Princeton NJ Local Government Press Releases

Mercer County Office of LGBTQIA+ Hosts First Annual Equality Gala

Trenton, NJ — The Mercer County Office of LGBTQIA+ recently hosted its inaugural Equality Gala, raising funds to support the office's community programming for the upcoming year.

Established in County Executive Dan Benson's first budget, the Office of LGBTQIA+ was created to provide outreach through events and to help LGBTQIA+ residents navigate County services and access critical support. The office serves as a welcoming entry point into county government for a community that often faces barriers to access.

With many County departments facing flat funding in the current budget cycle, the Office of LGBTQIA+ launched the gala to engage the broader community and local businesses in supporting and expanding the office's work.

"When I ran for County Executive, establishing this office was one of my top priorities because government can often feel inaccessible," said County Executive Dan Benson. "By opening this office, we've taken another step in breaking down barriers. I'm proud of our staff and volunteers for putting together such a successful event, helping to further reach residents where they are, and ensuring access to critical County support." Terry West, Director of the Office of LGBTQIA+, highlighted the administration's continued commitment to inclusion.

"From day one, the County Executive made it clear that no group should be left without a voice in County Government," said West. "It's a tremendous honor to serve my community in this role—helping make County Government more accessible and educating people about the many services available to them. The support we've received for the gala has been overwhelming, coming from across the community and beyond."

The success of the Equality Gala underscores the importance of public-private partnerships inbuilding inclusive, community-driven government initiatives.