The Inside Scoop
June 2022
Made possible by YOU!
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Thank you for reading Youth Pride, Inc.'s June edition of The Inside Scoop, the place for YPI updates in addition to local and national LGBTQ+ news! Within you will read about HIV testing at YPI, the 2022 Lipsky/Whittaker Scholarship, our upcoming Queer Networking Night, and all things Pride!
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Lipsky/Whittaker Scholarship |
We are pleased to offer The Lipsky/Whittaker Scholarship again in 2022. The scholarship will be awarded to Rhode Island youth who identify as LGBTQ+ and have a strong history of advocating for the community. $10,000 is available to award to one or more youth and the deadline to apply is 6/22/22. Application is linked below.
The scholarship was established through the estate of John Lipsky and George Whittaker who were life partners for more than 50 years. The two gentlemen passed away in 2005, just eight weeks apart. Their dream was to see “young LGBT men and women grow up without the fear of rejection, violence, discrimination or exposure to HIV/AIDS.”
YPI has established a scholarship committee of community members who will determine the scholarship recipients. Award announcements will be made by June 29th, 2022.
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It's finally Pride month! We hope YPI friends and supporters will stop by our booths at Rhode Island and/or Newport Pride. Come by to say hi, grab some merchandise, and play some games! We're the group with bright, light blue tents.
RI Pridefest:
Saturday, June 18, 12pm-5pm
Downtown Providence - Innovation District Park, the space across from South Water Street and the Pedestrian Bridge
Newport Pride:
Saturday, June 25th, 11am-4pm
Great Friends Meeting House
21 Farewell St. Newport, RI 02840
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Starting in July AIDS Project Rhode Island will be conducting free and confidential HIV testing at our drop-in space. Testing will happen one Wednesday a month from 3-5pm.
Testing is quick and painless; you swab your gums with a cotton swab and your results are ready within 15 minutes. No reservations required, any youth who wants to be tested will be tested. You cannot eat, drink, brush your teeth, or floss one hour before testing.
The next testing date is Wednesday, July 13th from 3-5pm.
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On Thursday, 6/18 YPI, Haus of Glitter, Haus of Codec, and Moving Education Outdoors will be hosting a Queer Networking event at Moniker Brewery in Providence. 21+ Queer professionals will have the evening to mingle and meet with others in the community while enjoying Pride theme beers and good company. More information will be released in the coming weeks; keep an eye on our social media pages for updates! |
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Monthly Spotlight
Rush Frazier
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YPI executive director, Rush Frazier, was recognized in two very honorable ways recently and we would like to highlight them here.
On May 23, Rush was awarded the 2022 National Association of Secretaries of State Medallion Award on behalf of the RI Department of State. The Medallion Award is meant to honor individuals in each state who have demonstrated a remarkable commitment to civic engagement and public service. A public ceremony will be hosted at the state house later this month to recognize all the award recipients.
The Advocate's annual Champions of Pride list has been released, and Rush is Rhode Island's representative! Each Pride month, The Advocate profiles someone from every US state that is making the world a better place and highlights them in their print magazine. These individuals are LGBTQ+ activists, artists, politicians, or everyday people. Rush's piece is transcribed below.
"In Rhode island, Rush Frazier is doing their part to make sure queer youth know their power and can harness it. As the executive director of youth pride, Frasier keeps its mission strong. "Meeting the unique needs of youth and young adults impacted by sexual orientation and gender identity/expression while working to end the homophobic and transphobic environments in which they live work in play and" is the group's goal. The center is the only place in Rhode Island catering to queer and trans youth. Frasier, who is non-binary and queer, spends their days gathering resources in creating opportunities for the young people they serve. After hours they let off steam in one of three ways: herbalism, poetry, and DJ-ing. These activities offer welcome respite because while the work of protecting queer youth is fulfilling and joyful, it can also be stressful, especially with so many legislating to deny their existence. "We have to educate LGBTQ+ youth and their caretakers on their rights and how to fight these white supremacist and heteropatriarchal systems," Fraser says. Their activism also includes having worked on the successful Yes on 3 campaign in Massachusetts in 2018. Question three asked voters to affirm a state law that banned anti-trans discrimination and public accommodations. "We won with close to 68% of the vote," they recall. Frazier continues working to amplify the community's creative and political voices. "When I see so many queer and transgender youth and young adults out here owning themselves in public spaces and not settling for anything less than full acceptance? That's what gives me hope," they say."
