Nonprofits receive more than $100,000 in grants to serve RI’s LGBTQ+ communities

Nonprofit organizations serving the state’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) communities will share more than $100,000 in grants through the Equity Action Fund at the Rhode Island Foundation. The funding will support organizations engaged in efforts ranging from civil rights advocacy for families and youth to improving the delivery of health care. 

“Thanks to the continuing generosity and commitment of donors to our Equity Action Fund, we have the resources to support work that helps every Rhode Islander feel safe and embraced being their authentic selves,” said David N. Cicilline, the Foundation’s president and CEO.  

Guided by a volunteer advisory committee comprised of leaders in the LGBTQ+ communities, the Equity Action Fund supports projects that meet the needs of the LGBTQ+ communities in Rhode Island. This year’s recipients are: 

GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders (GLAD) received $10,000 to support its ongoing civil rights advocacy in Rhode Island, including convening LGBTQ+ advocates to promote public policy improvements, defend against anti-LGBTQ attacks, address attacks on transgender youth in schools, build on recent advances streamlining the name-change process for youth and adults, expanding access to PrEP to prevent HIV transmission and securing legal protections to shield providers and patients receiving gender-affirming health care. 

“Rhode Island is not immune to the rash of anti-LGBTQ+ bills appearing all over the country, such seeking to deny transgender students full educational participation, and so-called ‘Parents Bill of Rights’ bills that force schools to out transgender and LGB children. While harmful out-of-state bills don’t gain traction here, we must also seek opportunities to advance equity so that all LGBTQ+ people have the chance to thrive. By working together, we can ensure Rhode Island remains a state that protects equality, dignity, and freedom for all people,” said Ricardo Martinez, GLAD’s executive director. 

Haus of Codec received $10,000 to support the organization’s work providing emergency housing for LGBTQQIA+ youth ages 18 to 24. The organization expects to serve HOC will serve at least 80 young people with case management, emergency shelter and transitional housing. 

“This demographic sees a more significant risk of violence and abuse in larger, less amenable shelter spaces that our state has historically provided. We are determined to break the cycle of homelessness for our residents. Our housing will provide them with the stability that will enable them to better address their long-term needs as well as a food pantry, case management, a clothing pantry and access to workforce development opportunities,” said Julio Berroa, executive director. 

The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center received $2,500 to support the LEAD (Love, Equity, Acceptance, Dreams) LGBTQIA+ Peer Youth Group. Open to LGBTQIA+ youth ages 12 to 18, LEAD provides them with different kinds of planned programming, focusing on community building and engagement; expressive art; social/emotional learning and social justice. 

“This gives them a safe place to discuss challenges and ask questions, and empower them to embrace their authentic selves, whatever that looks like for them,” said Heather Strout, the center’s executive director. 

Meals on Wheels of RI received $3,000 to support its Capital City Café Program, which offers older LGBTQ+ adults a healthy meal and an opportunity for social engagement. Each month, the LGBTQ+ Café includes a guest speaker to connect diners with local supports and services.  
 
“Promoting diversity, equity and inclusion and creating a sense of belonging is a top priority for our programming. By simultaneously offering nutritious meals and the opportunity to socialize in a safe space, we support diners and create an opportunity for meaningful connection” said Meghan Grady, executive director. 

The Newport Community School received $5,000 to support its PROWD! and Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) programs at Thomson Middle School and Rogers High School.    

Facilitated by Thomson’s school-based social worker, the afterschool “PROWD! Program promotes health and mental health in Thomson students who identify as LGBTQ+. Students will attend awareness events, design inclusivity flags, make and distribute “PROUD! To be an Ally” pins and participate in a variety of social and cultural trips sponsored or supported by the LGBTQ++ community. 

“Now more than ever, LGBTQ++ individuals are being targeted by bigoted laws and policies, which requires everyone to strengthen their advocacy practices. Research shows that programs, partnerships, practices and curricula that center queer and trans people benefit heterosexual and cisgender people too,” said Tracy Shea,  

Newport Pride received $4,500 to support Queer Connections. The program fosters and strengthens queer connections through group activities including playing games, discussing literature and watching movies.  

“It’s all about having a great time while connecting with like-minded individuals. We take immense pride in creating a safe and welcoming space for all members of the LGBTQIA+ community to process, express themselves and find support. Your presence matters. Together we’re building a stronger and more connected LGBTQIA+ community,” said Daniel Cano Restrepo, executive director. 

