Community members say they are left without a safe space following closure of Brooklyn Pride Center
The Brooklyn Pride Center has closed its Bed-Stuy location after seven years, and some say they are now left without a safe space in their neighborhood.
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The Brooklyn Pride Center has closed its Bed-Stuy location after seven years, and some say they are now left without a safe space in their neighborhood.
Annalisa Myer is a member of the queer community and she told News 12 that the Brooklyn Pride Center is her home.
"For me, I'm in the middle of transition right now, so I started testosterone. I'm in the process of working on top surgery, so it's really helpful for that social support," said Myer. "You have to think if they only have this center here, it's hard to access certain parts of Brooklyn cause Brooklyn is so big of a borough."
The center said it had no choice but to close since Restoration Plaza is supposed to start renovations. It said it isfully prepared for the transition and moved all its services and programs to the Crown Heights location.
"We're still here, we're still serving Brooklyn in all the ways that we were before, and it's just a space and at the end of the day the community that we built will be here," said Jere Keys.
Some of its members said that location was more than just a center, but a family for the queer community.
"I do worry about outreach and efforts to really locate and communicate the broader Brooklyn area, but also New York City, generally, if this location is the only one we got," said Myer.
Residents tell News 12 that for over five years, the Pride Center in Bed-Stuy was the first place they called home, but they're excited for what's next.
