LGBT Detroit
LGBT Detroit is a Michigan-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers HIV prevention, mental health, leadership development, civic engagement, and cultural programming for Black and Brown LGBT+ individuals in Metro Detroit, anchored by the 31-year Hotter Than July Black Pride celebration and 15 integrated programs.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1994
- HeadquartersDetroit, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What LGBT Detroit does
LGBT Detroit is a Michigan-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered at 20025 Greenfield Road in Detroit, MI. Founded in 1994 as KICK Publishing Company and rebranded to its current name in 2015, the organization operates approximately 15 programs serving the Metro Detroit Black and Brown LGBT+ community, including HIV prevention and anti-stigma education (Togethr, Brother to Brother, SHUA tour), mental health services, the Leadership Academy mentorship program, civic engagement (Pride Decides), multimedia content (LGBT Detroit Broadcast Network), and two flagship events — Hotter Than July (31-year annual Black Pride celebration drawing nearly 20,000 attendees) and Cold As Hell (annual winter Black leather and kink pride event).
The organization runs an event-driven go-to-market anchored by Hotter Than July and Cold As Hell, supplemented by in-person programming at its owned #SafeBraveSpace headquarters and digital distribution through Facebook, YouTube, and Spotify. Its revenue model is donation- and sponsorship-based: cash contributions (including via Cash App), event ticket and patron package sales, vendor and venue fees, and corporate sponsorships from a broad base that includes Gilead Sciences, ViiV Healthcare, T-Mobile, Henry Ford Health, Karmanos Cancer Institute, Michigan DHHS, and the City of Detroit Health Department.
Programs are delivered through direct partnerships with public health agencies and research institutions, and the organization maintains a board-governed structure with an Executive Director (A. Nzere Kwabena) and a roughly 10-person board including a Medical Director. The organization owns its commercial property — a structural differentiator among African-American LGBT-led nonprofits — and reports serving approximately 800 community members annually through direct programming.
LGBT Detroit firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- LGBT Detroit
- Legal name
- LGBT Detroit
- Website
- https://lgbtdetroit.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1994
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- LGBT Detroit is a Michigan-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers HIV prevention, mental health, leadership development, civic engagement, and cultural programming for Black and Brown LGBT+ individuals in Metro Detroit, anchored by the 31-year Hotter Than July Black Pride celebration and 15 integrated programs.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
LGBT Detroit industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Community Advocacy and Nonprofit Services
- NAICS
- Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71)
- SIC
- Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)
- akta.pro primary industry
- LGBTQ+ Rights & Advocacy Organizations (BPAGAFAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Community Pride & Identity Events (Pride, Cultural Identity Days) (MPAGAEAL), Community Fundraisers & Charity Events (Gala/Walks excluded) (MPAGAEAK), Educational & Youth Community Events (School/Youth Festivals) (MPAGAEAM)
Keywords
Where LGBT Detroit is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Detroit
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
LGBT Detroit business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Donations and Charitable Contributions: LGBT Detroit operates as a Michigan-based 501c(3) nonprofit organization that generates revenue through individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and patron support for events and programs.
- Event-Based Revenue: Revenue is generated through ticket sales, patron packages, vendor fees, and event sponsorships for flagship events such as Hotter Than July and Cold As Hell.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Donation-based free model for general programs and content |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
LGBT Detroit product offering
Product offeringCore offering
LGBT Detroit delivers a multi-program portfolio of community services, cultural events, and health/education programs for Black and Brown LGBT+ individuals in Metro Detroit. Its core offerings include the Hotter Than July annual Black Pride celebration, Cold As Hell winter leather/kink Pride event, the Togethr HIV anti-stigma campaign (podcasts, talk shows, educational tours), the Leadership Academy mentorship program, Pride Decides voter engagement, Health services (mental health therapy, fitness, PrEP/testing), and the LGBT Detroit Broadcast Network multimedia platform. Revenue is generated through donations, sponsorships, event tickets, and patron packages.
Product overview
LGBT Detroit operates as a multi-program nonprofit organization offering community services and events. The core portfolio includes Hotter Than July (31-year annual Black LGBT+ Pride celebration) and Cold As Hell (winter pride event). The Togethr Campaign provides HIV anti-stigma programming through multiple channels: Listen Togethr podcast, Talk Togethr talk show, Walk Togethr health walks, Game Togethr educational game shows, and Brother to Brother Lockdown video podcast. Supporting programs include the LGBT Detroit Leadership Academy (mentorship), Broadcast Network (multimedia), Voice (editorial/blog), Health (wellness services), and Pride Decides (voter engagement). The organization serves approximately 800 community members annually through these integrated programs.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Hotter Than July: Detroit's longest-running Black LGBT+ Pride celebration, established in 1995. Also referred to as North America's longest-running uninterrupted Black Pride event.
