Rochester, NY – Assemblymember Harry B. Bronson today announced he successfully secured $250,000 dollars for the Out Alliance, formerly known as the Gay Alliance of the Genesee Valley, to fund the construction of a new LGBTQ Community Center.

“As we celebrate PRIDE Week in Rochester, it is with great pride that I announce the Out Alliance will be receiving a $250,000 grant for the construction of a new LGBTQ Community Center, “ said Assemblymember Bronson. “For years, the Out Alliance has provided a safe haven for members of the LGBTQ community to come together, coordinate efforts to expand our civil rights, to learn the history of our movement and to socialize with one another, and this new Community Center will continue that rich legacy of bringing people together. This would not have been possible without the partnership and vision of Jeff Meyers, and I look forward to continuing to work with him and the Out Alliance Board as we continue to increase the visibility and vitality of Rochester’s LGBTQ community.”

"We are grateful for the continued support of Assemblymember Bronson and his incredible commitment to Rochester's LGBTQ+ communities, “ said Jeff Meyers, Interim Director of the Out Alliance. “The Out Alliance LGBTQ+ Resource Center opened in December 2015 and changed our agency in ways we could not have dreamed, allowing us to build programs and services for thousands of people each month. Now, we will be able to expand our capacity and continue to move forward in our mission to be champions of LGBTQ life and culture. This new Community Center will provide more potential than ever to give our community members a safe, affirming place to be their authentic selves. For 45 years as an incorporated organization, we have served Rochester's LGBTQ+ communities and envision a future where all members, at all stages of their lives, are free to be fully participating citizens, celebrating their lives in which they are safe, stable and fully respected. With expanded programming potential and a greater capacity to bring all our voices together, the future looks bright."

The community center, expected to be completed in September 2018, will provide programing, resources, and a community gathering space for members of Rochester’s LGBTQ community. It will also provide expanded space for workshops, seminars, and social events. For more information on the Out Alliance, please visit gayalliance.org or call (585) 244-8640.