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Volunteer opportunities

It was great to see so many of you at Town Day. For those who are interested, we'd like to offer the opportunity to get more involved. If you would like to help us in any of our subcommittees or assist in preparing for or hosting one of our events, please take a moment to fill out this form, which details the areas that you can get involved in. Or add a note suggesting something else you'd like to help with. You can also add a note asking any questions you have for the commission. We look forward to hearing from you!

If you're interested in an LGBTQ+ mentorship, contact Marci at 781-316-3419.

Volunteers and Commissioner Bill Gardiner at the Rainbow Commission's Town Day booth, with a table of Skittles, rainbow stickers, unicorn temp tattoos, and other giveaways

Coming Out Day "Crafts & Community" Oct.12

National Coming Out Day is every October 11th. Celebrate with LGBTQIA+ folx and allies on October 12, 1-4 pm, in the Robbins Library fourth floor conference room, 700 Mass Ave.

Come make a pronoun button to take home, color some cool mystical beasts, or bring whatever craft project you’re already working on. And be sure to pick up a Pride animal button. Drop in for half an hour or stay for the long haul. We’d just love to celebrate with you! This Rainbow Commission event is supported in part by a grant from the Boston Pride Community Fund.

photo of animal buttons in various Pride flag colors

"LGBTQIA+ issues in Arlington Public Schools" Oct. 17

In lieu of our regular monthly meeting, the Rainbow Commission will host an informal community discussion about LGBTQIA+ issues in Arlington Public Schools on October 17, 6:30-8:30 pm. Location TBA.

Jennifer Susse from the School Committee will join us. Other school officials will be encouraged to attend, and we hope local parents and students will join us too. Open to all.

Parent Forum: "Building Community to Support LGBTQIA+ Youth" Oct. 23

This year we’re exploring a new format for our annual Parent Forum hosted by Ottoson Middle School. At "Building Community to Support LGBTQIA+ Youth: An Interactive Discussion for Parents & Guardians," our goal is to open a conversation that harnesses the shared wisdom of our communities to build a home that celebrates all genders and sexualities.

Have you ever wondered how you’d respond if your child came out to you? What about one of their friends? Do you wonder how to create a home that celebrates clear communication between kids and their families about sexuality and gender?

This event is a space to explore these questions and learn more about the resources in our community to celebrate all of the children in our schools. Together we’ll explore what gender and sexuality mean today, and places to find role models of varied backgrounds for us and those in our care. We’ll also delve into ways to process our feelings about kids’ development and the risks they take to be themselves, in ways that nurture healthy communication, boundaries and trust. Finally we’ll equip ourselves with the tools to address mistakes, and the skills needed to create a community that is resilient enough to celebrate everyone. Parents, guardians, and support networks are all invited on this journey with us.

Join us Wednesday, October 23 at 7 pm in the Ottoson Middle School cafeteria, 63 Acton St. This Parent Forum is cosponsored by the Rainbow Commission and LexPride.

Upcoming Rainbow Commission events

See our website for additional local LGBTQIA+ events.

Oct 10: Reel Queer watches "Lizzie," 6:30pm, Robbins Library community room (downstairs), 700 Mass Ave. 2018 Sundance Film Festival nominee "Lizzie" stars Chloë Sevigny & Kristen Stewart. "In 1892 Lizzie Borden lives a quiet life in Massachusetts under the strict rules established by her father. Lizzie finds a kindred spirit in the live-in maid, Bridget, and friendship soon blossoms into a secret romance. But tension mounts in the Borden household, leading to a violent breaking point." Rated R. Runtime 1h45min. Cosponsored by the Robbins Library, Council on Aging, and Rainbow Commission.

Oct 12: Coming Out Day Crafts & Community, 1-4 pm, Robbins Library fourth floor conference room, 700 Mass Ave. See info above.

Oct 17: Rainbow Commission community discussion about LGBTQIA+ issues in Arlington Public Schools, 6:30 pm, Location TBA. See info above.

Oct 23: Building Community to Support LGBTQIA+ Youth: An Interactive Discussion for Parents & Guardians, 7 pm, Ottoson Middle School cafeteria, 63 Acton St, Arlington. See info above.

Nov 14: SAGE Table intergenerational LGBTQIA+ meal & karaoke, 6:30 pm, Arlington Senior Center, 27 Maple St. Please join us for the third annual free meal and gathering of the Arlington and beyond LGBTQIA+ Community. SAGE Tables will be occurring all throughout the country around the same time. All ages. All are welcome. RSVPs welcome to 781-316-3419. Cosponsored by the Council on Aging and Rainbow Commission. Supported in part by a grant from the Boston Pride Community Fund.

Nov 17: Transgender Day of Remembrance observance, 5-6:30 pm, First Parish in Lexington, 7 Harrington Rd. Folks can arrive at 4 pm to make trans ribbons to give out at the event. Each year LexPride hosts a Transgender Day of Remembrance event to honor the lives of transgender people killed in anti-transgender violence each year. Join us to learn in compassion about real lives lost too soon. Sponsored by LexPride and First Parish in Lexington.

Nov 21: Rainbow Commission monthly meeting, 6:30 pm, Robbins Library fourth floor conference room, 700 Mass Ave.

Dec 19: Rainbow Commission monthly meeting, 6:30 pm, Robbins Library fourth floor conference room, 700 Mass Ave.

Additional local events can be found in LexPride’s weekly newsletter. Go to lexpridema.org/contact to sign up.

Rainbow Commission meeting info

Rainbow Commission meetings are generally the third Thursday of the month at 6:30 pm in the Robbins Library 4th floor conference room, 700 Mass Ave. All Rainbow Commission meetings are open to the public. Check the Town calendar to confirm meeting dates and locations and to see meeting agendas.

All Rainbow Commission meetings and events are open to the public. Please contact rainbow@town.arlington.ma.us if you need accommodations. We regret that we generally do not provide ASL interpretation or assistive listening devices, but if you let us know at least a day before the meeting, we can bring a laptop to help with communication. Because of a shortage of qualified interpreters, we need at least 2 weeks notice to line up an ASL interpreter.

Assistance programs in Arlington

If you are in Arlington and need help making ends meet, please see the Town's website for information regarding the Food Pantry, affordable housing, fuel assistance, sports and activities assistance, and other programs.