LGBTQ+ Community Connections

Gathering. Connecting. Taking Care of Each Other.

About the Initiative

We are living through a moment that demands more from community — not less. As the national climate grows increasingly hostile toward LGBTQ+ people, the need for spaces that affirm, support, and connect us has never been more urgent.

The LGBTQ+ Community Connections initiative is Come Out Central New York's response to that moment. Launched in January 2026, this 6-month pilot intentionally weaves social connection and health resources together — because belonging and wellbeing are not separate things.

Through a series of Queer Happy Hours and cross-generational dinners, we're creating regular, low-barrier spaces for CNY's LGBTQ+ community to gather, build relationships across generations, and access on-site health and wellness support. Every event is free and open to all.

What to Expect

Every LGBTQ+ Community Connections event includes:

  • A welcoming, affirming social gathering — no agenda, just community

  • A Wellness Corner staffed by ACR Health, offering free, confidential rapid HIV and STI testing, PrEP navigation, and referrals to additional health and support services

  • The chance to connect with people across Syracuse's broader LGBTQ+ community

Queer Happy Hours

Six times in 2026, we're taking over Salt City Bar in downtown Syracuse for an evening of community, conversation, and connection. Come as you are. Bring a friend. Meet someone new.

All Happy Hours run 5:00–9:00 PM at Salt City Bar, Downtown Syracuse.

Cross-Generational Dinners

Some of the most important conversations happen across generations — and in our community, those conversations don't happen often enough.

Twice in 2026, Come Out CNY is co-hosting intimate dinners with SAGE Upstate to bring together LGBTQ+ elders and younger community members for shared meals, storytelling, and connection. These evenings are designed to reduce isolation among LGBTQ+ older adults while creating space for the kind of intergenerational mentorship and community memory that strengthens us all.

Dinner dates:

•       Thursday, April 30 · 6:00–8:00 PM · Location TBD

•       Tuesday, June 30 · 6:00–8:00 PM · Location TBD

 

Seating is limited. RSVP encouraged.

RSVP Info Coming Soon!

 

Our Partners

LGBTQ+ Community Connections is made stronger by two vital community partners:

ACR Health

ACR Health is a Central New York-based nonprofit dedicated to improving the health and well-being of people affected by HIV/AIDS, as well as those at risk for sexually transmitted infections. At every LGBTQ+ Community Connections event, ACR Health staffs our on-site Wellness Corner — offering free, confidential rapid HIV and STI testing, PrEP navigation, and warm referrals to care and support services. Their presence means that access to health resources is built into community life, not siloed away from it.

Learn more about ACR Health

SAGE Upstate

SAGE is the country's largest and oldest organization dedicated to improving the lives of LGBTQ+ older adults. SAGE Upstate serves the Central New York region, working to combat the isolation that disproportionately affects LGBTQ+ elders — many of whom came of age without the community visibility and legal protections younger generations have known. As co-host of our cross-generational dinners, SAGE Upstate helps bridge the distance between generations and ensure that LGBTQ+ elders are centered, celebrated, and connected.

Learn more about SAGE Upstate