About PACE

The Pierre Area Center for Equality (PACE) was created in the back of a local coffee shop in 2018. A group of LGBTQ+ people and supporters gathered to create a support group. PACE held Central South Dakota’s first-ever Pride in July of the same year at the Ramkota. Over 200 people from across South Dakota, making the “Pierre Area Pride” a big success.

After the first Pride, PACE focused on networking and planning its next Pride event for the following year. The now non-profit had begun making plans for more events and community outreach.

The COVID Pandemic put a pause on PACE’s activities in 2019. The organization decided to halt any in-person gatherings. It was PACE’s priority that the health and safety of the community came first.

PACE brought back Pierre Area Pride at Drifter’s Bar and Grille in the summer of 2022. Since then, PACE has worked on hosting quarterly events for the LGBTQ+ community of Central South Dakota.