With another Pride Month behind us, we invite you to take a moment to reflect on your own journey this past month. What moments brought you joy, connection, or pride? However you celebrated—loudly, quietly, or somewhere in between—we hope it was a meaningful and affirming time for you.

But Pride doesn’t end just because it’s July. We’ve been busy planning our upcoming Pride Fest on August 16, and we’re so excited to welcome everyone for another year!

We can’t do it alone, though—we need your help to make it amazing. If you would like to volunteer at this year’s Pride Fest, please fill out this form. We appreciate you!

-The Meriden Pride Team

This Moment in Queerstory 🪶

Nonbinary Awareness Week

Nonbinary Awareness Week, observed annually during the week surrounding July 14th, was proposed by Katje van Loon to spotlight the unique experiences and identities of nonbinary people—those whose gender exists outside the traditional binary of male and female.

The week gained momentum following the rise of visibility efforts within the LGBTQ+ community, particularly after the official recognition of International Nonbinary People’s Day in 2012. Centered around July 14th to fall mid-way between International Women’s and Men’s Days, this observance honors the history, resilience, and diversity of nonbinary individuals while confronting the challenges they face, from legal recognition to healthcare access.

Read More: ‘Why I Invented Non-Binary Day’ (Source: BBC)

July Events 🌞

Say hi to us at our booth at the Meriden Farmers Market every Saturday, 8 a.m. through noon at the Meriden Green!

• Wed. 7/16, Gayme Night. 5-8 p.m. @ Meriden Pride Community Center

• Thu. 7/17, Demystifying Dungeons (kink education). Cost: $10 donation. 6-8 p.m. @ Meriden Pride Community Center

• Sat. 7/19, Pride Prom: A Night to Remember. 5-8 p.m. @ Shalom United Church of Christ New Haven (323 Temple St., New Haven)

• Wed. 7/23, Craft Night. 5-8 p.m. @ Meriden Public Library

• Thu. 7/24, Sex, Drugs and Risk Reduction (18+). 6-8 p.m. @ Meriden Pride Community Center

• Fri. 7/25, Queer Potluck. 6-8 p.m. @ The Unitarian Universalist Church. Please bring an entree and a side/drink/dessert. Questions to [email protected]

• Sun. 7/27, Parent/Guardian-LGBTQ+ Youth Open House. 2-4 p.m. @ Meriden Pride Community Center

Observances

• (6) Omnisexual Visibility Day

• (13-19) Nonbinary Awareness Week

• (14) International Nonbinary Peoples Day

• (16) International Drag Day

August Events 🌟

• Sat. 8/2, Soulful House Music Fest. 2-8 p.m. @ Meriden Green

• Tue. 8/5, Meriden’s National Night Out. 5-8 p.m. @ Hubbard Park

• Sat. 8/16, MERIDEN PRIDE FEST! 11 a.m. -5 p.m. @ Meriden Pride

Volunteer Opportunities 🙌

Connect with the LGBTQ+ community this summer! We’d love to have your help at events. Please fill out a volunteer form if you would like to volunteer with us.

Right now, we need volunteers for:

• Meriden Pride Fest on August 16

• Staffing the center with a committee member on Saturdays and Sundays

Email us at [email protected] if you have any questions. We are stronger together!

About the Community Center 🌈

The Meriden Pride Community Center offers a wide range of free resources and support services to empower and assist the community, including:

• Sexual health supplies such as male and female condoms, dental dams, and lubrication

• Free at-home COVID-19 test kits, Narcan overdose prevention kits, and blood glucose meters for health monitoring

• Assistance with applications for heating and renters’ reimbursement programs

• Personalized help connecting to broader city and state services

• Borrowing books from our LGBTQ+ library

• Complimentary internet and printing access

Committed to holistic support, the center strives to address immediate and long-term needs through its inclusive and accessible offerings.

Donate to the Center 💝

Every donation fuels our mission to uplift the Greater Meriden LGBTQ+ community through free, accessible programming that celebrates identity, fosters belonging, and sparks joy. From inclusive workshops and peer support networks to vibrant Pride events and educational resources, we create safe spaces where LGBTQ+ individuals can thrive. Led entirely by volunteers, our work is powered by your generosity—ensuring queer voices are heard, stories are celebrated, and no one faces barriers to connection. Together, we’re building a world where everyone can live authentically, proudly, and without compromise.

Venmo: @MeridenPride

Cashapp: $MeridenPride