HiTOPS

Pride Month 2024 was a blast! We love to celebrate LGBTQ+ Youth all year round and we especially love going all in during June! From The Princeton Community Pride Picnic, to the Epic Reads Pride Brunch, to Governor Murphy’s Pride celebration, to the Princeton Pride Parade, June was packed full of LGBTQ+ JOY! We can’t wait to celebrate our vibrant community all year long!

Thanks to our friends from Genmab for a terrific close to Pride Month! Tony Prudente, Laura Motley, and Amy Dupuis packed and delivered the gorgeous gift bags created for HiTOPS young people who attend our summer events! They also brought snacks, games and personal items that youth can use in the coming months. Three cheers to Genmab for helping to affirm q***r youth!

No coupon needed to save!

All you need to do is commit to running the 2024 HiTOPS Princeton Half right now.

We PROMISE you won't regret it. 🏃🏃

Yes, Presenting Sponsor of the 2024 HiTOPS Princeton Half marathon remains open and available!!

A few of the perks:
- Logo will be incorporated into HiTOPS official Princeton Half Marathon logo
- Exclusive customized page on race website highlighting your corporate passion for the cause
- Prominent logo placement on race shirt
- Logo inclusion on all race bibs
- Logo inclusion on all free photos provided to runners
- Two complimentary HiTOPS DEI Trainings on Gender and Sexuality (SOGIE 101 & SOGIE 102)

More at PrincetonHalfMarathon.com > Sponsors

Come to HiTOPS Summer Drop-In June 25, July 9, 16, and 23rd! We eat snacks, play games, hang with friends, and have fun! While you’re here, you can also get clothes, hygiene, and gender affirming items at The Closet! We can’t wait to see you there!

March with us tomorrow! We are meeting at HiTOPS (300 Witherspoon St) at 10:15. Check out our booth at the Afterparty and grab some swag! Happy pride! 🌈☀️🌈

HiTOPS staffers attended the Governor Murphy’s PRIDE Month Celebration at Drumthwacket! Pictured are (l-r) Lt. Governor Tahesha Way, First Lady Tammy Murphy, HiTOPS’ Youth Leadership and Resource Manager Danella Vecchio, HiTOPS’ LGBTQ+ Support Manager AJ Fresco and Governor Phil Murphy ! Danella and AJ are also pictured with Brielle Winslow-Majette, Deputy Director of Garden State Equality.

We are thrilled to share in our state’s celebration of Pride Month!

Thanks for joining us at the Princeton Pride Picnic to kick off Pride Month! We enjoyed seeing everyone, handing out swag, and celebrating pride! It was a great way to begin the month with love, inclusion, and fun!

You are welcome to march with us! We're meeting at 300 Witherspoon at 10:15 a.m. We'd love you to join us! We'll also be at the afterparty with fun swag and giveaways. Be sure to say hi!

BRCSJ PRINCETON PRIDE PARADE & AFTER-PARTY * A CELEBRATION OF Q***R JOY!
Saturday June 22nd
Marchin' in Solidarity
Dancin' in Celebration
Now PROUD to announce~
GRAND MARSHAL * the extraordinary Walter Naegle
AFTER-PARTY ALL-STAR * the delightful Jill Sobule
DRAG QUEENS * the fabulous Cissy Walken & ByancaRaye LoveStorm Prime
FLAGBEARERS * the inspirational ROXBURY HIGH GSA
AND...
YOU!!!

Respectin' how far we've come
& recognizin' how far we have yet to go
Angelic Troublemakers Assemble!
This year PRIDE is more important & more necessary than ever before & that's why it has to be as equally meaningful & fabulous as possible given how we find our Q***r Community under attack & our LGBTQIA youth more at risk like never before...
Every PRIDE is someone's first PRIDE.
Every PRIDE allows folx across the rainbow spectrum to see the potential & promise of how they can live their lives fully, who they can love openly...
& simply & beautifully who they can BE, who they ARE~
PRIDE SAVES LIVES!

Please do watch inspirational video below that really captures this extraordinary event & then be in touch to volunteer, sponsor, or in any way ya' can support our q***r youth at this tender time~
RUSTINCENTER.ORG
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gU_y7aNIxmM

PRIDE organized by the Bayard Rustin Center for Social Justice with the generous financial kindness & significant support from Bristol Myers Squibb, New Jersey Education Association, Kyowakirin, & the The Leonard-Litz LGBTQ Foundation as well as many other local businesses, community organizations & individual donors~ dear friends & stalwart allies all!

We are proud to be part of this community!

Celebrating Pride Month  

Let’s show LGBTQ+ youth how much they are loved and affirmed!

