Pride Lafayette, Inc. and the Pride Lafayette Community Center has a history that spans back to the late 20th Century. The roots of the organization can be found in the post-Stonewall LGBT civil rights era. The sense of freedom for LGBT community members to be who they are led to increased community organizing in the Lafayette-West Lafayette area. Our local civil rights battles of the 1990's solidified bonds across all segments of the community. This energy spawned interest in establishing a welcoming organization that would continue to promote strong connections among LGBT people and allies in Tippecanoe County. The results were the formation of Pride Lafayette, Inc. and the opening of the first LGBT community center in our local community.

Starting in 1998, a conglomeration of community organizations in Lafayette assembled to host a booth at pride events in Indianapolis. After the 2000 event, volunteers expressed a desire for participating organizations to stay in contact and continue to associate with one another more closely. They also wanted to create a safe space for individuals to come together to support one another, thrive from the strength of common experiences, and work together to build a stronger community.

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 the area.

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. Planning meetings began and the organization started to form.

In April 2003, Pride Lafayette, Inc. was born. The same month, the organization opened its first community center at 646 Main St., Lafayette.

In 2004, the Pride Lafayette Community Center was moved to a new location at 658 Main St., Suite 218. The new location fostered growth in the organization and provided a comfortable space for social events, meetings, and educational seminars. The Center's library was also born in this space.

In 2008, Pride Lafayette, Inc., in conjunction with Citizens for Civil Rights (CCR), Lafayette's chapter of Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG), and other local community organizations, hosted the first-ever pride celebration in our community. OUToberfest 2008: Tippecanoe County Pride Celebration took place on National Coming Out Day, October 11, 2008, and brought over 3,000 people to the street festival held between 6th and 7th Streets on Main Street, Lafayette. The archived OUToberfest web site is still available for viewing.

In 2009, the Pride Lafayette Community Center changed its address yet again. On May 30, 2009, a large group of volunteers moved the Pride Lafayette Community Center to its new home at 640 Main St. This location offers 50% more space, an accessible entrance and restroom, and a beautiful interior that welcomes everyone who enters it.

On August 29, 2009, Pride Lafayette, Inc., in conjunction with Citizens for Civil Rights (CCR), Lafayette's chapter of Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG), and other local community organizations, hosted OUTfest '09: 2nd Tippecanoe County Pride Celebration. The festival's name was changed from OUTobefest to OUTfest and moved to August due to scheduling conflicts with other community events. While the change caused some initial confusion, in the end the expanded festival brought over 5,000 people to Main Street Lafayette between 6th and 9th Streets. The archived OUTfest '09 web site is still available for viewing.

Present Day: The Pride Lafayette Community Center continues to see increased attendance as a result of the visibility and attraction of our beautiful new location. Increased open hours are now scheduled on a trial basis as we work our way toward the goal of being open 7 days a week.

We invite you to come for visit and become part of these exciting times in our history!