HAPPENINGS:

🌈Amherst Pride is Sunday, June 28, 2026! 

🏳️‍🌈PFLAG E. Longmeadow’s Community Art Festival Sunday, March 29th, 11am - 4 pm

Mar 3rd, Tue - AMHERST COFFEE HOUR

Bangs Community Center, Amherst, 9:30 AM - 11:00 AM

Join us for coffee, tea, bagels, and conversation!

Learn more at: https://www.rainbowcoffeehouramherst.com/

Mar 3rd, Tue - NORTHAMPTON SR CENTER - SILVER LESBIANS - (1st, 3rd & 5th) 2:30 pm  https://northamptonma.gov/2055/Senior-Services

Mar 4th, Wed - HOLYOKE RAINBOW SUPPER CLUB 5 - 7 PM 

Holyoke Senior Center, 291 Pine Street, Holyoke 

Help us welcome  SPRING  with dinner and conversation at the Rainbow Supper Club

Dinner (served at 5:15 p.m.)  roasted tomato & white bean soup, side salad, dessert 

To RSVP / sign up for the dinner meeting, visit https://holyoke.us17.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d73e365ba36e43b7a979f60e1&id=c2f2ead206&e=68a6f4e50b or email coa@holyoke.org

Mar 6th, Fri - NORTHAMPTON SR CENTER - SR GAY MEN'S GROUP, every Friday @ 1-3 pm https://northamptonma.gov/2055/Senior-Services 

Mar 6th, Fri - MEN'S MEETUP @ FAME LOUNGE & EATERY, 6:30 PM

386 Dwight Street, Holyoke, (One of two meetups this month! See Mar 20th for the other one.)

Mar 11th, Wed - BELCHERTOWN’S RAINBOW SOCIAL HOUR 10 - 11:00 AM

Belchertown Senior Center, 60 State Street, Belchertown, https://rainbowsocialhour.my.canva.site/

Mar 12th, Thurs - RAINBOW ELDERS at LIFEPATH 12 - 2:00 PM 

South County Senior Center, 22 Amherst Rd., Sunderland

An in-person luncheon. Click here to register.

Rainbow Elders Luncheon Club Tickets, Multiple Dates | Eventbrite

Mar 13th, Fri - NORTHAMPTON SR CENTER - SR GAY MEN'S GROUP, every Friday @ 1-3 pm https://northamptonma.gov/2055/Senior-Services 

Mar 17th, Tue - NORTHAMPTON SR CENTER - SILVER LESBIANS - (1st, 3rd & 5th) 2:30 pm  https://northamptonma.gov/2055/Senior-Services

Mar 18th, Wed - HADLEY SENIOR CENTER RAINBOW “BAG LUNCH” 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM

Hadley Senior Center, 46 Middle Street, Hadley, 

Learn more at: Council On Aging Calendar | Hadley MA

Mar 19th, Thur -  S. HADLEY SENIOR CENTER - LGBTQ “BAG LUNCH” 12:30 PM - 2 PM 

South Hadley Sr Center, 45 Dayton St, South Hadley https://www.southhadley.org/324/Council-on-Aging

Mar 20th, Fri - NORTHAMPTON SR CENTER - SR GAY MEN'S GROUP, every Friday @ 1-3 pm https://northamptonma.gov/2055/Senior-Services 

Mar 20th, Fri - MEN'S MEETUP @ HOTEL NORTHAMPTON, 6:30 PM

36 King Street, Northampton, Sign up for the mailing list: https://mailchi.mp/3aa0d4c1613c/sign-up-to-our-mailing-list  Find them on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NorthamptonGayMensMeetUp

Mar 27th, Fri - NORTHAMPTON SR CENTER - SR GAY MEN'S GROUP, every Friday @ 1-3 pm https://northamptonma.gov/2055/Senior-Services 

March 29th, 11am to 4pm - A Call for Artists! Display and sell your work at PFLAG East Longmeadow’s Community Art Festival Sunday, 3-29. We are looking for a wide range of media to show in the Main House and the Carriage House at the Norcross Center 89 Maple St, East Longmeadow. Acrylic, pottery, photography, textiles, multimedia, watercolor, pastel, sculpture, graphics, collage, jewelry, etc. Email pflagel413@gmail.com or call Erin Chrusciel at 413-348-0505 for details. For more information about PFLAG EL, go to pflageastlongmeadow.org.

Mar 31st, Tue - NORTHAMPTON SR CENTER - SILVER LESBIANS - (1st, 3rd & 5th) 2:30 pm  https://northamptonma.gov/2055/Senior-Services

Your privacy is important to us, we will never sell or share this email list! 

