking to start some new, healthy friendships with members of our local GLBTI community. By friends we mean people you can talk to, confide in, go to dinner with, play sports and exercise with, or just be there for each other. People wanting to work with members of our local GLBTI community to make our area a safe, supportive, and welcoming place. This includes those willing to help with support groups, those willing to do outreach activities, and those interested in staffing our community center. People willing to work with other organizations in our community on service projects. This includes participating in the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life, as well as other service projects like the Food Finder's food drive. People interested in being leaders in the community. This includes those who want to help lead Pride Lafayette, as well as those willing to work with other community leaders to help improve the quality of life for everyone--as representatives of Pride Lafayette. Meetings The one true meeting for those wanting to get involved with the organization is our monthly interest meeting. Check the Community Calendar for the current meeting location and time. We also have a board of directors that meets once a month to lead the organization and several voluteer-based committees who meet regularly to do the work of the organization. In addition, we hold several social events and service events that bring people together and help new people meet others. History Since 1998, a conglomeration of community organizations in Lafayette have come together to host the Pride Lafayette booth at pride events in Indianapolis. After the 2000 event, those assisting with the booth expressed a desire for the participating organizations to stay in contact and continue to associate with one another more closely. In July 2000, the Pride Lafayette email discussion list was introduced to facilitate communication among local gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex (GLBTI) organizations and other community members seeking information about events and resources in Greater Lafayette. The list now serves over 180 members. In August 2002, after another successful Pride Lafayette booth at the Indy Pride Fayre, some individuals decided it was time to develop Pride Lafayette as an organization. Since then, a core group of dedicated people has been meeting regularly to lay down the foundation of the organization. Vision Pride Lafayette seeks to become the premier link to the Greater Lafayette GLBTI community. We hope to build bridges within the community and forge new bonds among young and old, life-long residents and newcomers, and citizens living on both sides of the Wabash. We want to celebrate the strength and diversity of our community, and we wish to foster an increased sense of well-being in the lives we touch. Mission The mission of Pride Lafayette is to: promote a sense of community among GLBTI citizens of the Greater Lafayette area, develop and publicize resources targeted to the needs of our community, facilitate communication among GLBTI organizations in the area and provide a supportive, welcoming venue for newcomers.

OUR SERVICES Email Discussion Forum Since July 2000 we have hosted an email-based discussion forum for the Greater Lafayette gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and intersex community. The forum has helped connect people in the community with one another and has provided a source of information on events of interests. The forum's message archive is a valuable resource as it documents the history of our community over the past three years. Web Site This web site was introduced in early 2001 and continues to serve as an online gateway to our community and to our growing organization. We continue to develop the site into a welcoming, informative, and easy-to-use resource for citizens of our community and people elsewhere trying to find out what we have to offer. Community Calendar The community calendar is one of the latest additions to our web site. It was created to be a quick reference for event information from all of our local GLBTI organizations. Social Events Pride Lafayette has sponsored several social events aimed at bringing people together and fostering new friendships. We've organized bowling outings, game nights, field trips, and meal gatherings. Many of these events have attracted volunteers for our organization who are now its newly elected leaders. The events have certainly been a cornerstone of our young organization. Service Projects Our service committee is sponsoring projects that give us an opportunity to give back to the community. So far Pride Lafayette volunteers have participated in the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life and have donated food as part of a food drive for the local Food Finders Food Bank. Community Center Pride Lafayette has opened a community center. The center has been a focal point for social gatherings, business meetings, and printed resources for the community. We have started a library of books and videos. We've also held office hours at the center so newcomers can come in, get to know us, and begin to meet others. Coming Out Support Group Soon we will begin a much needed service for our community. The coming out support group will provide a safe place for anyone to discuss concerns and receive support from others who share similar experiences. We are currently hosting an email discussion list for those neededing to discuss coming out issues or who are interested in being part of our coming out support group. We are working to improve these services and look forward to offering what we can to help the community. If you have an idea for a service we can provide, let us know by emailing us at info@pridelafayette.org. Non-discrimination Policy Pride Lafayette prohibits discrimination against any volunteer or participant on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin or ancestry, marital status, parental status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability. Pride Lafayette is committed to maintaining a community which recognizes and values the inherent worth and dignity of every person; fosters tolerance, sensitivity, understanding, and mutual respect among its members; and encourages each individual to strive to reach his or her own potential. In pursuit of its goal of fostering new bonds within the local GLBTI community, Pride Lafayette seeks to develop and nurture diversity. Official Documents For our official documents, including our strategic plan and bylaws, see our Documents page.