ITHACA, N.Y. (WENY) -- The Ithaca Pride Alliance is launching its first event for the LGBTQ+ community on Saturday, February 3rd. Following several years of conversation between local groups, organizations, and leaders, the IPA is ready to build a "home" for the queer community. 

"The Ithaca Pride Alliance is kind of our attempt to provide some longstanding support to the queer community and have an organization that lasts beyond a single issue, a single event, or a single group of people," says Chair member Andrew Scheldorf."

As a local organization, they want to focus on more than one issue, so that the results do not get lost in the past as the LGBTQ+ community expands and changes in Ithaca. The alliance says it wants to create inclusive, accommodating, educational, and accessible spaces for the LGBTQ+ community.

The "All Y'all Clothing Swap," hopes to help people feel comfortable in confident in their clothing.

"Personal expression and style are incredibly important to anyone, but especially important to the queer community and our trans and gender non -conforming folks. And there's usually large amounts of costs associated with, you know, experimenting. experimenting and trying to find your sense of style, your sense of wardrobe that makes you feel comfortable in however you want to express yourself," says Scheldorf. 

Clothing can be donated by anyone at the following locations starting January 16th until 3 p.m. on the day of the event. Locations include:

  • Ithaca College LGBT Center
  • Mimi's Attic
  • Buffalo Street Books
  • Cornell's LGBT Resource Center

The event is taking place at the Community School for Music and Arts: 330 East State St, Ithaca, New York. The clothing swap runs from 1-6 pm then a raffle and social from 5 to 7 pm. 

For more information on the Ithaca Pride Alliance click here.