- Cold As Hell
- Togethr Campaign
- LGBT Detroit Leadership Academy
- Pride Decides
Products and services
- Hotter Than July Detroit's longest-running Black LGBT+ Pride celebration featuring entertainment, education, advocacy, the Annual Gathering, Art & Film Festival, Palmer Park Picnic, worship services, and nightlife events.
- Cold As Hell 6th annual Black Leather and Kink Winter Pride Event featuring education on consent, safety, power exchange, and Black BDSM culture, including a Kinky Mixer, hands-on skill demos, Fetish Fashion Show, and aftercare brunch.
- Pride Decides Non-partisan comprehensive voter engagement and legislative program including voter education, voter registration, phone banking, and candidate forums.
- Togethr Campaign HIV anti-stigma initiative comprising multiple sub-programs including Listen Togethr podcast, Talk Togethr talk show, Walk Togethr health walk, Game Togethr educational game show, and Brother to Brother Lockdown video podcast.
- LGBT Detroit Leadership Academy 9-month mentorship and leadership development program for LGBT+ young adults, providing leadership training, mentorship from experienced LGBT+ leaders, HIV stigma fighter trainings, career fair, and networking opportunities.
- LGBT Detroit Broadcast Network Multimedia platform highlighting LGBTQ+ narratives through broadcast content and media production, including Talk Togethr, Listen Togethr, and Brother to Brother Lockdown.
- Voice Editorial platform providing first-hand experiences and opinions from movement influencers with insight and analysis on contemporary LGBTQ+ issues.
- LGBT Detroit Health Wellness programming including physical fitness classes, mental health therapy, support groups, nutrition classes, chronic health management (PrEP, testing, preventative care), and community education.
- LGBT Detroit | 30 Campaign celebrating the 30th anniversary of LGBT Detroit's founding in 1994.
Quantifiable outcome
- Serves approximately 800 community members annually through 15 programs
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use LGBT Detroit
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
LGBT Detroit technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration5 records
LGBT Detroit partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- CenterLinkcoreLGBT Detroit is a proud founding partner of CenterLink, a network of LGBTQ+ community centers. CenterLink supports the development of strong LGBTQ+ community centers and networks through peer sharing, collaboration, and advocacy.
- National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC)coreNational Black Justice Coalition is a Black LGBTQ+/SGL civil rights organization mentioned as a key partner. LGBT Detroit participates in NBJC events including the Black Pride Leadership Summit.
- Gilead SciencescoreGilead Sciences is an official patron and sponsor of Hotter Than July 2026, contributing to the funding of Detroit's premier Black Pride celebration.
- ViiV HealthcarecoreViiV Healthcare is an official patron and sponsor of Hotter Than July 2026, supporting HIV-focused community programming and Black Pride celebrations.
- Michigan Department of Health & Human Services (MDHHS)coreMDHHS partners with LGBT Detroit's Togethr campaign and HIV prevention programs. The department is referenced as a partner for HIV/STI prevention, control, and surveillance work within Michigan.
- City of Detroit Health DepartmentcoreThe City of Detroit Health Department partners with LGBT Detroit for HIV counseling, testing services, and public health referrals. The Detroit Public Health STD Clinic is referenced as a resource partner.
- Community Health Awareness Group (CHAG)coreCHAG is a key health partner of LGBT Detroit's Togethr programs and an official sponsor of Hotter Than July. CHAG provides HIV/AIDS education and resources in Detroit.
- Karmanos Cancer InstitutecoreKarmanos Cancer Institute partners with LGBT Detroit through the Cancer Action Council, providing cancer education and health resources specifically for LGBT+ communities.
- CNS HealthcareminorCNS Healthcare is listed as an official sponsor/patron of Hotter Than July 2026, supporting mental health and behavioral health services integration in the Black Pride celebration.
- T-MobileminorT-Mobile is listed as an official patron and sponsor of Hotter Than July 2026.
- Bowers RealtyminorBowers Realty is an official patron and sponsor of Hotter Than July 2026.
- Henry Ford HealthcoreHenry Ford Health partners with LGBT Detroit through the All of Us research program, supporting health research participation among LGBT+ individuals in Metro Detroit.
- Unified - HIV Health AdvancementminorUnified is referenced as a community resource for HIV-related services that Leadership Academy graduates connect clients with for prevention and treatment support.
- Motor City PridecoreMotor City Pride recognized LGBT Detroit's 30th Hotter Than July anniversary and honored A. Nzere Kwabena as Grand Marshal of the Pride Parade, demonstrating ongoing collaborative pride community partnership.