Community Resources 

NEW - LEGAL & ONLINE VIRTUAL COMMUNITIES

• CRESS Community Responders for Equity, Safety & Service 413-259-3370 As Community Responders we aim to fill the ever-present gaps in Amherst, to serve as community builders connecting people to services and resources. We are an unarmed public safety department that supports the Amherst community, rooted in trauma-informed and anti-racist frameworks.  Community Responders for Equity, Safety & Service | Amherst, MA - Official Website

• Amherst Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (413) 259-0364 youngp@amherstma.gov Amherst embraces and is strengthened by the unique and dynamic backgrounds of its community members.  The Town believes in fostering and maintaining a safe and welcoming community, which is based on mutual respect for our residents, students, employees, businesses, and guests. Department of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion | Amherst, MA - Official Website 

• DEI Newsletter  If you would like to be added to this newsletter please email Philip at avilap@amherstma.gov

• Translate Gender
  A trans-led non-profit organization supporting trans, nonbinary, and gender-expansive community members. Website: https://www.translategender.org/

• GrandPride - Grandparents Support Space (In-Person)
  A monthly support group for grandparents of trans, nonbinary, and/or gender-expansive grandkids. Meets at: Northampton Senior Center on the 2nd Thursday of each month, 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM RSVP to: groups@translategender.org

•  UniTy of the Pioneer Valley
  A transgender support group for the Springfield, MA area.
  Meetings: 2nd Thursday of every month (Sept-June) at 7:00 PM,

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/UniTySpringfield

•  PFLAG of Franklin - Hampshire Chapter
  Provides support, education, and advocacy for the LGBTQIA+ community and their loved ones. Website: https://www.fhcpflag.org/

• PFLAG of East Longmeadow - New Meeting Day 

Provides support, education, and advocacy for the LGBTQIA+ community and their loved ones. Meets the second Monday of each month at 7:30pm. Email pflagel413@gmail.com for the location and to receive their newsletter. www.pflageastlongmeadow.org 

• Tapestry Health Systems
  Provides healthcare, support services, and education for safer practices.
  Website: https://www.tapestryhealth.org/ 

• Unity of the Pioneer Valley, First Church of Christ in Longmeadow is a congregation of the United Church of Christ (UCC). 763 Longmeadow St (Rt 5).

About | First Church Of Christ In Longmeadow | Longmeadow

• LGBTQ+ Employment Discrimination Lawyer LGBTQ workplace discrimination involves treating any employee unfavorably based on their actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity. For employees, this type of discrimination can lead to a mix of feelings, and affect a worker’s ability to do their job effectively. In some cases, LGBTQ discrimination has even resulted in physical violence. That's why we wanted to create a guide that looks deeper into the impact of LGBTQ workplace discrimination, and how to educate workers on preventing and handling these situations. Check it out: LGBTQ Discrimination in the Workplace - employeejustice.com/lgbtq-discrimination-in-the-workplace/

ONLINE VIRTUAL COMMUNITIES: 

• Rainbow Elders Virtual Gatherings thru LifePath

Surviving & Thriving Through These Times: Virtual Rainbow Elders Gatherings

Connect with other LGBTQIA+ elders, friends, and providers—in the comfort of your home via Zoom (phone or computer). We chat, share support and resources, reflect upon our LGBTQIA+ experience, and connect with friends new and old. 1st & 3rd Thursdays from 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM

What is the Rainbow Elders Virtual Gathering? Learn more about the Rainbow Elders.

The Rainbow Elders gather virtually on the first and third Thursday of each month via the Zoom platform. Tech support for new folks occurs at 12:45 p.m., and the Virtual Gathering runs from 1-2:30 p.m. As members of the LGBTIQA+ community, we share time together that is social, recreational, supportive, and educational in nature, and which offers the option of sharing resources and opportunities to engage in advocacy.

Elders and their caregivers who are supportive of these goals are welcome to attend and should email rainbowelders@lifepathma.org. Folks under 50 years of age and those with programs they wish to promote are encouraged to inquire about when might be a good time to visit with us.

One-Click Join

Meeting ID: 898 9723 1332

Passcode: rainbow

• OUTSTANDING LIFE  OUTstandingLIFE 

OutstandingLife's mission is to improve the quality of life of LGBTQ+ older adults by creating opportunities for connectedness through free online programming. We currently serve hundreds of LGBTQ+ seniors through our virtual senior center online community. OutstandingLife is a registered 501c3 non-profit organization.

