May, June, July in Vermont and Maine

Learn together, discuss, and move towards taking action in our respective communities. Meet in person to vent, reflect, and strategize. Both cohorts are open to people from New Hampshire joining, though in person gatherings will happen in Vermont and Maine.

Together we can learn and grow, and move through feelings and experiences of hopelessness with collective action.

The study and action group is for LGBTQ+ identified people living rurally in Vermont, New Hampshire, & Maine, and our action will be oriented towards engaging with people of all identities in the places we live. We’ve closed sign up, but if you have interest in joining reach out!

Friday June 6 from 4pm - 6pm Penobscot Territory/ Searsport, ME

Join Out in the Open and ARRT! (Artist Rapid Response Team) to create a banner celebrating rural LGBTQ+ visibility and power, in Waldo County (eastern Wabankik / Maine). We’ll do it in two parts (Friday June 6 and Friday June 13)— join us for one or both sessions. No past experience required— this is a great chance to engage in meaningful creative work and get into art making in a supportive and fun environment. RSVP to receive exact location information.

On June 6, meet up with Out in the Open for an easy going nature walk. Our conversations and observations will inform what goes in the ARRT! banner the following week (June 13).

Light snacks provided (including GF and dairy free), bring your own water. 

Friday June 13 from 3pm - 7pm, eastern Wabanakik /Unity, ME

Join Out in the Open and ARRT! (Artist Rapid Response Team) to create a banner celebrating rural LGBTQ+ visibility and power, in Waldo County (eastern Wabankik / Maine). We’ll do it in two parts (Friday June 6 and Friday June 13)— join us for one or both sessions. No past experience required— this is a great chance to engage in meaningful creative work and get into art making in a supportive and fun environment. RSVP to receive exact location information.

On June 13, gather with ARRT! member and artist Hale Linnet to lay out the design for a large fabric banner and paint together.

Pizza and light snacks provided, please share dietary needs on RSVP form. 

The completed banner will be carried with Out in the Open at the Unity Pride Parade (June 14) and used as a mobile place making tool and visual representation of our work to center rural LGBTQ+ people and our intersectional identities at future events, gatherings, and rallies that Out in the Open participates in and facilitates.

Saturday June 14 at 10am | Unity, Maine

A rural pride event that’s made waves in Waldo County, and is part of an effort to uplift intersectional identities in our extended community.

Join Out in the Open in eastern Wabanakik/ Unity, ME to march in the parade from Field of Dreams to the public library where there will be music, flowers, and ice cream available for all to enjoy.

June 14 | 12-3PM | @ Susu CommUNITY Farm, Newfane

PRIDE FAMILY POTLUCK, hosted by Out in the Open, in collaboration with The Root Social Justice Center & SUSU CommUNITY Farm is back again!

Join with other LGBTQ+ people, families, parents, and kids (of all ages!) and celebrate our rural LGBTQ+ community together!

We'll be at our friends Susu CommUNITY Farm in Newfane this year!

OITO will provide fruit, soft drinks, hot dogs (meat, turkey, and tofu), buns, chips, plates, napkins, cutlery, and condiments.

Please bring a dish to share, if you can, or just bring yourself!

This gathering will be outside.

Folks are welcome to wear masks (we'll also have some on-hand) anywhere and everywhere. If you have COVID or are not feeling well, please stay home.

June 15 | 12PM | Starts at High-Grove Parking Lot in Brattleboro, VT

A political promenade!

A Strolling of the Homos!

Queering Pride through rural revelry & revolution!

Join with other rural LGBTQ+ people and our families & friends to defend, celebrate, & honor our beautiful community’s history, present, & future! LGBTQ+ people have always been and will always be in rural places, let’s get together and to show up for and to show off our incredible community!

Start at High-Grove Parking Lot in front of the Concrete Quilt in downtown Brattleboro. Our snaking route will visit a number of additional local LGBTQ+ community landmarks.

Bring things like signs, puppets, instruments, costumes, bubbles, your fabulous LGBTQ+ self, your friends & family, funky socks , ribbons, signs, & your voice! People of all ages are welcome.

Please reach out with any questions and/or if you’d like to volunteer to support, email Diana (diana@weareoutintheopen.org) and Jake (Jake@WeAreOutintheOpen.org)

1st Thursdays July 3, August 7, September 4 | Penobscot Territory/ Belfast ME

More information coming soon.