For decades, Ithaca, NY has been a safe haven for queer people and their families, from “Ithaca is Queer” stickers to the Famous 25 who lobbied for same-sex marriage protection long before it became legal in the U.S. More recently, queer community organizers have made many attempts to establish a permanent resource group for the local community. This need was sparked by the lack of one central place to learn about queer events, resources, and community education. While the local colleges each have LGBTQ resource centers and local businesses have events throughout the year, there was a deficit in variety and community focused events. The colleges were isolated from the community and most events were focused on night-life, which is not for everyone, nor does it permit everyone and serve other needs.

In response to this history and lack of community organizing, the Ithaca Pride Alliance was formed after years of efforts that never fully took hold. IPA exists as a project of the Tompkins Chamber Foundation 501(c)3 non-profit, administered by the Tompkins Chamber, which supports the centralized and educational focus of IPA. The organization’s founding board consists of community builders from a variety of backgrounds and identities. IPA seeks to grow its reach and volunteer base through community connections, support, and programming.