The Buzz ON THE BAY

By Emily Olson

“We are educating sta and providing gender-neutral bathrooms, and many sta members opt to wear pronoun pins for the comfort of trans and non-binary visitors,” says Janet Fuentes, marketing manager at Community Libraries of Providence. Teen librarian Kelly Parlin recognizes the challenges young members of the LGBTQ+ community face. “A number of teens feel a lack of support at home or school,” she says. “We o er programs centered on joy and community where teens can fully be themselves.”

Rochambeau and Washington Park libraries o er a weekly program called Queer

Umbrella where teens gather to make art, play games, and watch movies, while feeling safe to vent their frustrations. The program educates participants on queer history and activism and invites local speakers to discuss politics, health, and gender expression, all crucial topics for queer young people navigating identity and fitting in. The libraries also recently piloted Camp Kaleidoscope. “[Attendees] could learn, hang out, make friends and ultimately, celebrate who they are,” explains Parlin.

Youth Pride Inc. (YPI), which serves ages 5 to 23, offers much-needed affirmation and community to its young members, in the form of a drop-in space with video games, movies, books, and art supplies, along with more formal group meetings centered around a range of topics and gender exploration. As YPI works toward policy change to create homophobia- and transphobia-free environments, it encourages young people to self-advocate by joining rallies or testifying at the State House.

Being visible, particularly at the State House, is one of the most important things an advocacy organization can do, according to Julio Berroa, executive director of Haus of Codec,

FUNDRAISING FOR LGBTQ+ YOUTH

You may know Stephanie and Lindsay Haigh as the cooking couple behind Village Hearth Bakery & Cafe in Jamestown. Along with bringing folks together with their delicious eats, the Haighs are working toward unifying the community through their new nonprofit VHBC Pride, Inc. Led by a diverse board of South County leaders, the organization aims to support and bring visibility to the LGBTQ+ community and its allies by boosting existing and building new youth programs.

“We aim to create a supportive environment where the LGBTQIA+ youth can grow up feeling connected, safe, supported, valued, and celebrated,” the Haighs share in a press release announcing the non-profit’s formation. “After speaking with several schools and community organizations, we realize that the LGBTQIA+ youth of Jamestown and southern Rhode Island greatly lack safe spaces where they can just be themselves.”

On June 26, golfers are invited to tee up at VHBC Pride’s Best Ball Golf Tournament at Jamestown Golf Course for $100 per golfer or $40 for those just partaking in the festivities that follow, featuring a ra e, silent auction, food, cash bar, and tournament awards. The inaugural event benefits youth programming and GSAs (Genders and Sexualities Alliances) and this year supports the launch of Newport Pride’s new Pride Center, which will allow them to expand their reach.

“While continuing these e orts with Newport Pride, we know that the LGBTQIA+ youth in our own backyard (Jamestown and southern Rhode Island) need programs such as these as well. We hope our future fundraising e orts will do just that,” says VHBC Pride president, Lindsay Haigh. Follow VHBC Pride on Facebook for future events, and sign up for the golf tournament on Eventbrite.