- Adodi DetroitminorAdodi Detroit is a support group partner for LGBT Detroit's mental health programming, providing safe and affirming spaces for community members.
- Black Bear BrotherhoodminorBlack Bear Brotherhood is listed as a partner support group in the Togethr mental health ecosystem and is an official sponsor of Hotter Than July 2026.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves10 records
Expansion highlights5 records
LGBT Detroit competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- GLAAD: National LGBTQ+ media advocacy organization promoting cultural and narrative change; broadly comparable in advocacy mission and broadcast/content distribution, but operating at a national rather than community-anchored scale.
- The Trevor Project: National LGBTQ+ youth crisis intervention and mental health organization; broadly comparable in mission around LGBTQ+ youth mental health and suicide prevention, though operating at national scale via digital channels rather than community-anchored programming.
- Los Angeles LGBT Center: One of the largest LGBTQ+ community centers in the world, offering health, advocacy, and youth programs; comparable as a multi-program LGBTQ+ nonprofit with a comparable portfolio of health, mentorship, and cultural programming, though at significantly larger scale.
Direct peers
- Hetrick-Martin Institute: New York-based LGBTQ+ youth services nonprofit providing mentorship, education, and HIV prevention; directly comparable to LGBT Detroit's Leadership Academy and Togethr HIV anti-stigma programming for LGBT+ youth and young adults.
- DC Black Pride: One of the largest Black Pride events in the United States; directly comparable to Hotter Than July as a major annual Black LGBTQ+ cultural and community gathering with national attendee pull.
- National Black Justice Coalition: Black LGBTQ+/SGL civil rights organization explicitly listed as a partner of LGBT Detroit; directly comparable as a Black-led LGBTQ+ advocacy organization focused on policy, leadership summits, and community organizing.
- Center for Black Equity: National network of Black LGBTQ+ community centers and Black Pride events, of which LGBT Detroit is a founding partner through CenterLink; directly comparable as a federation of Black-led LGBTQ+ cultural and advocacy organizations.
- Atlanta Black Pride: Large annual Black LGBTQ+ Pride celebration in Atlanta drawing tens of thousands of attendees; directly comparable to Hotter Than July as a major Black Pride event with cultural, social, and community programming for Black LGBTQ+ individuals.
Regional players
- Equality Michigan: Michigan statewide LGBTQ+ civil rights advocacy organization; comparable as a regional LGBTQ+ advocacy and policy organization serving the same state footprint as LGBT Detroit.
- Affirmations Community Center: Metro Detroit-area LGBTQ+ community center based in Ferndale, MI; directly comparable as a regional LGBTQ+ nonprofit delivering health, youth, and community programming to the same Metro Detroit audience.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
LGBT Detroit social profiles
Digital presenceLGBT Detroit financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
LGBT Detroit leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles16 records
LGBT Detroit funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
LGBT Detroit M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about LGBT Detroit
What does LGBT Detroit do?
LGBT Detroit delivers a multi-program portfolio of community services, cultural events, and health/education programs for Black and Brown LGBT+ individuals in Metro Detroit. Its core offerings include the Hotter Than July annual Black Pride celebration, Cold As Hell winter leather/kink Pride event, the Togethr HIV anti-stigma campaign (podcasts, talk shows, educational tours), the Leadership Academy mentorship program, Pride Decides voter engagement, Health services (mental health therapy, fitness, PrEP/testing), and the LGBT Detroit Broadcast Network multimedia platform. Revenue is generated through donations, sponsorships, event tickets, and patron packages.
Is LGBT Detroit a public or private company?
LGBT Detroit is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was LGBT Detroit founded?
LGBT Detroit was founded in 1994. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is LGBT Detroit based?
LGBT Detroit is headquartered in Detroit, United States, in the North America region.
How does LGBT Detroit make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Donations and Charitable Contributions are the primary driver. The others are event-Based Revenue.
Who are LGBT Detroit's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are GLAAD, The Trevor Project and Los Angeles LGBT Center. Direct peers are Hetrick-Martin Institute, DC Black Pride, National Black Justice Coalition, Center for Black Equity and Atlanta Black Pride. Regional players are Equality Michigan and Affirmations Community Center.
Does LGBT Detroit have an API?
No public API is recorded for LGBT Detroit.
What industry is LGBT Detroit in?
LGBT Detroit's product category is Community Advocacy and Nonprofit Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAFAE, LGBTQ+ Rights & Advocacy Organizations, with a secondary code of MPAGAEAL, Community Pride & Identity Events (Pride, Cultural Identity Days). Its NAICS code is 71 and its SIC code is 7990.