As pride month comes to a close, I wanted to take a second to remind everyone of the importance of intentional spaces. I live in Provincetown, MA, a town that has been a haven for outliers since it’s inception. The Pilgrims actually spent a few weeks here, before heading up cape and claiming Plymouth as their own (regardless of who was already living there). This town is technically where America was born, and I believe this is where it must be re-born.
Ptown’s rich history as refuge was fortified in the 1980’s as gay men dying to AIDS were often expelled from their home towns, they landed on the shores of Ptown and cared for by the community, often lesbians.
There have been many discussions about intentional spaces in the last decade, and I have often been someone who believes that diversity in a space makes the foundation of that community stronger. While I still believe that, I also recognize that the current climate of rhetoric and actual violence aimed at the LGBTQ+ community is leveling up at a rapid pace. The one thing our small community doesn’t have a lot of, is space, and it might be time to focus on making sure it is there for those that need it the most. Don’t worry, I’m not blind to how expensive this place has gotten, and that many can’t afford it. I’m suggesting we intentionally HIRE LGBTQ+ folks. If the government is going to make discrimination legal, we certainly don’t have to be the only victims of it. Time to reclaim the power to discriminate. Homo’s only.
I chatted with NBC Boston this month about the need for safe spaces for our community, and an idea that could expand the safety net for LGBTQ+ folks who are over 21.
The concept is simple, can we get local businesses that provide employee housing to commit to hiring 21+ queer folks from across the US? We import a workforce every summer, and with some intentional outreach, we can fill those spots with LGBTQ+ folks from areas in this country that not only feel unsafe but are actually dangerous for them. Making sure future generations get to benefit from the safe harbor so many have sought in a storm.
Time to circle the wagons around the LGBTQ+ community, no matter their tax bracket.
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