Out in the Open is moving us closer to a vision of an increased sense of belonging for LGBTQ+ people in the rural communities we call home by hosting three cohorts of the Rural LGBTQ+ Power and Belonging (RLPB) Fellowship. Fellowships are intended to cultivate interconnectedness and are a step towards building a powerful network of mutuality, safety, belonging, and positive social and cultural change. Our experiences in the rural communities we call home tell stories of interdependence and reliance on each other. This is in contrast to national narratives that we are divided. We believe that rural LGBTQ+ people have a central role to play in moving all people and our communities towards a collectively liberated and connected future, and away from divisive culture wars that are sparked against our shared needs and interests. 

The Rural LGBTQ+ Power and Belonging Fellowship is for LGBTQ+ identified people living openly with this identity and living rurally north and west of Portland/Brunswick and outside of urban areas of Bangor, Augusta, and Waterville in Wabanaki territory/Maine. Priority will be given to people who are not current students or faculty members at local colleges and universities. 

• There are three cohorts happening in 2024, and applications for all three cohorts are open now through March 29, 2024.

• Applicants will be notified of their participation by Monday April 8, and required to accept their spot by Monday April 15.

• Fellowship participants will receive a $1500 stipend.

• Support to cover the costs of dependent (elders, children, pets) care and transportation is also available.

• Each participant will have an additional $500 allotted to them to use when planning and carrying out their event/project.

OITO can support four possible application formats: Google form, mail-in form, live Zoom discussion with OITO staff, online audio file submission. If you have access needs that are unmet by these formats, please get in touch with us to coordinate a format that will work.

There are two fellowship types: Community Safety Network (one group of 8 people) and Creative Arts and Social Practice (two groups of 8 people per group).

• You can apply to both if you are feeling drawn to each possibility.

• What we talk about and do within the fellowship gatherings will primarily be informed by participants’ input, needs, and interests.

• Each cohort is an ongoing group experience, so we’re also looking for people who are interested in building relationships within the cohort as well as working independently.

• Each cohort will have resources and information shared to a password-protected webpage.

• All participants will sign a written agreement, which underlines the contributions and requirements OITO staff and cohort participants will adhere to throughout the fellowship timeline.

  • Check out examples of the written agreements here: Creative Arts and Social Practice draft written agreement, Community Safety Network draft written agreement

• There will be a gathering in the fall with participants of all Rural LGBTQ+ Power and Belonging fellowship participants and collaborators, to celebrate, share, and cultivate community among the fellowship participants.

Consider joining an upcoming Info Session via Zoom to go over the information about the fellowship program and application process, meet other potential applicants, and get to know Out in the Open staff members who are facilitating the program. Sign up can be found here: Rural LGBTQ+ Power and Belonging Info Session Sign Up