Your support provides safe, high-quality services for young people, including:

• Weekly support groups for high schoolers, middle schoolers and trans and nonbinary youth
• After school Drop-in hours 3 days a week
• Special events, such as Q***r Prom, Summer Splash, and Q***r Career Days
• Annual events such as the Trans Youth Forum

Your gift of any size tells young people that they matter and that their community supports them! You can make your donation here: https://bit.ly/HiTOPSpride

HiTOPS is so proud to receive support from PSEG!

PSEG Foundation offering grants to nonprofits totaling $1.2 million Maria Spina, the manager of the PSEG Foundation, spoke to News 12 about the grant program.

Love q***r YA lit? Join us on Sunday from 11am-1pm at Princeton Public Library for a free Pride brunch sponsored by Epic Reads! We'll be joined by these amazing authors who will participate in a panel discussion, followed by opportunities to meet and greet! Be sure to stop by the HiTOPS table to say hello!

Join us on Friday from 4:30-7:30 pm to welcome Pride Month! We'll be at the Princeton Community Pride Picnic at Hind's Plaza on Witherspoon St. Join us for live music, food, fun, giveaways, drag performers and more! When the picnic wraps up, head down to the Arts Council for a Dance Party beginning at 8pm!

There is no Drop-in this Tuesday, May 28th. We’ll see you soon!

Calling all lovers of q***r YA lit! Join us on June 2 at 11 a.m. to celebrate these YA authors! This free brunch event is going to be fabulous!

Join us on June 2 to celebrate these YA authors! This free event is going to be fabulous! Epic Reads Author Jenna Miller Tony Keith Jr. Vichet Chum

Have you marked your calendars to join HiTOPS for Pride Month?

More info here: https://www.hitops.org/celebrate-pride-month-with-hitops/

ENORMOUS THANK YOU to our MSW interns for the creativity, passion, and support they brought to our youth members and community! It has been an incredible year and all of this would not have been possible without them! They will be missed, but we are excited to see what comes next for each of them. From the HiTOPS team, thank you and good luck in all the places you’re headed!

🪩🎶🌈 HiTOPS Q***r Prom is back! Category is Mas-Q***R-ade! Join us for a night of fashion, fabulousness, and fun on May 17 at 6 pm! This event is for q***r youth ages 11-18. Masquerade masks and prom attire are highly encouraged, but not required. Tickets and info at https://bit.ly/3Uovnp2.

Get ready for q***r prom at this special pop-up closet featuring formal wear on May 11th from 12 – 3 pm at HiTOPS! The closet is a safe space for 11-24 year olds to find gender affirming clothing at NO COST! Find new-to-you items to get you prom ready or for everyday! 🪩🎶🌈

Join us on June 2 to celebrate these YA authors! This free event is going to be fabulous! Epic Reads Author Jenna Miller Tony Keith Jr. Vichet Chum

🪩🎶🌈HiTOPS Q***r Prom is back! Category is Mas-Q***R-ade! Join us for a night of fashion, fabulousness, and fun on May 17 at 6 pm! This event is for q***r youth ages 11-18. Masquerade masks and prom attire are highly encouraged, but not required. Tickets & info here: https://bit.ly/HitopsQ***rProm24

Contact or on IG for info about registration. 🪩🎶🌈 ***rprom ***rdance ***r ***rrelationships ***ryouth

Join us for this year's Princeton Community Pride Picnic! Let's kick off Pride together on May 31st, 4:30 - 7:30 PM at Hinds Plaza. We hope to see you there!

HiTOPS is looking for motivated folks to serve on our board and committees! If you are passionate about helping to empower youth with s*x education, social support, and communities that affirm them, email us at [email protected]! We’d love to chat with you!

HiTOPS Trans Youth Forum was amazing! 150 young people, parents, teachers, and community leaders came together to hear from our fantastic guest speakers, interviewed by our Trans Youth Advisory Board.

Check out a few quotes from the day and keep an eye out for registration next year!

Do you have a company looking for something to offer during Pride Month? You can hire HiTOPS to offer a DEI training on Gender and Sexuality. Email us at [email protected] for more information!

No day but today! Make that April 12th!

HiTOPS is thrilled to share that Mercer County Community College is collecting donations for us at its April 12 staging of the beloved show, Rent!

Your donation also provides your entrance into a post-show Reception with music, dancing and food!

We'll be there and hope you'll join us!

Purchase tickets and make donations here: https://bit.ly/Rent4HiTOPS

Applications for support groups closes THIS FRIDAY, April 5th! This is your last chance to join before Summer programs. Apply now at https://bit.ly/HiTOPSgroupsapp

HiTOPS is so proud of all that we accomplished this year – but especially that we stood strong to protect youth! We count on your support to make it possible! Will you consider making a gift today? https://bit.ly/HiTOPSsafespace