At First Congregational United Church of Christ in Sarasota, supporting and serving the LGBTQ+ community has been part of its mission for decades.

The second year of Silver Pride in Sarasota by Project Pride SRQ, Senior Friendship Centers, and Golden Girls Solutions drew more than 700 attendees, most of whom were 50 or older.

Organizers say it’s important to understand the unique challenges faced by older LGBTQ adults and to celebrate their contributions to advancing rights.

TransNetwork is a Tampa Bay area organization that is building community for transgender and gender expansive people, and educating allies on how they can help support them.