• FENWAY HEALTH - LGBTQIA+ AGING PROJECT  Welcome to the LGBTQIA+ Aging Project 

Mission: The LGBTQIA+ Aging Project works toward equity, inclusion, and community for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex, and asexual older adults, ensuring that they can age with the dignity and respect they deserve. 857 313-6590

• Weekly Zoom Drop-in Group for LGBTQIA+ Older Adults

Since the Spring of 2020, the Aging Project has offered a free weekly Zoom drop-in group for LGBTQIA+ older adults. These are informal discussion groups, facilitated by Aging Project staff, that help people feel more connected. The group meets on Mondays and Thursdays from 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM EST. New members are always welcome.

To register, email LGBTQIAAgingProject@fenwayhealth.org After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. 

Below are photos from the AMHERST SENIOR CENTER MURAL UNVEILING RECEPTION

December 10, 2024, Tuesday 9-11 am 

@ Bangs Community Center, 70 Boltwood Walk, Amherst

• Students Of Lucia Monge’s Public Art And Collaborative Practices have been hard at work painting a mural inside the Senior Center. It is time to unveil their masterpiece! Please join us for the reception! Thank you to the Center for Community Engagement at Amherst College! Refreshments generously provided by Amherst College. 

The Town of Amherst is proud to announce that it has achieved an outstanding score of 99 out of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s 2024 Municipal Equality Index (MEI), illustrating the Town’s unwavering commitment to equity and inclusion for LGBTQ+ residents and visitors.  

“We are honored to receive this high score, as it represents our Town's dedication to creating a community where everyone feels welcomed and valued,” said Town Manager Paul Bockelman. “This achievement is a testament to the hard work of our Town departments, community leaders, and advocates who strive to ensure that Amherst is an inclusive space for all.” 

The Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s Municipality Equality Index is a nationwide evaluation of cities and towns on how inclusive municipal laws, policies, and services are of LGBTQ+ people who live and work there. Cities are rated based on non-discrimination laws, the municipality as an employer, municipal services, law enforcement, and leadership on LGBTQ+ equality. 

“It’s essential that the LGBTQ+ community feels safe and valued, as this fosters a more inclusive, supportive environment for all residents,” said Philip Avila, assistant director of the Department of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. “Ensuring safety and representation helps break down stereotypes, strengthens community bonds, and promotes equality. Amherst’s commitment to inclusivity is key to building a town where everyone, regardless of their identity, belongs and flourishes.” 

Some of the key initiatives contributing to the Town’s score include: 

• Implementation of comprehensive non-discrimination policies in all areas of municipal operations.

• Providing town services to LGBTQ+ youth, people experiencing homelessness, and older adults.

• Elected and appointed leaders who openly identify as LGBTQ+.

• Partnerships with local LGBTQ+ organizations to provide support and outreach services.

• Community programs that celebrate and promote LGBTQ+ culture and visibility.

The Amherst Police Department also announced that Detective Marcus Humber has been designated as the LGBTQ+ Police Liaison, serving as an accessible and friendly ear to the town’s LGBTQ+ community and elevating related concerns to the police chief and other Town officials. With this announcement, the Town is confident of achieving an MEI score of 100 in future years.  

“The Town of Amherst remains committed to continuous improvement and enhancement of its policies and practices” said Pamela Nolan Young, director of the Department of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. “While this score is an important milestone, the journey toward full equality and inclusion is ongoing.” 

“Over more than a decade, the Municipal Equality Index has worked with cities and towns in all parts of the country, in all fifty states to advance the fight for lived and legal equality,” said Human Rights Campaign Foundation President Kelley Robinson in an announcement of this year’s scores. “For LGBTQ+ people, building community isn’t just a phrase, it’s a way of life. In many important ways, local politics shapes our lives just as much as state or national politics does. Mayors and city councilors who take LGBTQ+ inclusion seriously build stronger communities, and in turn their cities thrive.”   

The full MEI report, Amherst’s scorecard, and a searchable database for other municipalities’ scores are available online at hrc.org/mei. To learn more about what Amherst is doing to support LGBTQ+ equality, please contact the Human Rights Commission at humanrights@amherstma.gov. 

Amherst 2024 Municipal Equality Index Scorecard

Posted on: November 25, 2024  https://www.amherstma.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=3698

An LGBTQIA+ & Allies Coffee / Social Hour

Come and meet others for friendly conversations! 

Contact this group by email @  Rainbowandallies@gmail.com