Newport Sings received $3,500 to support Quorus, Newport’s first and only LGBTQIA+ chorus. Founded in 2023, the group performs a variety of music including pop, jazz, and music from all over the world. No previous musical or singing experience is necessary and there is no audition to participate.  

“We offer a safe and joyful space for members of the queer community to connect and sing together,” said Elizabeth Woodhouse, founder and artistic director. “Singers have the opportunity to explore and develop their unique voice as well as learn skills to become more confident musicians no matter what their previous musical experience.” 

Options Magazine received $3,500 to establish a dedicated fund to pay contributors for their journalism, feature writing, creative writing, and poetry. Launched in 1982, the magazine is available digitally as well as in an annual print edition, and has a regularly updated website and a bi-monthly e-newsletter. 

“Our editorial product will benefit greatly from our increased ability to attract both established, professional-caliber talent and up and coming young talent, and our audience will benefit from the stronger, more deeply written content we can platform when we can pay writers to tackle more complex topics of direct relevance to Rhode Island’s queer communities,” said Editor in Chief Zane Wolfang. 

Planned Parenthood of Southern New England received $7,500 to support its Expanding Access to Gender Affirming Hormone Therapy in Rhode Island Project, which aims to train more Rhode Island-based clinicians to provide the treatment, significantly reducing wait times and increasing access to in-person care. Grant support also helps to provide a dedicated Gender Affirming Hormone Therapy patient navigator to connect patients with additional resources and support.  

“This work helps transgender and gender-diverse people align their physical characteristics with their gender identity.  Increased access to gender affirming care will not only improve patients’ physical and mental health outcomes but also creates opportunities for them to access vital preventive screenings and treatment options,” said Amanda Skinner, president and CEO. 

Pride in Aging RI received $10,000 to support its programs that serve and increase visibility of LGBTQ+ older adults.  Programming includes the LGBTQ+ Cafe, which offers a monthly in-person lunch and a monthly virtual gathering and features educational speakers, as well as other activities such as history clubs, museum tours, movie nights, live performances, and author readings. 
 
“Our goal is to ensure that LGBTQ+ seniors in RI have access to safe spaces, supportive services, and community connections,” said David Lima, who co-chairs the organization’s board of directors. 

Project Weber/RENEW received $10,000 to support its gender-diverse services: Beyond The Understanding of Gender Program (Beyond). Beyond is committed to providing inclusive and culturally competent support services to individuals who identify as transgender, non-binary, genderqueer, and all other identities that reach beyond the understanding of gender norms.  

“Our trans and non-binary staff draw from personal and professional experiences to provide clients with weekly support groups, case management, safety planning, court support, legal name change navigation and LGBTQIA+ trainings for groups and organizations. Our peer-led approach ensures that our staff can provide empathetic and effective support to our clients. We advocate for increased availability of gender-affirming recovery housing, shelter, as well as the overall awareness and celebration of the transgender community in Rhode Island,” said Colleen Daley Ndoye, executive director.  

The Providence Gay Flag Football League (PVDGFFL) received $5,100. The league serves more than 300 members of Rhode Island’s LGBTQ+ community – and their allies – in its fall, women’s+ and spring seasons. In addition to local league play, PVDGFFL also selects players to compete at regional and national tournaments. 

“We are one of the few LGBTQ+ sports leagues run by and for the LGBTQ+ community in Rhode Island. We offer people, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, the opportunity to participate in a team sport, develop a social support system, build lifelong friendships and give back to the community,” said Chris Almonte, the league’s commissioner. “Our league is built on a foundation of tremendous diversity and a strong sense of community. Many members of the LGBTQ+ community have a complicated relationship with sports – they may have been bullied or harassed while growing up for being different. While many of our players join for the competition or to make new friends, others see the league as a way to rebuild their confidence and create new and positive associations with sports. The beauty of our league is that it can serve all those purposes.” 

Providence Public Library received $3,000 to support its “Queer StoRIes Project,” which aims to collect oral histories documenting the LGBTQ+ experience in Rhode Island. The work will include providing adult training opportunities as well as small group storytelling events. 

“We will create opportunities for LGBTQ+ people to tell their own stories and document their history by teaching oral history skills and techniques, building intergenerational networks and helping LGBTQ+ youth develop professional skills. The final recordings will be added to our RI LGBTQ+ Community Archives,” said Jack Martin, executive director. 

Queer.Archive.Work received $5,00 to support its annual Queer/Trans Zinefest, which showcases the creations of queer, trans and gender non-conforming writers, poets, cartoonists, independent publishers, zine makers and unaffiliated scholars. 

