The Fredericksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce joined the Fredericksburg Area Health and Support Services on August 13th for the grand opening of the very first LGBTQ Community Center in the Fredericksburg region. Michelle Caldwell Thompson owner of CTI Reality and Chamber board member opened the ceremony, “I will tell you that diversity, equity and inclusion makes every community a better place to live. On behalf of the Fredericksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce we welcome the FAHASS Pride Center to this region and to Spotsylvania County.”
Fredericksburg Mayor Mary Katherine Greenlaw stated, “About 30 years ago a group of concerned citizens got together and started the Fredericksburg Area Health and Support Services to meet a critical need in our community. Those dedicated volunteers have continued to serve this community and as a result of that time and effort we have this lovely pride center here today. It is the rich diversity of our community that makes this a great place to live.”
FAHASS is a private, nonprofit organization whose mission is to positively impact individual and community health. FAHASS provides a safe environment to learn, grow, and maintain a healthy lifestyle. The staff is dedicated to providing quality service to clients, their families, and to the greater community. The new FAHASS Pride Center will act as a safe and affirming community space for the LGBTQ community throughout the Greater Fredericksburg region. The Center has meeting and event space available at no charge for LGBTQ groups and activities. There is also access to affirming community resources, information from community partners, and connection to mental health and other medical services.
Executive Director Joseph Lyttle closed the ceremony, “It really is a rare thing to know or to have the conscious awareness that you are participating in a historic moment that will send ripples of positive impact throughout the future. Very often, people that identify themselves as LGBTQ have specific medical, mental health, psychosocial, and safety needs that go unmet, or they have to travel outside our region to get what they are looking for. Having a dedicated space, created specifically for our local LGBTQ community allows everyone to have a central hub for services, events, resources and information. We are excited to see how the community will support the Pride Center, and what new things we can create for our community.”
The new FAHASS Pride Center is located at 4343 Plank Road Suite 110 Fredericksburg, VA 22407. The FAHASS Pride Center is now officially open Monday – Friday from 9am to 5pm. The public is invited to visit and view the space anytime during operating hours.
