Resources and Services
The Montgomery County Pride Family Resource Center — proudly operated by MoCo Pride Center, Inc. — is the first dedicated LGBTQIA+ resource center in the history of Montgomery County, establishing a 7-day-a-week safe, affirming space for all ages, identities, and lived experiences.
Through support groups, youth programming, aging and intergenerational initiatives, cultural events, and critical linkage-to-care services, the Pride Resource Center is a transformative hub for equity, public health, and education. Check out our regular services below, or click the “Events” tab above to see what’s going on in your area.
Testing and Training
We offer free STI and HIV screenings on site weekly. Drop in during our testing hours, or get in touch to request anonymous at-home tests! Click the button below to see our full testing schedule.
MoCo Pride Center also stocks a variety of health and wellness items in our Crisis Management Corner, including condoms. Pick them up for free, or attend Narcan and first aid trainings led by Behavioral Health Crisis and Services. Check our Events page to see when our next training is scheduled!
Inclusive Library
Inside the MoCo Pride Center you can find the Kason Mordechai Smith Inclusive Books Library and LGBTQIA+ Archive. Take out books from our physical collection, join a book club, register for an author event, or explore Montgomery County’s LGBTQIA+ Archive using the link below!
Wellness Weekends
From 12 PM - 5 PM on the 4th Saturday of every month, MoCo Pride Center hosts “Wellness Weekend” programming with our maker’s market partner, How Bazaar. We have LGBTQIA+ small business vendors and health professionals on site to connect you to meaningful resources that suit your needs, as well as free STI/HIV testing and live music. Come for the access, and stay for our Drag Story Hour!
You do not have to RSVP for these events! They are free, walk-in, and conform to HIPPAA standards. For a limited time, those who get tested will also receive free gift cards!
HIV/STI Testing Schedule
August 30
12-5 PM
Mobile testing unit, lobby level
We open our regular testing program on Saturday, 8/30 during our Grand Opening celebration! Come inside the Pride Center offices to visit Us Helping Us for testing service.
Every Tuesday
TBD
Private office, second floor
Every Tuesday, rain or shine, we will have free STI/HIV testing provided by Us Helping Us. This schedule begins in September — check back for our confirmed start date!
On the 2nd Thursday of every month, starting on 9/11, our partners at the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) will provide free rapid HIV testing and free rapid syphilis testing onsite. During these testing hours, DHHS testers can also help you sign up for a full panel at one of their health centers nearby.
Wellness Weekend events
12-5 PM
Private office, second floor
Free HIV/STI testing is currently confirmed by the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) for Wellness Weekend events in September and October: 9/27 and 10/25. We will be sure to update you for future Wellness Weekends!
Every 2nd Thursday
2-6 PM
Private office, second floor
Get Support
MoCo Pride Center is proud to host existing support groups and to create our own to fit our community’s needs! Support groups are either in-person, virtual, or both. Here are some of the regular groups we currently host:
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Join The Montgomery County Pride Family in partnership with the Montgomery County LGBTQIA+ Liaison for Hope & Support Circle: a weekly virtual gathering designed to provide empowerment, joy, and resources for our LGBTQIA+ communities.
Every Thursday from 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM (ET) on Zoom, we create a space of understanding, connection, and support in the face of ongoing challenges and attacks on our communities. Whether you’re looking for encouragement, resources, or simply a place to be heard, you are welcome here.
What to Expect:
A safe and affirming space for all LGBTQIA+ individuals and allies
Conversations that uplift, empower, and inspire joy
Resources to navigate challenges and build resilience
A supportive network to remind you that you are not alone
Let’s come together in solidarity and strength. We will not be silenced. We will not be erased.
Registration is required for this virtual event! Register here or check out our Events page for the next group meeting!
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T4T (Trans for Trans) is an online space for peer-to-peer support weekly on Wednesdays from 6:30pm-8pm. These groups are for trans Marylanders 18+.
“Trans” means that the gender assignment when you were born is no longer accurate for you. Nonbinary and agender folks are warmly welcome in this space. These groups will take place online using the Zoom platform (free).
To join the groups, trans-Marylanders should complete an intake form. Individuals will receive an email on Tuesday afternoon with a link to the group. Entries received after Monday 9am will not receive a link till the following week due to capacity.
You can visit the Trans Maryland website to get more information about their regular support groups.
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Dharma Bums is a non-religious, recovery style weekly meeting that focuses on abstaining from substance and process addictions via guidance based in Buddhism. Every Tuesday from 7 PM - 8 PM in the Kason Mordechai Smith Inclusive Books Library, settle in with your peers for a trauma-informed, empowered approach to recovery.
Learn more about the program here, and check our calendar for the next meeting date.
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This collaboration between MoCo Pride Center, Trans Maryland, and Rainbow Youth alliance is a monthly support group for parents or caregivers of trans youth. This is NOT a medical education group or a counseling service; this is a safe space for parents to share resources, stories, fears, and frustrations about caring for trans and non-binary children. Join us on the 2nd Monday of every month at MoCo Pride Center in Bethesda from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM.
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Coming soon! This collaboration between MoCo Pride Center, Trans Maryland, and Rainbow Youth alliance is currently in the works: a bi-weekly in-person support group for trans and queer youth navigating the transition into adulthood (ages 18+).
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More information on this weekly meeting group is coming soon! We support our troops, no matter how they identify.
Our fully in-person staff is certified in youth mental health counseling first aid courtesy of our partners at the 988 lifeline, EveryMind. If a community member of any age is in crisis and needs to speak with an LGBTQIA+ adult that can get them to the resources they need, we will always drop what we're doing to help them responsibly and with compassion. Drop-in hours are 11AM - 7PM every day of the year, including holidays.
Want to make sure these services continue?