All Are Welcome Here - LGBTQ Visibility Initiative

Dear Rutland Community,

A handful of Rutland area residents, businesses, and organizations have recently begun collaborating to work on a visibility campaign that shows everyone that All Are Welcome Here. Our collective mission is to celebrate and elevate diversity and inclusion in the Rutland Region. Particularly, our current fundraiser is to create a visual campaign for our LGBTQ+ community and PRIDE month in June and beyond. 

Being a member of a minority or marginalized group in Rutland, or any community, can unfortunately feel alienating at times. By actively engaging with our LGBTQ+ and other marginalized folks here, we can show them they are supported and welcome, really gluing in that feeling of belonging here. June is National Pride Month, a declaration that commemorates a turning point in our country's LGBTQ+ history.  This is a time for memorials, celebrations, increasing awareness and understanding, gathering together to show support and feel supported and less alone. When we gather together to support the LGBTQ+ community we are letting people know they are welcome here, belong here and are wanted here. When people feel belonging in a place, they are happier and our collective community shines brighter and is more successful.

This visibility initiative is a way for local businesses, organizations, and community members to extend support to the LGBTQ+ community and beyond. A handful of individuals and organizations have begun collaborating to create some visible materials to show support for the LGBTQ+ community. So far, our collaboration includes Avery Provin, the I Love Rutland Campaign, Awesome Graphics, Social Tinkering, Project Vision, Queer Connect Rutland, Downtown Rutland Partnership, and Alderman Thomas Franco 

How You Can Help
We would love your help with our project to create a visibility campaign throughout Rutland that will show that anyone and everyone is indeed welcome here.  It takes all of us to create that support.

We are currently accepting donations hosted by Social Tinkering (www.socialtinkering.org). Unfortunately, being a new nonprofit, we do not have tax exempt status yet and so large donations will not be tax deductible. If you wish to donate a larger amount or if you wish to donate offline, please email Jeanette Langston through the green "Contact" button below.

All funds raised will go towards production of the following:
1.  Small pole banners to be hung in downtown Rutland during the month of June for PRIDE
2.  Stickers to be distributed by partners and allies during June and beyond.
3.  Yard signs for allies to display throughout Rutland County during June and beyond.

Everyone who donates will receive a yard sign and a sticker if we are able to raise enough money. We will announce on our Facebook page when these are ready to be distributed so follow us on Facebook to receive updates! 
https://www.facebook.com/All-Are-Welcome-Here-Lgbtqia-Visibility-Initiative-107067761573362

Your support means the world to our LGBTQIA+ community. Thank you so much!

Resources To Learn More: 

Local Resources:

Queer Connect (Bennington and Rutland)
https://queerconnectbennington.com/

Social Tinkering: A Human Connection Project
https://www.socialtinkering.org/

Pride Center of Vermont: 
https://www.pridecentervt.org/


National Resources:

The Trevor Project (LGBTQ org for Youth under 25):
https://www.thetrevorproject.org/survey-2020/

The Human Rights Campaign: 
https://www.hrc.org



WHY PRIDE STILL MATTERS

https://youtu.be/5vGEkrqJTQc

About National Pride Month: https://nationaltoday.com/pride-month/

Human Rights Campaign:  https://www.hrc.org/resources/violence-against-the-trans-and-gender-non-conforming-community-in-2020