In honor of Pride Month, we’ve pulled together a catalog of some local resources to support, empower, and advocate for the LGBTQ+ community in the South Sound and Key Peninsula.
What is Pride?
LGBTQ+ pride is the positive stance against discrimination and violence toward lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people. In commemorating Pride Month, we can all promote their self-affirmation, dignity, equality rights, increase their visibility as a social group, build community, and celebrate sexual diversity and gender variance.
What does LGBTQ+ stand for?
The acronym LGBTQ+ stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Transgender, Questioning, and the symbol “+” represents all non-cisgender and non-straight identities that are not included in the acronym.
Why does the YMCA celebrate the LGBTQ+ community?
We strive to ensure that everyone, regardless of ability, age, cultural background, ethnicity, faith, gender, gender identity, income, race, or sexual orientation has the opportunity to live life to its fullest. Join the Y in sharing these life-changing resources with people who may need them by sharing this post with your friends and family.
PIERCE COUNTY
Rainbow Center
Rainbow Center has served as a hub for the LGBTQ2SA community in South Puget Sound for more than 20 years. Rainbow Center has daily open hours, where resources including a lending library, computer and Wi-Fi access, advocacy services, and educational materials are available to community members. Each year it provides direct services to 1,000 individuals, hosts more than 4,000 visitors at Rainbow Center, and supports thousands more through events and partnerships. Visit the Rainbow Center Events Calendar for more information. Tacoma Pride Festival is being hosted by the Rainbow Center on Saturday, July 13.
Oasis Youth Center
At Oasis Youth Center, staff offer information and support surrounding numerous topics facing the community and individuals. It provides essential social services like HIV testing and counseling, smoking cessation, depression and mental health, safer sex and STIs, suicide prevention, sexual assault prevention, legal issues, and employment and housing. Mental health support is also offered in coming out issues, family issues and relationships, health care, academic help, and support around gender identity.
PFLAG Tacoma
PFLAG is a volunteer organization with locations throughout the USA and other parts of the world. It promotes the health and well-being of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and questioning persons, their families and friends. It offers support groups that meet each month, which are a safe and judgement-free outlet for feelings and a place to meet other people in similar situations. Find more information on meetings and conferences held by PFLAG Tacoma here.
Rainbow Action Committee
Are you a TCC student? The Rainbow Action Committee at Tacoma Community College works to identify, train, and support advocates of the LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Intersex, Transgender and Questioning) community on TCC's campuses. This team helps find role models for mentoring and supporting LGBTQ community members, supports students to identify their allies on campus, and offers an all-gender restroom campus map.
The Rainbow Action Committee mission statement says that it advocates for the rights and concerns of TCC community members of marginalized genders and sexualities and informs institutional policies and practices. It works to create a welcoming and inclusive community by fostering opportunities for learning, sharing, exploration, and growth. Learn more about the resources offered here.
Tacoma Older LGBT
Tacoma Older LGBT began as a grassroots movement in March 2013 and continues to serve older LGBT adults. It hosts a series of ongoing Virtual Events each month, including Monday Morning Coffee Connection at 10:30am every week and Mid-Afternoon Gathering at 2:00pm on the second and fourth Wednesday each month. Another community event it co-sponsors is a monthly brown bag lunch called 50+ Lunch Bunch, which meets the 3rd Friday of every month, 11:00am – 1:00pm.
KITSAP COUNTY
Kitsap Pride
Kitsap Pride’s mission is to celebrate, support, and unite the LGBTQ+ community in Kitsap County. It is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit that was formed in 2007 as a network of local organizations collaborating to celebrate community in Kitsap County. Networking together eases the planning and execution burden off of any one organization and allows for more community input. Kitsap Pride Festival will be celebrated on Saturday, July 24, at the Kitsap County Fairgrounds.
Happy Pride, this month, and every month, from the Y!