Looking back on 2025, and forward to 2026

As we come to the close of 2025, all of us at Dutchess County Pride Center would like to wish you a very happy and peaceful holiday season while we take a minute to look back on the past year.

This past year brought us together to experience moments of joy, growth, and celebration, but it also reminded us why community and visibility matter so much.  As social and political pressures increased across the country and around the world, Dutchess County Pride Center continued to serve as a cornerstone of advocacy, empowerment, and support for the local LGBTQ+ community.  

We responded to these physical and political attacks by reinforcing that we are a safe and affirming space where we prioritize community care, and by continuing to provide a consistent presence during these moments of uncertainty.  By offering social and support programs in a welcoming and accessible space, we continue to help counter fear and isolation with connection and support.  

Beyond Pride Month, Dutchess County Pride Center offered a full calendar of year-round programming designed to meet the diverse needs of our community, including creating a number of new programs.  Dutchess County Pride Center offered ongoing opportunities for connection and support through regular support groups for both youth, and adults; wellness activities such as community Reiki and journaling; and social programs like Crafty Queers, Quiet Social Hour and the Teen Art Club.  These programs were especially vital in 2025, as many community members sought safe spaces to process current events, build resilience, and find belonging.  All of our programs helped alleviate social isolation and created community at a time when many felt targeted or unsafe.

Whether you joined us at Pride, participated in a support group, volunteered your time, or supported our work from afar, you helped make 2025 a year of resilience and connection.  Through it all, your support, presence, and belief in our mission helped ensure that LGBTQ+ people in the Hudson Valley have a place where they are welcomed, affirmed, and valued and we are deeply grateful for the community we have built together.

As Dutchess County Pride Center moves forward into 2026, we remain committed to fostering inclusion, building resilience, and ensuring that LGBTQ+ folks of all ages know they are seen, valued, and supported.

Wishing you warmth, rest, and moments of joy this holiday season, and a hopeful, healthy new year.

Karen Marder, LCSW

Executive Director/Co-Founder