“We are attuned to the local and increasingly national threats to and censorship of trans and queer art and culture. QTZ was founded in response to the need for spaces that center trans and queer artists in Rhode Island and New England, especially those who have never exhibited their work before,” said Christopher Lee, QTZ organizer. “We are striving to establish Providence and Rhode Island as a known leader in trans and queer-centered small publishing events produced and led by trans and queer people.” 

Riverzedge Arts in Woonsocket received $3,800 to launch its “We Say Gay” campaign next spring. The initiative will include creating billboards that promote visibility and respect for LGBTQIA+ individuals and an appropriate-for-all-ages coloring book that supports acceptance across cultural differences. 

“Because the products will be created both by and for traditionally underserved teens who self-identify as LGBTQIA+, the project will serve as an educational experience as well as an advocacy campaign,” said Kristen Williams, executive director. 

Sojourner House received $10,000 to support its LGBTQ+ Victims of Abuse services, which provide supportive services for LGBTQ+ victims of intimate partner violence, sexual assault and human trafficking as well as educating staff, the public and other service providers on how to support LGBTQ+ victims.  

“People who are marginalized often have a harder time accessing services due to stigma, discrimination and lack of programs tailored to their needs. Some LGBTQ+ individuals do not want to admit that abuse is occurring in a relationship that may not be accepted by their family or social circle,” said Vanessa Volz, executive director. “Abusers sometimes use a victim’s sexuality or gender identity against them – threatening to out them if they report the crime or convincing them that no one will support or believe them. Having programming that understands and addresses their unique needs is critical in order to break the cycle of abuse and help LGBTQ+ victims achieve healthy lives.”

Stages of Freedom received $4,500 to support its “Reading Rainbow: Books by Black Gay Men in Rhode Island” initiative. This project will explore the literature generated by Black gay men in Rhode Island through an extensive exhibit of books, periodicals, photographs, documents and ephemera designed to give visibility to their scholarship, research, and creative writing.  

“African Americans contributed considerably to our state’s identity, politics and cultural landscape. ‘Reading Rainbow’ will advance and generate scholarship, awareness and synergy of Black gay men in Rhode Island. The project is designed for the benefit and betterment of the entire Rhode Island community by creating a safe space to explore how literature defines what it means to be both Black and gay in Rhode Island,” said Ray Rickman, executive director. 

The Steel Yard received $2,500 to support Camp Sparkle, which trains LGBTQ+ youth ages 14 to 18 in the industrial arts such as jewelry- and metal-smithing techniques, welding and large-scale fabrication. 

“Our summer camps are celebrated because they support young artists as whole people with ideas and identities of their own. Campers often tell us Camp Sparkle means the world to them because it is a rare opportunity to be surrounded by other queer young people who accept them without a thought,” said Howie Sneider, executive director. “Our incredible education team creates these brave spaces, and thanks to support from the Equity Action Fund and many other donors, we don’t turn away any students due to financial need.” 

Brown University received $5,000 to support its annual Rhode Island Trans Health Conference, which addresses the health and well-being of the transgender and gender diverse community by offering in-person education, resources and shared best practices for gender- affirming health care.  

“Providing interactive, evidenced-based learning for interdisciplinary professionals across the care continuum will increase comfortability and confidence in providing quality care for all transgender and gender diverse individuals. In addition to didactic presentations, attendees will have opportunities to learn from practitioners with lived experience and expertise in transgender and gender diverse health and wellness,” said Meghan Flanaghan, continuing medical education coordinator. 

Over the years, the Equity Action Fund has made more than $1.3 million in grants to dozens of organizations working on behalf of Rhode Island’s LGBTQ+ communities. The public can support the fund’s work by donating to it here. 

The Equity Action Fund is just one of the ways the Foundation supports Rhode Island’s LBGTQ+ communities. In recent years, the Foundation has awarded nearly $1.5 million in additional funding to provide housing and health services for LGBTQ+ people among other programs.   

The announcement comes as the Foundation has released a multi-year research project on the experiences of the LGBTQ+ communities in Rhode Island, which includes a set of priorities for the future. “LBTQ+ Voices in RI” features oral interview recordings and a timeline of significant LGBTQ+ milestones.

The Rhode Island Foundation is the largest and most comprehensive funder of nonprofit organizations in Rhode Island. Through civic leadership, fundraising and grantmaking activities, often in partnership with individuals and organizations, the Foundation is improving the lives of all Rhode Islanders.