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Queer TriviaQueer Trivia 


Join the Arlington Rainbow Commission THIS FRIDAY for a fun filled Trivia Hour. Questions will relate to Queer history, pop culture, and more! No need to create a team -- trivia will be played on Kahoot (don’t worry--we will give a quick overview before the trivia begins). Click here to register for the event. Grab a cocktail (or mocktail if you like) and join us for a fun filled Friday trivia to kick off your weekend. Top 3 scores will receive a gift card from Roasted Granola, Cookie Time Bakery, or Arlington Centered. Register in advance for this meeting here. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Arlington Rainbow Commission vacancies availableCommissioner applications now being accepted


We are seeking to fill up to two commissioner vacancies in early 2021 (to be filled by the Town Manager with Select Board approval). If you'd like to join us in making a difference, please consider applying.

The Rainbow Commission is a volunteer group of residents, appointed by the Town, to promote full inclusion of LGBTQIA+ individuals and groups through affirming policies and programs, resources, advocacy and community building. See rainbowarlington.org for further details on the commission. Based on the Commission’s current makeup, we especially seek to add voices from underrepresented communities. Applicants who can bring experience and knowledge from diverse sexual orientation, gender identity, racial, religious, economic, ability, and veteran backgrounds would help the commission better represent the wonderful diversity within Arlington’s LGBTQIA+ community. All are welcome to apply. The Commission meets on the third Thursday of the month at 6:30 p.m. via Zoom during the  pandemic. We hope to return to the Robbins Library 4th floor conference room once it is safe to do so. See rainbowarlington.org/meeting-info to confirm upcoming meeting details.

To apply: Town of Arlington residents who are 18 years or older and interested in becoming a  member of the LGBTQIA+ Rainbow Commission, can send resume and letter of interest to: Town Manager Adam Chapdelaine, 730 Mass. Ave., Arlington, MA 02476 or email  townmanager@town.arlington.ma.us. 

Screening of applications is currently underway. Positions will remain open until filled. 

AHS Tshirt FundraiserArlington High School GSA T-Shirt Fundraiser to Support the Transgender Emergency Fund


Consider donating $20 to purchase a Love is Love tshirt and support AHS’ Gender and Sexuality Alliance. All proceeds will go to the Transgender Emergency Fund. 

Envision Arlington Survey


Have you completed the town’s annual Envision Arlington survey? This year’s survey reflects back on two predominant issues in 2020 — COVID-19 and diversity, equity, and inclusion. We partnered with our friends at Arlington Human Rights Commission to advocate for the inclusion of questions about experiences of discrimination in Arlington as well as levels of comfort residents have with calling the Arlington Police Department for assistance. The survey will be open through March 1, 2021. 

This is incredibly important data to have in any work to make Arlington a safer and more inclusive place in which to live, work, and play regardless of your sexual orientation, gender identity, or race.

Check here for more information about the survey and how to fill it out.

Consider Running for Town Meeting


If you want to get more involved in what's happening in Arlington, perhaps you should consider running for Town Meeting and let your LGBTQIA+ voice be heard. Request nomination papers by Feb 17 at noon and pick your papers up by Feb 17 at 5pm. Nomination papers must then be submitted by February 19th at 5pm.  The election takes place April 10. Visit the Town Elections website for more information. 

Upcoming events

 

Arlington Fights Racism

Arlington Fights Racism Building Community Series: Connecting & Engaging
Tuesday, February 9, 2021 7:30 - 9:00 pm
What do you think needs to happen to ensure that all community members feel safe in Arlington? Register here.

LexPride logoLexPride: Candidate Forum on Social Justice
February 13, 2021
1:00-3:00pm
Register at http://bit.ly/3pnS77N

LexPride: Stories of Racial/Social Justice (3-part series)
Finding Home For Everyone
February 25, 2021
7:00-8:45pm
Register at https://tinyurl.com/LexTrue
 

Gender Identities ImageSpeakOUT: Intersecting Queer Identities
March 11, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. 
The Robbins Library Queer Book Group/Social is proud to host a panel discussion where LGBTQ+ people of color will share  personal stories exploring the intersections of their identities. SpeakOUT Boston tells the stories of LGBTQ+ lives to raise awareness and create safer spaces for LGBTQ+ people by opening up a dialogue with its audiences.  Co-sponsored by the Arlington LGBTQIA+ Rainbow Commission. 


Reel Queer TeleParty: PromProm Netflix movie poster
TeleParty Meeting with Zoom discussion to follow: email rlorino@minlib.net or MShapiro-Ide@town.arlington.ma.us for meeting links
Tuesday, February 9
6:30 p.m.
Join us for a virtual meeting of Reel Queer, cosponsored by the Arlington Council on Aging! We’re hosting a TeleParty (formerly known as Netflix Party) and will be watching the film Prom  directed by Ryan Murphy & adapted to the screen from the 2018 Broadway musical of the same name. An optional Zoom discussion will follow. “A troupe of hilariously self-obsessed theater stars swarm into a small conservative Indiana town in support of a high school girl who wants to take her girlfriend to the prom.” This film is rated PG-13 and has a runtime of 2h 10min. To join a TeleParty you’ll need a computer or laptop, a Netflix account, the Chrome browser, and to install the TeleParty Add-On in Chrome. (https://www.netflixparty.com/)
Facebook Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/3499673790257990


Queer Book Group Reads Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit
Zoom event:  email rlorino@minlib.net for meeting link
Wednesday, February 24
7:00 p.m.  
This month QBG reads the queer classic Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit by Jeanette Winterson. “Winner of the Whitbread Prize for best first fiction, Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit is a coming-out novel from Winterson. The narrator, Jeanette, cuts her teeth on the knowledge that she is one of God’s elect, but as this budding evangelical comes of age, and comes to terms with her preference for her own sex, the peculiar balance of her God-fearing household crumbles.”
Copies of the book are available instantly on Hoopla with your library card!
Facebook Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/950757922490730/

Meeting info

Rainbow Commission meetings are generally the third Thursday of the month and are currently held through Zoom. All Rainbow Commission meetings are open to the public. Upcoming meetings: February 18 and March 18. Check the Town calendar to confirm meeting dates and locations. *Notice to the public on remote meetings: In the interests of preventing abuse of video-conferencing, all participants, including members of the public, wishing to engage via the Zoom App must register for each meeting and will notice multi-step authentication protocols. Please allow additional time to join the meeting. Further, members of the public who wish to participate without providing their name may still do so by registering to receive the meeting info and using the telephone dial-in information provided.

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. We need at least 2 weeks notice to hire an ASL interpreter. 

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Copyright © 2021 Arlington MA Rainbow Commission, All rights reserved.


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