.gay Community Spotlight on Out Boulder County
This is the latest in our ongoing blog series focused on highlighting LGBTQIA+ nonprofits and community impact groups.
The full series can be found at www.Community.gay
For this latest edition of our ongoing .gay Community Spotlight series, we had the chance to catch up with Out Boulder, an organization doing amazing work for LGBTQIA+ communities in Colorado.
Check out our conversation below!
How would you describe your organization’s mission?
Working independently and in collaboration, Our Boulder County facilitates connection, advocacy, education, research, and programs to ensure LGBTQ+ people and communities thrive in Boulder County and beyond. To me this speaks to how we are an action-oriented organization, take a multi-faceted approach, and work hard to be responsive and strategic in our efforts to co-create a world in which LGBTQ+ people and communities thrive.
Tell us about how that mission is brought to life through your work?
Connection is at the heart of our work – our first role is to facilitate the connection of LGBTQ+ people not only to us as an organization, but also to one another; we are stronger and healthier together. We host all kinds of events – educational, playful, festive, cultural, and just for fun – and these serve an essential purpose of interpersonal connection and community building. These relationships enable and inform our individual and community advocacy. We work to create safe(r) spaces within LGBTQ+ contexts, and are also working to expand that into all the places that our community members go –public spaces, places of employment and worship, service providers and agencies, and more –by educating the broader community about LGBTQ+ identities, issues, and cultural competency through our training program and advocacy efforts. We really focus on how we can help our community thrive, so we offer diverse programming that incorporates protective factors and positive frameworks, such as nature-connection, dance, mental health and wellness.
What would happen if your organization suddenly did not exist?
This really makes me sad to think about because we impact so many people’s lives on such an intimate level. Without Out Boulder County (OBC), I think there would be a lot more isolation and negative coping strategies in our LGBTQ+ population. Our community experiences higher rates of negative health indicators, such as depression, anxiety, truancy, housing instability, and more, due to societal stigma and discrimination; all of these would be exacerbated without OBC. We would also experience even greater rates of harm and being closeted with service providers, schools, workplaces, and more, and we would not have the strength of an organization to back us up when we experience bias and discrimination. While there is always more work to do, OBC has changed the narrative and social fabric of our area when it comes to LGBTQ+ inclusivity. I think this area would be a much darker, scarier, and painful place for LGBTQ+ people of all ages if we did not exist.
What can people do to get involved and help make sure that never happens?
Be active, vocal, and present. Pay attention, and speak up when possible. Of course donate to help us maintain the progress we have achieved and ensure future programming. There are so many ways to give: workplace giving (employer matches are great!); donating to fundraisers and scholarship; attending fundraising events; inviting others to donate; legacy giving (in your will); donating goods and services; encouraging your employer to sponsor Pride or other key events and programs.
Other great ways to support include encouraging organizations to host a training, letting others know about Out Boulder County as a resource, volunteering for Pride or other programs, hosting a fundraiser in your community or on social channels to benefit our work.
Why does LGBTQIA+ visibility matter to you?
LGBTQ+ visibility in our culture is vital and empowering; we do not need to be apologetic about who we are and who we love; these are beautiful things we do not need to hide. Unfortunately, these values are not universal and much of society breeds shame, guilt, and repression. Those of us who can need to keep opening the closet door wider and shining the light on our humanity so that we can eventually get to a place where being LGBTQ+ is no big deal. That is why having organizations like Out Boulder County is so important – we can do the work that needs to be done, recognizing not everyone can do that work. In the big picture, increasing LGBTQ+ visibility is an essential part of reducing spaces where we have to hide. We are still very much in the fight to make LGBTQ+ visibility safe and accessible to everyone.
In your own words, what does “LGBTQIA+ safety and support” mean specifically?
Freedom to exist, to congregate, to love, to make art, to hold hands, to express ourselves, with appreciation from ourselves and others about what makes us unique. It means not having to hide or downplay our identities. It also means being in a space (physically, emotionally, mentally) where we can try new things, make mistakes, learn more and do better. It means being able to communicate and learn about impact – how things impact us, how we impact others. It means both compassion and accountability. It means mutual aid. It means we have each other’s back and an injustice to one is an injustice to all.
Who are some of your LGBTQIA+ heroes?
Of course Sylvia Rivera and Marsha P. Johnson for changing the course of the LGBTQ+ liberation movement through their courage and tenacity. Audre Lorde for her words, wisdom, and frankness. George Michael, Prince, and Freddie Mercury were also inspiring to me personally as a young queer person.
If you could give LGBTQIA+ youth one message, what would it be?
Treat yourself with kindness because the things you say will become true. You are valid, you are worthy, you are loved, you are fabulous. Stay connected to your true self and know that you are a beautiful creation.
Tell us about a time when you felt like the work you do at your organization really mattered or made a difference for the communities you serve?
It’s hard to choose one example. When the pandemic hit, we knew that LGBTQ+ community would be greatly impacted and at higher risk considering LGBTQ+ people make up a higher percentage of the service industry, are less likely to be connected to health care providers, may not have supportive homes, and may have less family and community support to rely on for survival. We quickly responded by creating a direct aid program to offer a financial lifeline to LGBTQ+ community members who lost income. We converted all of our programming and events to a virtual platform overnight and tried new ways to connect with our community to combat social isolation. We also responded on the public health level by advocating for inclusive practices with local and state public health entities and co-facilitated “equity clinics” that centered LGBTQ+ and Spanish-speaking communities to increase vaccine access and uptake.
Anything else you would like to share with the .gay audience?
I encourage folks to get involved with and support their local and/or state LGBTQ+ organizations and their staff. We don’t all get to work for LGBTQ+ organizations but we can share our input, lend our expertise, and build relationships with the staff and community members involved. The staff need to hear from community members about their experiences and needs so that the organizations can remain responsive and prioritize limited resources according to community priorities. Our community based organizations are made up by the people involved, including but not limited to the staff. Everyone’s contributions and involvement are unique and valuable. Sometimes we are strong and can offer the support another needs, and sometimes we rely on others for that support, but more often than not, we experience both of those at the same time. I’d also refer people back to the message for LGBTQ+ youth above, we all need those reminders sometimes.
Learn more about Out Boulder’s work and get involved HERE.
Visit www.Comnunity.gay for more .gay Community Spotlights!
Contact:
Michal Duffy
[they/them]
Director of Education & Research
[en español, mi pronombre es elle]
hablo español.
Out Boulder County
(303) 499-5777 ext. 110
(720) 756-1280
3340 Mitchell Lane
Boulder, CO 80301