Greetings, all!
Well, it seems like this past month has been a year, but we are surviving to keep up the good fight, friends. There are some positive things happening, so don’t give up the ship just yet.
For starters, we’d like to invite you all to the Square in Medina for the first time ever with Pride flags all around the Square! While there is no ceremony around it, the flags will be going up bright and early on Wednesday, June 1 (starting around 7:30am, if anyone wants to come and watch city workers hoist the flags up!) and will remain up through June 12! It will certainly be something to see! On Tuesday, June 14 from 6-8pm, please grab your picnic basket and blanket, and join friends and neighbors on the Medina Square for a Pride Picnic and Chalk Art event! We hope to see lots of friendly faces that evening! Dessert and Chalk provided!! Feel free to wear your best rainbow gear! A limited supply of Hate Has No Home Here and Support Trans Youth signs will be available for a donation of any amount!
Also, stop by the Pizza Palooza for your favorite rainbow bling! Saturday, June 18 from 9:00am-2:00pm on the Square in Medina! If you’d like to help out, let me know! It’s a fun time!
The Medina County Library will offer a monthly LGBTQIA+ Teen Craft Club at the main library in Medina on the following dates:
June 8/July 13/Aug 10 from 4:00-5:30pm, 3rd Floor
A safe space for LGBTQIA+ teens and allies to discuss movies, literature and make PRIDE crafts!!
If they have good attendance, this may become a year round activity, so I hope lots of youth attend!
Stewart’s Caring Place in Fairlawn has recently started a special support group for LGBTQIA+ cancer patients. Many issues can be talked about in a safe space without any concerns of a generic support group. Visit www.stewartscaringplace.org and click on Support Groups and scroll down.
Upcoming dates are:
June 9/July 14/Aug. 11. Meetings are at 5:00pm
Next meeting for the Medina G2H2 over 18 social group will meet at Los Cantaritos Restaurant on Wednesday, June 15th at 5:30. 930 W. Liberty St. Medina! Join the great group of folx over dinner and drinks!
Our talented friends in the North Coast Men’s Chorus are presenting “Our Great Big Broadway Show” in Akron at the Goodyear Theatre on June 12 at 5:00pm! They have other dates in Cleveland, so for tickets and other information, please visit. www.ncmchorus.org
For a list of all the PRIDE events in Ohio, please check out our friends at the Buckeye Flame…there are over 70 events all around Ohio! YAY! www.thebuckeyeflame.com
THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM: OK…we are still battling the legislature in Columbus against HB 454, which proposes to prohibit healthcare to transgender youth, with a side of punishment for medical and school professionals who care for these youth. They have had 3 Proponent hearings, and on June 1 Opponent testimony will be heard (that’s our side). That hearing is for medical professionals only, who work with transgender youth patients. I’m not sure what will happen after that. You can still call and email those on the Families, Aging and Human Resources Committee, or write a testimony. www.equalityohio.org can guide you through the steps you need to take to do that.
HB 616 has just been assigned to the State and Local Government Committee. This is like the Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” law, but on steroids. It will include prohibiting teaching about racial history as well as LGBTQ+ history. Or any conversation that has to do with”divisive ” topics.
Friends of OutSupport have sent 500 postcards in opposition to HB 454, and we have ordered 500 postcards opposing HB 616, which we should have available in the coming weeks. Let me know if you want to send your thoughts to our lawmakers and I’ll get you postcards!
Other things we’ve been busy with: Last week, I was interviewed on Gaywaves with Eric Resnick. You can find the interview on www.podbean.com
I spoke with several amazing speakers at the North Canton library regarding issues of concern for LGBTQ+ persons, and they are doing some great work in Canton! They will be having their first PRIDE event on June 11, and www.queerincanton.com is really doing some great things! Check them out!
We also purchased about 10 binders in the past month, helping trans and nonbinary youth see themselves more authentically!
Last but not least, the July 4 parade in Medina is coming up, and I’d like to know if anyone is interested in marching with us. We haven’t marched since COVID hit, so I’d like to march again as OutSupport! Let me know if you are interested, and I’ll sign us up!
That’s it for now, but I have a sense June will keep us busy…
Take care and….
SAY GAY, ALL DAY!!!
Sandy
she/her