OUR HISTORY
For years, many thoughtful individuals considered the idea of a central gathering place for Maine’s LGBTQ+ people to congregate, feel safe, and experience community. Over those years here in Maine, the concept did not come to fruition. Meanwhile, LGBTQ+-identified spaces around the nation began to vanish. For some, growing LGBTQ+ acceptance meant increased immersion. For others, it meant increased isolation.
Elsewhere in the U.S., LGBTQ+ spaces were created and provided opportunities and safe haven for thousands. Often, they were developed with the assistance of city government funding, and several have grown to become “destinations” – places such as the South End in Boston, the Castro in San Francisco, and St. Catherine Street in Montreal.
In 2014, a group of community members set out to explore how to fund the creation of an LGBTQ+ community center in Maine. Over time, they developed a financial plan they believed was viable – one that could both establish a community center and secure its sustainability.
Phase One
In 2015, a Board of Directors formed. One year later, they opened the doors to the Equality Community Center at 511 Congress Street in downtown Portland. This landmark event marked the completion of Phase One of the vision. Since the Center’s opening, the ECC and its allied LGBTQ+ organizations have hosted hundreds of events and welcomed thousands of community members, families, and allies.
Phase Two
In 2020, undaunted by a pandemic that forever altered our lives, the ECC began to shape plans for Phase Two.
The vision for Phase Two grew from the ECC’s inception as an LGBTQ+ center into a center that would also house allied justice-seeking organizations under one roof – a place where people could greet and welcome each other, work together, and create the community they longed for.
This remarkable commitment to the concept of an open-hearted, inclusive, strong, and safe gathering place became a reality when, in March of 2021 thanks to the extreme generosity of our Angel Donor, the ECC purchased 15 Casco Street in Portland.
An ideal location for the Center, the building still requires major renovations to accomplish our purpose and dreams. As we work to fulfill our goals, we are launching a capital campaign to raise $4M to ensure safety and full accessibility to all constituents.
