Blue Ridge Pride Center

Blue Ridge Pride Center is a comprehensive community organization serving LGBTQIA2S individuals and allies throughout western North Carolina, based in Asheville, NC. Since its founding in 2009, the organization has developed a robust suite of programs and initiatives designed to foster belonging, equity, and joy within the community. The center operates multiple key programs including the WNC Pride Portal, which leverages digital resources to connect and inform the community through calendars, news, and resource directories. Their Education and Outreach arm delivers Welcoming Spaces trainings and manages the WNC LGBTQIA Oral History Project to create more inclusive community environments. Generation Plus specifically addresses the needs of older adults in the LGBTQ community, while the Business Alliance strengthens economic partnerships with affirming businesses and entrepreneurs. Blue Ridge Pride also coordinates Health Equity initiatives that address health disparities and social determinants affecting LGBTQ individuals. The organization maintains a comprehensive directory of welcoming businesses, organizations, and community groups throughout the region. As a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Blue Ridge Pride delivers advocacy work, community events including their annual Pride Festival and Stonewall Gala, and sliding-scale mental health support services. Their four-pillar approach—advocate, celebrate, educate, and serve—guides all programming in Asheville and across western North Carolina.