Rainbow Optimist Update Drag Queen Storytime
Senior staff of Elgin County, the St. Thomas Library Staff, the senior staff of the Southwestern Public Health, the staff of the Middlesex Libraries, Employment Sector Council Job Developers Network and the staff at the Workforce Planning and Development Board have already taken this workshop. The workshop will be delivered in Middlesex County to the general public Thursday, April 23, 6:30pm to 7:30pm at the Strathroy Public Library, 32 Frank St., Strathroy. The event if free with donations welcomed by the Rainbow Optimist Club Rainbow Speakers Panel A Rainbow Speaker Panel is also being offered in rural settings. It is designed with LGBT2Q+ teens in mind but all are invited. The Rainbow Optimists want teens to be able to bring their families and friends. It depicted people who live and work in their local community and identify as LGBT2Q+. The panel members discuss careers, life lessons learned and first-hand experience of life in their community. New dates and locations are in negotiations. These incentives will open doors, give support to rural LGBT2Q+ youth, educate the community, and will create opportunities for everyone to participate and to be included in their community. Camp Ten Oaks doors in August 2005. It doubled in capacity in 2018 with the addition of our second location, allowing for nearly 200 campers. Camp Ten Oaks is the first and only summer camp of its kind in Canada. They offer children a space where they can feel not only accepted, but celebrated. For many campers, the program is the cornerstone of their year. Their varied programming allows campers to receive instruction, strengthen old skills and develop new ones with the option to participate in outdoor adventure, waterfront, arts, social justice activities and sports. They empower children and youth through play that enhances self-esteem, life skills, independence, leadership and self-confidence. Their website is www.tenoaksproject.org/camp-ten-oaks. NewWebsite The Rainbow Optimist have a new website: www.RainbowOptimistClub.com. All events, workshops and fund-raisers are included on the website. Also included is a calendar and a resource section. Follow us on Facebook: This year the Rainbow Optimist have donated to Camp Ten Oaks to sponsor someone to attend the camp in August. Camp Ten Oaks is a two-location, one-week each, sleep-away camp for children and youth ages 8-17 from 2SLGBTQ+ (two spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer) identities, families, and communities. The program first opened its
Local Drag Queen Storytime events have gotten a great response. In the fall the Queens were on the road and were in Kincardine and Forest. In January, they were in Stratford. Dates for 2020 are now being arranged. There is one confirmed for the Komoka Library on June 6th at 11:00 am. Elgin County, St. Thomas, Stratford, Kincardine, Huron County and other areas are requesting Drag Queen Storytimes.
Kincardine
How are Drag Queen Storytimes funded? They are funded through donations, sponsorships and fundraisers. One of the fundraisers is Bitchy Drag Queen Bingo which has nothing to do with Bingo. It is a grab bag auction conducted by the Queens. There have been 4 very successful Bin-gos 3 in London and 1 in Strathroy. There is another one coming up in Strathroy on Saturday, April 25, 7pm to 10pm at Rusty Wrench, Main St., Strathroy. The Rainbow Optimists formed the Pride in the Park Committee in Strathroy to bring a Pride in the Park Celebration to Middlesex County on July 11th from 11:30 am to 4:00 pm. The Rainbow Optimists are working with the St. Thomas Rainbow Alliance to bring a Pride in the Park Celebration to Elgin County on July 18th from noon to 4:00 pm. The Rainbow Optimists delivers an original workshop called Creating a Safer Space for the LGBT2Q+ Communities. A safe space is "a place or environment in which a person can feel confident that they will not be exposed to discrimination, criticism, harassment, or any other emotional or physical harm." The goal of creating "a safer space is to create a space where people can find themselves represented and reflected, and where they understand that all people are treated with respect and dignity." The organizations that have completed the workshop can offer a space: • that is positive and safe; • where the staff have been trained to understand LGBT2Q+ issues and needs; • and that understands the challenges and stigma faced by families. Creating Safer Spaces for LGBT2Q+ Communities
www.Facebook.com/RainbowOptimistClub Find us on Instagram: #rainbowoptimistclub Email: rainbowoptimist@gmail.com Website: www.RainbowOptimistClub.com
PRIDE Villager
Page 7 Issue 4 • Spring 2020
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