On May 31 from 4:00 to 7:00 pm, the SouthCoast LGBTQ Network will be sponsoring its inaugural event, “Looking Back, Moving Forward: Celebrating a Decade of Marriage Equality” to be held at the Waypoint Center on New Bedford’s historic waterfront.
This event has two goals: to celebrate ten years of marriage equality in the Commonwealth and to highlight the growing needs of LGBTQ elders and youth in our area. Profits from the event will fund a Program Coordinator who will focus on assessing the needs and developing resources for LGBT homebound, isolated seniors, and homeless, at-risk LGBTQ youth in our communities.
Ten years ago, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts became the first state to legalize gay marriage. Many of us in the SouthCoast, gay and non-gay, along with area legislators, businesses and non-profit organizations worked together to not only make equal marriage the law in Massachusetts, but to also provide a shining example that encouraged other states to embrace equal marriage as well. At last count, LGBTQ couples can now legally marry in 17 states and the District of Columbia.
However, there are still unmet needs in the LGBTQ community. Recently, recognizing the expressed concerns, especially in the areas of LGBTQ elders and youth, a number of local organizations and groups have come together to create the SouthCoast LGBTQ Network. The Network, a project of the Community Foundation, includes Coastline Elderly Services, Fairhaven Council on Aging, New Bedford Alliance of Gay and Lesbian Youth (NB-AGLY), SouthCoast Equality, SouthCoast Youth, Education and Schools (SC-YES), the Women’s Center and the YWCA of Southeastern MA. Its mission is to build and maintain a comprehensive support network for LGBTQ individuals and families across the age spectrum.
Please join us for this exciting celebration. Tickets are $25/person and $10/student and are available at Down to Earth Natural Foods (New Bedford), Town Wharf General Store (Mattapoisett), Le Place (New Bedford) and How On Earth (Mattapoisett). Tickets can also be reserved by contacting the Network at sclgbtqnetwork@gmail.com.