Manchester True Collaborative is a volunteer-led nonprofit that began in 2023 by producing the city’s Pride celebration in response to the need for visible and affirming LGBTQIA+ community spaces. In a state often regarded as New England’s most politically conservative and amid growing challenges impacting LGBTQIA+ people at the local and state levels, it became clear that Pride alone was not enough. This need led to Manchester True Collaborative opening New Hampshire’s first fully functional LGBTQIA+ community center in April 2025. Today, the organization operates as both a safe space and a brave space, providing connection, support, cultural and civic programming, and community-building initiatives that foster belonging, resilience, and empowerment statewide.