It’s been more than a year since the Equality Community Center moved into its new home on Casco Street in Portland, and the center announced Monday it has raised more than $3 million to cover the property’s purchase and upgrades.

“We own this building, and we’re never leaving,” Chris O’Connor, the center’s executive director, told a cheering crowd Monday.

O’Connor spoke at an open house for the center and the 16 LGBTQ+ and social justice organizations that occupy the 22,000 square-foot space. Charter Communications, the parent company of Spectrum News, sponsored the event. Charter also announced a donation of $30,000 to the center’s fundraising campaign, along with a donation of 25 Chromebook laptop computers.

The center houses LGBTQ+ advocacy and resource organizations such as EqualityMaine, MaineTransNet and Pride Portland! The center, founded in 2015, initially occupied a 3,000 square-foot office space at 511 Congress St., but has resided in its new location since June 2022. 

Now, the center consists of three floors, and includes a large communal space. Gia Drew, executive director of EqualityMaine, said her organization has belonged to the center since the beginning, and she welcomes the larger space.

“It just seems like there’s more room for us here, and more room to collaborate with other groups,” she said. 

Sen. Mattie Daughtry (D-Cumberland), assistant Senate majority leader, was on hand for the open house, and said a collective space for LGBTQ+ groups to work together is crucial.

“Many of these organizations literally save lives, and I’m not exaggerating,” she said.  

Rep. Maureen Terry (D-Gorham), the House majority leader, said she was excited to see the center in its Casco Street space.

“I just want to say how impressed I am, and how inspired I am by all of these groups together working, coming up with solutions to problems,” she said.

O’Connor said the center has raised $3.1 million toward the $4 million target of its latest fundraising campaign. The money will pay for the $1.1 million purchase price of the building, along with $2 million in renovation costs.