Operating in an “anti-LGBTQ” state as the first and only queer community center in Miami-Dade, Pridelines executive director Edward Summers said his organization’s presence is vital.
“When you have a gap in the government not representing or providing services to a major part of the community, it's the role of nonprofit organizations to fill that gap that government's missing out on,” Summers said. “It's in our mission to be that supportive anchor for the community.”
Pridelines is an LGTBQ nonprofit organization founded in 1982 that offers physical and mental health services for the queer community.
Summers took over as executive director last year. He said his mission was to regain the org’s stature as a premier LGBTQ organization after many in the community noticed its prominence slipping.
From an initiative that will house LGBTQ youth to opening a shared space with Foo Society, another LGBTQ nonprofit, Summers said that goal has been exceeded.
The housing initiative was one example of Pridelines filling in a void left by the government, Summers said. The org was motivated to spark this goal when Miami-Dade County was awarded $8.4 million last year to eradicate youth homelessness.
Recognizing there was no LGBTQ-specific homeless housing in the community, Summers said they applied to start the initiative and got approved for a $2.4 million two-year funding grant.
“We know the challenges our community faces when they are housed at shelters that might not identify or recognize their gender identity,” he said. “We know that our community goes to some of these places that are not sensitive to the needs of our community.”
The initiative, which Summers said will kick off in about a month, will house 37 people.
Pridelines also recently opened a new shared space with Foo Society on Oct. 15 in an effort to create new ways to reach the community.
Pridelines will bring its services, such as HIV/STI testing, while Foo Society will offer services such as mental health counseling and creative programming including arts and music workshops.
“Through this partnership, Pridelines and Foo Society will provide a full spectrum of support for the LGBTQ community, combining health services, mental health counseling, creative expression and advocacy under one roof, allowing individuals to grow and thrive in a safe and welcoming environment,” Summers said.
Pridelines has done about 3,500 HIV/STI tests and reached roughly 10,000 people through community events, testing and other services this year, according to Summers.
One person benefiting from Pridelines’ growing outreach is 18-year-old Aaliyah King, who now works as a volunteer for the organization.
Growing up, King said she felt like she always needed to have a “tough” mentality. But once she discovered Pridelines, she understood the importance of leaning on others for help.
“It really unlocked a new character, a new person inside of me that I didn't know,” King said.
She said this “new character” motivates her to be there for others the same way Pridelines helped her.
“If you can't fight for what you believe in, then what are you fighting for?” King said. “So once I met a lot of people in my shoes, in my same place, it just makes me want to go harder.”
Understanding the impact of nonprofits like Pridelines, Summers said he didn’t want to see underserved communities lose out on critical resources.
And with a bright future ahead, he said the organization has achieved that mission.
“We have such a tremendous leadership void in lots of communities, and I just felt like my skill sets could be used to elevate the organization and to really bring life back,” he said. “And that's what we've done.”
