Our mission
Pride in every uniform.
A place for every responder.
Origin
How we got here
It began with a T-shirt. In 2019, three providers in the Baltimore area who were passionate about supporting the LGBTQ+ community through their careers launched with a simple idea: make something visible. The response from the fire department, first responders, and the wider community was immediate and overwhelming — and it made clear that the need was real.
What started as a T-shirt became a mission. In 2023, Responders for Pride officially became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public charity. Today the organisation operates entirely on a volunteer basis, running a practitioner directory, training programmes, the Home Base Support Program, a national liaison network, and community events — all funded by donations, sponsorships, and the shop.
We exist because every first responder deserves to show up as their whole self. Not in spite of who they are — but because of it.
Values
What guides us
Inclusion
Every identity, every background, every family structure belongs here
Community
Built by first responders, for first responders — powered entirely by volunteers.
Growth
Starting with a T-shirt and building toward lasting structural change in public safety.
Authenticity
We exist so responders can show up as their whole selves — on shift and off.
Accountability
Transparent about where money goes and honest about what we're still building.
Mission Statement
Responders for Pride is committed to empowering LGBTQIA+ and ally first responders by fostering a culture of inclusivity and understanding within the public safety sector. Our mission is to promote mental health and well-being, advocate for equality, and create supportive environments through comprehensive assistance, training, and community engagement — ensuring that every first responder feels valued, respected, and supported in their professional and personal lives.
Goals
-
Partner with community organizations to drive change - Collaborating with LGBTQ+ organizations, first responder agencies, and advocacy groups to amplify impact and create lasting cultural change in public safety.
-
Provide mental health resources and support - Expanding access to mental health resources, workshops, and the Home Base Support Program for LGBTQ+ and the wider first responder community.
-
Support grassroots organizations - Investing in and amplifying the work of smaller, community-led organizations that are doing the hard work of inclusion on the ground.
-
Deliver training to first responder agencies - Providing inclusive training on LGBTQ+ issues — including pronoun awareness, retention and recruitment, peer support, and liaison program development — directly to departments and academies
-
Support LGBTQ+ youth entering public safety - Helping LGBTQ+ young people pursue careers in EMS, fire, and criminal justice — through scholarships, mentorship, and building pipelines into a community that will have their back.
Transparency
Financial transparency
EIN Employer Identification Number — use this to verify our nonprofit status 93-2788064
501(c)(3) status Granted 2023 — all donations are tax-deductible Request documentation →
IRS Form 990 Annual financial return — available on request by email Request by email →
W-9 Available to sponsors and institutional donors Request by email →
Staff overhead We are 100% volunteer-run — no paid staff