Happy Pride Month!

This June, we're honoring and celebrating the incredible LGBTQIA+ individuals who have been powerful voices and leaders in the anti-violence movement. Their courage and advocacy continue to shape a safer, more inclusive world. 

 Sylvia Rivera

At just 17, Rivera played a critical role in the Stonewall Uprising, declaring: “I’m not missing a minute of this – it’s the revolution!” Much of her advocacy was alongside Marsha P. (“Pay It No Mind”) Johnson. Together, they co-founded STAR (Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries) — an organization that provided shelter and community for unhoused trans youth, many of whom faced systemic gender-based violence.

 Harvey Milk

 In 1977, Milk won a seat on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, running an unapologetically authentic campaign at a time when LGBTQIA+ people were facing rampant discrimination and erasure. He challenged harmful beliefs and demanded visibility, famously declaring: “We are coming out to fight the lies, the myths, the distortions. We are coming out to tell the truths about gays, for I am tired of the conspiracy of silence, so I’m going to talk about it. And I want you to talk about it.”

Del Martin & Phyllis Lyon

In 1955, Phyllis Lyon and Del Martin—along with six other lesbians—founded the Daughters of Bilitis, the first lesbian civil and political rights organization in the United States. The organization began as a way to build community and combat the isolation and loneliness many lesbians faced at the time.

Lorraine Hansberry

Hansberry is best known for her groundbreaking play A Raisin in the Sun, which explores the struggles of a Black family confronting systemic racism and generational conflict. When it opened on Broadway in 1959, it became the first play written by a Black woman to appear on a Broadway stage. At 29, Hansberry became the youngest person — and the first Black woman — to win the prestigious New York Drama Critics’ Circle Award. She was also an early member of the Daughters of Bilitis and courageously wrote about the interconnected struggles of homophobia, misogyny, and racism.

David Jay

Growing up, Jay often felt something was “wrong” with him. Surrounded by a heteronormative culture that emphasized crushes and sexual exploration, he felt isolated in his experiences. Jay launched the Asexuality Visibility and Education Network (AVEN) with the goal of fostering an open and honest public dialogue about asexuality and supporting individuals as they explore and express their sexual identities. The AVEN community has created a safe space for asexual and questioning people and their partners, friends and families to discuss their experiences.

Pedro Zamora

At 17, while trying to donate blood, Zamora learned that he was HIV positive. He quickly became a powerful young voice for HIV/AIDS education, especially among youth and communities of color. In 1994, Zamora broke new ground as the first openly gay, HIV-positive person on a major U.S. television series when he was cast on The Real World: San Francisco. Through the show, he raised national awareness and humanized the conversation around HIV/AIDS and LGBTQ+ issues.

Lani Ka’ahumanu

Born in 1943 in Edmonton, Alberta, Kaʻahumanu is of Native Hawaiian, Japanese, Euro, Irish, and Polish Jewish descent. She often passed as white and witnessed first hand how her mother and sister were treated differently because of their appearance. These early experiences shaped her lifelong commitment to intersectional justice. Ka’ahumanu co-founded BiPOL – the first feminist bisexual action group in the United States. She later co-coordinated the San Francisco Bay Area Bisexual Network (BABN) in 1987 and the first National Bisexual Conference in 1990, which is where BiNET USA, the first national bisexual rights group, was founded. 

Kylar W. Broadus

Broadus is the founder and director of the Trans People of Color Coalition, the only national organization dedicated specifically to the civil rights of transgender people of color. Broadus has also served on the boards of the National Black Justice Coalition, PROMO, and Freedom For All Americans, and he is a founding member of the Transgender Law and Policy Institute. As an attorney, Broadus was willing to fight for justice when others were too scared to take on LGBTQIA+ or trans-related cases, earning a reputation as a trusted and tireless legal advocate.

Spotlight on Project SAGE

Welcome Our New Rapid Rehousing Advocate Katie Vaill

Project SAGE is delighted to welcome Katie Vaill as our new Rapid Rehousing Advocate. Rapid Rehousing is a program designed to help individuals and families experiencing homelessness to quickly secure and maintain permanent housing through a combination of short-term financial assistance and supportive services. 

Born and raised in Litchfield County, Katie has worked in the field of human services since the early days of her career. Most recently, Katie spent five years as the Director of Town Services in Winstead. 

One of the things that attracted Katie to Project SAGE is the agency’s commitment to both clients and staff. “In my long career, I’ve found that an agency that recognizes and wants to care for people doing this work is rare. Taking care of people on the front lines is really important.”

For Katie, one of the most rewarding aspects of being the Rapid Rehousing Advocate is being part of someone’s journey into a new life as they move into stable housing. Katie says, “I love celebrating with clients as they take their next steps.” 

Katie holds a master’s degree in Leadership and Human Services from Springfield College. She is a longtime resident of Norfolk, CT, where she lives with her partner and their dog Rocco. Please join us in welcoming Katie to the Project SAGE staff!

Upcoming Events

Community Workshop: Digital Safety for Youth - What Parents Should Be Talking About

July 24, 2025 | 5:30 PM0 AM - 7:00 PM

Kent Memorial Library

Stranger danger is nothing new -- but online gaming and social media have brought strangers into the home in the guise of peers and friends. With platforms changing constantly and new apps appearing every day, how can adults keep their kids safe from online exploitation? This interactive, 90-minute workshop designed for parents and caregivers of teens and tweens provides a foundation for talking with youth about online safety, including online stranger danger, cyberbullying, artificial intelligence, and more. This will be a safe space for adult participants to practice having the often uncomfortable conversations that can make all the difference in the life of a child who has been targeted for exploitation. Register here.

Become A Monthly Donor

Did you know our annual appeal doesn't end on December 31? We need your support through June 30 to cover the cost of supporting families on their path to healthier futures. Make a one-time gift or become a monthly donor by clicking here. Thank you! Your support makes all we do possible!

Resource Roundup

ARTICLE: Whats the Difference Between Violence and Abuse?

Abuse isn't always violent, and violence isn't always abuse. Understanding the difference can help survivors better identify harm and find safety. Learn more here.

ARTICLE: What Is Legal Abuse?

Legal abuse is a form of post-separation control where abusers manipulate the court system to harass, intimidate, or financially drain survivors. Common tactics include filing excessive or frivolous motions, delaying court proceedings and making false accusations—all intended to overwhelm and destabilize the survivor. Survivors can protect themselves by documenting patterns, seeking protective orders and working with legal professionals familiar with domestic abuse dynamics. Learn more here.

PODCAST: Breaking the Cycle - Understanding Coercive Control

Dr. Christine Marie Cocchiola, a clinician, coach, and expert on coercive control and narcissistic abuse shares her personal journey as a survivor, highlighting the often subtle and insidious nature of coercive control in intimate relationships and systems. Listen to her story here

Tech-related Resources

A Special Roundup for the Year of Digital Safety

FREE WEBINAR: Healing from Relationship Scams

Behind every relationship scam is a person whose trust was betrayed. Join the National Center for Victims of Crime for a candid panel discussion featuring experts in cybercrime and finance as they unpack how these scams work, why they're effective, and the profound emotional and financial toll these crimes have on those affected. Learn about vital resources for victims and how friends and loved ones can provide meaningful support. Register here.

ARTICLE: The ChatGPT "Reverse Location Search" Trend

ChatGPT is getting remarkably good at identifying locations in photos that have been stripped of metadata that include precise location data. This is concerning from a privacy standpoint since Artificial Intelligence can now be used to help people deduce exactly where others are located -- whether they want to be located or not. Read more here.

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