This Just in from the Ocean State
RI PrideFest returns
After two years without an in-person festival or parade due to the pandemic, RI Pride has announced that 2022 will see the return of traditional programming like the vendor and community resource area, mainstage entertainment and the nighttime parade.
“All of us are looking forward to gathering together in celebration of our diverse communities,” says Rodney Davis, new president of Rhode Island Pride (and also the former president, having served as president for some 20 years before retiring.) “That being said,” Davis continues, “it’s going to be a lot of work and a lot of reconnecting. There is not an ‘add water, instant solution’ in producing these events.”
The event is scheduled for Saturday, June 18, and is actively seeking volunteers to help with all the aspects of the festival.
More: prideri.org
Trans Day of Visibility
The quad at URI’s Kingston campus was the venue for a Transgender Day of Visibility event hosted by URI’s Gender & Sexuality Center. Another event was held at the RI State House, organized by State Senator Tiara Mack and Haus of Codec. Both events, held on March 31, drew modest crowds celebrating trans and nonbinary Rhode Islanders.
In an op-ed, Rhode Island writer V Tran summed it up, saying, “More than anything, I want to see trans youth become adults.”
RI Queer PAC
According to their website, the newly formed Rhode Island Queer Political Action Committee (RI Queer PAC) was formed because “Almost nothing has changed for the queer community. Our community continues to face discrimination and systemic inequality everywhere we turn. We won’t tolerate this any longer. The days of politics as usual are over.”
The group has taken stands on the anti-LGBT bills recently introduced in the RI General Assembly. In addition, they have endorsed numerous candidates, including State Rep. Sam Bell and Providence City Council candidate Jackie Goldman. They plan to contribute to the campaigns of the candidates they endorse and are looking for financial support from the community.
More: riqueerpac.com
Lesbian authors read out loud
Wanderground, the organization actively creating a lesbian archive in Rhode Island, hosted a Zoom event featuring several RI lesbian authors, who read aloud from their published works in late March.
Among the readers were the very funny Mari SanGiovanni, who read from her book “Camptown Ladies” and Elda Dawber, whose book “Wait Until I’m Dead” chronicles the survival of a victim of child abuse.
Participating writer Linda Skibski said “Despite my Zoom aversion, I felt the lesbian love and support we all crave these days, and found common ground with fellow lesbian authors. Wanderground’s mission to preserve our lesbian history will remind us of whose shoulders we stand upon.” Skibski’s book, “Forever Joanne,” tells the story of her wife, their journey of love, Joanne’s death from ovarian cancer and the miraculous spirit connections that followed.
Foundation grants
Many nonprofits that serve the state’s LGBTQ communities will receive grants of up to $10,000 through the Equity Action Fund at the Rhode Island Foundation.
“The Equity Action Fund grant program is open to nonprofits that traditionally have served Rhode Island’s LGBTQ communities, as well as organizations that are working to initiate or expand services to the LGBTQ communities,” said Adrian Bonéy, the Foundation’s grants program officer for Equity Action. “Proposals should support, encourage justice for or improve the lives of LGBTQ Rhode Islanders.”
Last year, the Foundation awarded more than $55,000 in grants ranging from $2,500 to $10,000 to nine organizations, including GLBTQ Legal Advocates and Defenders, RIOT RI, Project Weber/RENEW, Sojourner House, The Haus of Glitter, The Sandra Feinstein-Gamm Theatre, Thundermist Health Center, The Steel Yard and Youth Pride.
More: rifoundation.org
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