Volunteer-led Delaware Pride is the largest LGBTQ organization in the state of Delaware and the longest-standing. ACME has supported this nonprofit through its GIVE BACK WHERE IT COUNTS Reusable Bag Program.
Tell us about Delaware Pride.
Delaware Pride is an education-focused LGBTQ organization that was founded in 1997. Our mission is to create a more visible and united LGBTQ community and to promote platforms for expressing diversity. The organization’s leadership is comprised of all volunteers.
We have numerous events throughout the year to support our mission, held monthly, such as Conversations with Caffeine, Tasting Tour and bowling. Our newsletter also spreads the word.
With an established 25-year track record and 8,000 Facebook followers, we have the base and support in place to partner. It’s about growing the movement in Delaware together.
Our largest event is the Delaware Pride Festival. The Festival is held in June each year, and we had our 25th anniversary Pride Festival in 2022. It was also our largest event ever, with more than 200 vendors and a parade. We generated a large amount of sponsorship support, and as a result, it was free for everyone to attend.
We partner with other organizations with like-minded mission statements, such as the United Way. Smaller nonprofits are popping up everywhere, but we encourage them to simply partner with us instead of creating an entirely new organization and struggling. With an established 25-year track record and 8,000 Facebook followers, we have the base and support in place to partner. It’s about growing the movement in Delaware together.
What sets you apart from other nonprofits in your community?
In addition to the various channels we utilize to create a united LGBTQ community in Delaware, we also serve as a resource for the general community. We have people reaching out to us, especially educators from kindergarten through 12th grade, on how they can talk about and teach diversity, especially about transgender issues. We have subject matter experts on our board that can help address these requests, but we also make referrals.
We accommodate all walks of life, and we honor and respect those with our biggest event held every June during Pride month.
Transgender issues are becoming a hot topic nationwide. We don’t have a support group, but we partner with organizations that do. We want to make the information from our partners available to the community through our communication channels. Our nonprofit status makes it hard to advocate, but we do try to educate. We’re trying to expand on that even more.
We are a very open organization. We accommodate all walks of life, and we honor and respect those with our biggest event held every June during Pride month.
What is your greatest achievement or contribution to the community?
We are the largest LGBTQ organization in the state of Delaware and the longest-standing. There is no cost to belong, and we welcome with open arms anyone interested in either learning, becoming an ally or being active in the LGBTQ space.
What do you want people to know about Delaware Pride?
We try to engage everyone; ally, community member…it doesn’t matter. We want everyone to come out and celebrate with us and learn.
How are you using the funds you’ve received from the ACME GIVE BACK WHERE IT COUNTS Reusable Bag Program?
Those funds go straight back into the community and support our work.
Is there anything you’d like to add?
ACME provided excellent materials and tools to promote our selection.
Published December 27, 2022.
Photos by Tom Feaser Studios, Dover, DE.