Local Pride center: ‘We need to move from pride flags to policy change'
SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV)– The Savannah Pride Center offers year-round therapy, support groups and help with medical care for their community. The center's executive director Micheal Bell told WSAV that pride is all about becoming stronger as a community but he said this year there is more work than ever.
'We have the fastest growing new HIV cases in the country,' Bell said. 'We are one of the lowest in health care and we have a huge, vibrant, diverse LGBTQ+ population. The work is there to do but we also have to remember to celebrate that diversity.'
Recently the Savannah Pride Center announced a new partnership with the Savannah Police Department. The police and the center developed a relationship after one of the Savannah Pride Center volunteers was murdered.
'With the police department, we have an opportunity to train the police on pronouns, history and culture with the LGBTQ+ community,' Bell Said 'This is the biggest step forward that our community has taken to protect our LGBTQ+ community here in Savannah.'
The Savannah Pride Center will host an event on June 28 at Starland Yard to honor the history of the Stonewall Uprising. They emphasize that pride is ultimately about coming together and being stronger as a community.
The city of Savannah recognizes June and October as Pride Months due to June being the start of hurricane season.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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