Gee Sociable

Description

Pridelines Youth Services is dedicated to supporting, educating and empowering South Florida’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth in a safe and diverse environment.

History:

We’re a grassroots 501(c)(3) non-profit organization created by gay youth for LGBTQ youth and their allies in the wake of Anita Bryant’s “Save Our Children” campaign. Rooted in a peer-led/adult-facilitated youth group model, and with the help of Dr Marilyn Volker, Peter Meyer and other concerned adults, the group began meeting at Miami-Dade College in 1982. In 1996, under the leadership of group member Dale Ayres, the group incorporated. Dale became our first Executive Director, we moved into our own space, and formally changed our name to Pridelines Youth Services. Fundraising efforts increased, Health Department contracts soon followed and programs grew. Pridelines was one of the first community-based HIV testing sites in Miami-Dade County. For more than 28 years now, Pridelines has provided safe space, social support, skills building, leadership development and referrals to mental health, health care and support services for LGBTQ youth and their straight allies.

Guiding Principals:

All the decisions we make focus, as their ultimate goal, on the improvement of the lives of GLBTQ youth in South Florida.
We focus on identifying resources for GLBTQ youth to create the most comprehensive system of services for them.
We work together in building relationships based on equality and respect.
Our programs are flexible and respond to the emerging needs and issues of the youth and community.
We are committed to creating a nurturing and inspiring environment that encourages self-expression and personal growth.
We have a demonstrated commitment to providing leadership opportunities to empower GLBTQ youth as full participants in the governance of their own services.

9526 NE 2 Avenue #104, Miami Shores, Florida 33138

http://www.pridelines.org