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YPI Fundraisers During Pride Month! |
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Drinks:
The Gay Beer Club - The club is teaming up with Narragansett and hosting an event at their Taproom with proceeds benefiting YPI! Happening Saturday, June 18 from 1pm-4pm at Narragansett Brewery located at 271 Tockwotton St, Providence, RI 02903.
Proclamation Ale Company - A portion of the proceeds from taproom can sales of I Actually Exist will be donated to YPI. I Actually Exist is a double IPA with notes of white grape, orange sherbet, grilled peaches, and yellow starburst. Their taproom is located at 298 Kilvert St, Warwick, RI 02886.
Activities:
A Night of Karaoke - hosted by Pink and benefiting YPI; Saturday, 6/25 8pm-12am at Fountain Street Grille in Pawtucket. Singing, raffled, prizes and more!
Synergy Power Yoga - The sound bath class on 6/10 will benefit YPI. Sound baths provide a meditative and relaxing experience where participants are “bathed” in sound waves and frequencies created metal singing bowls, gongs, and chimes.
Escape Rhode Island - In honor of Pride Month, Escape Rhode Island will be donating 10% of sales for teams that use the Promo Code "RIPRIDE" when booking an escape room game during the month of June. These donations benefit YPI.
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Toni&Guy - Proceeds from the student's annual Pride Catwalk will be donated to YPI. Happening on Thursday, 6/16 at 5:30pm at Toni&Guy Hairdressing Academy at 1279 Oaklawn Ave in Cranston.
Other Fundraisers:
Wicked Sick - 100% of the proceeds from their E Fabulous Unum t-shirt design are donated to YPI. Pictured right, linked below.
Michael Kors - 10% of all sales made in the following MK stores on 6/11 will be donated to YPI; Providence Place Mall, Burlington Mall, Natick Mall, In the Shops in Chestnut Hill, MA.
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Mission:
Youth Pride, Inc. is dedicated to meeting the unique needs of youth and young adults impacted by sexual orientation and gender identity/expression while working to end the homophobic and transphobic environments in which they live, work and play.
Values:
LEADERSHIP: YPI is committed to creating the leaders of today. Youth voices drive our process, and we seek to develop the leadership skills necessary both within the organization and outside of it.
AFFIRMATION: YPI believes all youth must be affirmed for who they are and how they express themselves. We are committed to making that a reality in all of the environments in which young people live.
COMMUNITY: YPI believes building strong connections is essential to youth success and empowerment. We strive to create a caring, respectful and diverse community of young people and adults.
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Your tax-deductible donation helps YPI continue to do the important work we do in accordance to our mission. Your gift would be directly investing in our state's LGBTQ youth so that they may have a chance to share their gifts and light with the world. |
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Our Programs and Services |
Youth Pride, Inc. serves over 700 Rhode Island LGBTQ youth and their straight allies a year through a variety of programs and services. All YPI Center services and activities are free to youth and include a leadership development program, several support groups, a Spanish speaking group, and various social groups such as virtual Dungeons & Dragons.
Our center is home to a Basic Needs Pantry, open to youth in need of food, clothing, toiletries, and school supplies. To pick up a premade bag of items, click the Pantry button below.
In addition to free one on one counseling with licensed clinicians. we also provide case management services for youth facing challenging times. For more information on either of these services, email Andy@youthprideri.org
YPI also offers support to those who work with youth through policy and advocacy, and by providing professional development workshops and technical assistance to service providers and educators. Below is a button to our training request form.
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If you have a story you feel should be included in an upcoming newsletter, email Info@youthprideri.org |
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