Our Next Chapter: Expanding Access Across Chester County

The LGBT Equality Alliance is preparing for an important and exciting transition, and we want to share this news with care, clarity, and intention: we are planning to relocate our program space and office early in the new year to a larger, more central location within Chester County.

This decision comes from phenomenol growth, not from a lack of love for where we started.

Phoenixville has been part of the Alliance’s story from the very beginning. We started here in a space so small it was almost literally a closet on Lincoln Avenue, where we could barely fit the whole board in the room. From there, we moved into our current space on Gay Street, and over the past 10 years, Phoenixville has held an incredible chapter of our growth. Programs were built here, PrideFest expanded here, volunteers and community members gathered here, and many people walked through our doors looking for connection, support, and safety.We love Phoenixville, and our connection to this community will continue.

Although our office and program space are moving, we are not leaving Phoenixville behind. Many of our programs, partnerships, and community relationships will continue in Phoenixville. PrideFest also remains deeply rooted in Phoenixville and is not changing as part of this office move.

At the same time, the Alliance’s mission has always been to serve LGBTQIA+ folx across all of Chester County, and our current space no longer allows us to do that as fully or as accessibly as our community needs and deserves.Thanks to the incredible engagement of our community, we have outgrown our current location. It is not large enough to safely and comfortably host many of our programs, and it does not fully meet the accessibility needs of the people we serve.

We also know that many community members currently travel long distances to reach programs in Phoenixville, including individuals and families from Southern Chester County. Others simply cannot make that trip at all.This move is about expanding access.

We are actively seeking a larger program and office space, approximately 1,500 to 2,000 square feet, in a more central area of Chester County, including the Exton/Downingtown area. As we search, we are prioritizing ADA accessibility, parking, reasonable access to public transportation, enough space to safely host programs, and a balance between visibility and privacy for our community.

We will also continue offering programming in multiple locations throughout Chester County. We already hold regular support groups and events in places like Kennett Square, West Chester, and Exton, and we are committed to continuing to build a countywide presence that reflects the full community we serve.

We know this is a meaningful transition. Safe spaces matter, and changing a space that has held so much care, connection, and history can bring up real feelings. We are approaching this move thoughtfully, with deep respect for our roots in Phoenixville and a clear commitment to making the Alliance more reachable for LGBTQIA+ people across Chester County.

We welcome feedback from our community as we move through this process. We want to hear what would help this transition feel supportive, accessible, and beneficial for the broader LGBTQIA+ community. Community members are invited to share their thoughts through our community survey here

If the survey does not meet your needs or you would prefer to reach out another way, you can also contact us directly through our website.

As this process moves forward, we will continue to share updates.Thank you for growing with us, trusting us, and being part of the Alliance’s next chapter.

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