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- The (Bi)weekly Kiki | March 22
The (Bi)weekly Kiki | March 22
Meriden Pride Community Center
Today, we are coming together in solidarity, strength, and celebration for Transgender Day of Visibility with a rally.
This is a peaceful demonstration open to all who believe in dignity and human rights for LGBTQ+ people. Whether you are trans, nonbinary, an ally, family member, friend, or neighbor, your presence makes a difference.
We will meet at noon at the Pride Center (328 Paddock Ave) and walk over together. If you can’t meet us at noon, stop by the intersection of Paddock Ave and East Main Street (by Burger King and CVS) and join when you can! We will be there until we run out of energy.
Bring your own signs
Bring noise makers
Bring your pride and your power!
Trans rights are human rights. This rally is a space to uplift, protect, and affirm our trans community members while raising our voices for equality, safety, and justice. Now more than ever, visibility matters.
There is no LGB without the T. Let’s stand together and show Meriden that love, visibility, and community will always rise above hate.
In solidarity,
-The Meriden Pride Team
Table of Contents
This moment in Queerstory 🪶
International Trans Day of Visibility
Rachel Crandall-Crocker, a transgender activist, founded TDOV in 2009.
Each year on March 31, we join the global community in celebrating International Transgender Day of Visibility (TDOV).
The holiday was founded in 2009 by Michigan-based transgender activist and psychotherapist Rachel Crandall-Crocker. She noticed that the only major date on the calendar for the community was Transgender Day of Remembrance—a vital day of mourning, but one that focused primarily on tragedy and loss. Crandall-Crocker wanted to create a space for "the living" to come together and celebrate their successes. What began as a single Facebook post quickly grew into an international phenomenon, as people across the globe felt the same need to replace isolation with community and pride.
Now, TDOV is observed in dozens of countries and recognized by major human rights organizations and governments. It serves as a powerful reminder that while we must continue to fight against discrimination and for legislative protections, we also deserve moments of pure celebration.
Celebrate Trans Joy:
25 Transgender People Who Influenced American Culture (TIME)
Trans Joycast (Spotify)
Transgender People On What Trans Joy Means To Them (Cosmopolitan UK)
Trans Joy: In Practice, Play, and Pleasure. A Panel Discussion (Columbia School of Social Work)
Get the facts from Human Rights Campaign:
Sports bans (because suddenly everyone has an opinion on this)
Frequently asked questions (don’t be ashamed!)
March Events 🍀
Please check our Facebook pages to RSVP to events. If you’re not already a member, join the private group for Meriden Pride. (Main FB page | Private group)
3/29, Trans Day of Visibility Protest. Begins at noon @ Meriden Pride Center; march ends at the corner of Paddock Ave. & East Main St., where the protest will continue (No sign-up necessary; bring yourself, a sign, and make some noise!)
Observances
March is Bisexual+ Health Awareness Month
(31) International Transgender Day of Visibility
April Events ☔
Gayme Night is a recurring event. Participate in the game of the month, or play other games!
Please check our Facebook pages to RSVP to events. If you’re not already a member, join the private group for Meriden Pride. (Main FB page | Private group)
4/8, Gayme Night: Tabletop RPGs! 5-8 p.m. @ Meriden Pride Center
4/15, Sex: A Community Conversation (18+ only). 6-8 p.m. @ Meriden Pride Center (snacks will be provided!)
4/29, Pride & Thrive Queer Mixer. 6:30-9 p.m. @ Grace’s Place and the Rino Stage
Observances
(6) International Asexuality Day
(10) National Youth HIV/AIDS Awareness Day & Day of Silence
(18) National HIV Transgender Testing Day
(19) Nonbinary Parents Day
(20-26) Lesbian Visibility Week
(26) Lesbian Visibility Day
Volunteer Opportunities 🙌
Connect with the local LGBTQ+ community! 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:
Staffing the center with a committee member on Saturdays and Sundays
Staffing the Health Fair on May 16 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
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.
Community Center Hours
Saturdays, 12-4 p.m.
Sundays, 12-4 p.m.
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.