SEW GAY CLUB

What to Expect:

• We’ll kick off the gathering with a brief tutorial on using a sewing machine and follow with open time to practice, work on projects, and mingle. Bring that top you’ve been meaning to crop or those pants you’ve been meaning to hem. Bring your favorite piece of clothing that needs to be patched up or altered, or the elaborate halloween costume you’ve been working on. Or come with nothing at all but excitement to learn a new skill! 

• We will provide basic machines and supplies for attendees. Please note that you may not be guaranteed your own machine to use due to limited supplies, and you may be partnered with a sewing buddy. (If you have your own machine, feel free to bring it.)

• A few experienced sewing “guides” will be present to teach and answer questions. 

• All are welcome, regardless of skill level, experience, or identity.

TQNC is a grassroots nonprofit fostering queer joy, advocacy, and arts for Greater Boston’s LGBTQIA+ and ally community. TQNC hosts queer community events where we can safely exist as our whole selves, advocates for our queer community, and provides support services for queer community members facing threats to their basic physical and mental health. Find us on Instagram & Bluesky @tqncboston or TQNC.org.

Trans and gender-expansive people are leaders, full stop. They may not always hold formal leadership titles or positions, but they’re the ones building the resources and supports they need to exist and thrive. They’re the ones mentoring and coaching one another, formally and informally. And they’re the ones often pushing for change in their workplaces, communities, and personal lives. 

They are leaders, yet too often, their leadership isn’t recognized or encouraged by cisgender-dominated institutions and systems. So, if nobody else is going to invest in trans leaders, they’ll need to do what they’ve always done as a community: come together to lift each other up.

If Not Us, Who? Building the Next Generation of Trans Leadership is is a half-day conference created by and for trans and gender-expansive people to explore how their lived experiences shape the ways they lead, the communities they cultivate, and the care they offer along the way. Through speakers, interactive workshops, community partner resources, and opportunities for networking and connection, participants will reflect on their own leadership journeys while learning alongside trans and gender-expansive peers from across Greater Boston.

Participants will leave with an expanded network, deeper insight into their personal leadership approach, and resources to support what comes next. Wherever you are in your leadership journey – organizing your community, navigating change in your workplace, or still learning to recognize the leader within yourself – this gathering is an invitation to connect, learn, and imagine what we can build together.

Coffee and lunch will be provided. 

T‍QNC is proud to be a community partner for the upcoming Intersex Awareness Day Documentary Screening at BPL Roslindale with MRKH Intersex Organization.

This compelling film shares the incredibly personal journeys of three intersex individuals who have transformed childhoods shadowed by shame, secrecy, and non-consensual surgeries into vibrant, thriving adulthoods. Following the screening, we invite you to participate in a discussion led by Esther Leidolf, founder of the Jamaica Plain MRKH Organization and intersex activist. Esther will delve deeper into the themes of the film and share insights from their book, "Not Uncommon, Just Unheard Of."

Schedule of Events:

• 1pm-1:20pm- Community Connection & Networking

• 1:30-3:00pm Documentary Screening of "Every Body."

• 3:15-4pm Discussion & Resource sharing

Don't miss this opportunity to gain a deeper understanding, engage in meaningful dialogue, and show your support for the intersex community.

About the Facilitator:

Esther Leidolf is a semi-retired carpenter and medical sociologist with a background in public health data management. Their essays have been published internationally, and Esther has appeared in a number of documentaries, including the award-winning Intersexion. Esther currently works as a consultant on federal and local levels, hoping to make their experience and community less “unheard of.”

Just like Boston runs on Dunkin', our small grassroots organization runs on queer human power!

We are seeking more volunteers to support our mission and vision through various capacities. WE WANT YOU! We have opportunities for you to show up behind the scenes in our organizational process and also on the ground at our events engayging other queer folks.

So we're launching our Volunteer Mixer and Info Session, with virtual and in-person options!

• Part I: (in-person) Mixer & Info Session: Thursday October 22 6:30pm -7:30pm

• Part II: (virtual) Info Session Only: Monday November 2 6pm - 7pm

Get to know more about TQNC while, mixing and mingling with other queer people like you!

🌈 Open Streets Roslindale is back, and TQNC will be there to host a dedicated community resource table and meetup hub at this event!

📍Come find us, connect with neighbors, and enjoy the day! 🏳️‍⚧️

Open Streets Boston is a collection of vehicular-free, family friendly events offering programming across a wide spectrum of interests—from wellness activities and performance art to artisanal crafts and “kids zones” (and much more!) During these events, the City of Boston will close major thoroughfares to motor traffic, instead opening the roadways up for pedestrian use that will include walking, rolling, biking and other modalities. Special programming and activities, including a fantastic community marketplace and musical entertainment, will be featured throughout the day from 10:30am - 3:00pm.

TQNC is a grassroots nonprofit fostering queer joy, advocacy, and arts for Greater Boston’s LGBTQIA+ and ally community. TQNC hosts queer community events where we can safely exist as our whole selves, advocates for our queer community, and provides support services for queer community members facing threats to their basic physical and mental health. Find us on Instagram & Bluesky @tqncboston or TQNC.org.

TWO AVAILABLE DATES: Join us IN-PERSON -OR- VIRTUAL

• Virtual session will be Thursday October 8th from 6- 7:30 pm.

• In-person Session October 15th 12:30 Lunch Circle starts 1:00pm- 3:30pm space to be determined. 

LGBTQ+ organizational leaders will actively engage in circle discussions to confront pressing challenges and collaboratively develop effective strategies that ensure sustained health and wellness within our organizations. Leaders will learn about radical foundations that support smaller organizations and activists in maintaining their impact within communities.

Circle Structure:

• Participants sit in a circle signifies continuous self care and the evolving nature of collective healing

• We use a Talking Piece: An object (like a stone, feather or Crystal) is passed around, allowing only the person holding it to speak, ensuring everyone has a chance to share without interruption.

• Active Listening: We ask you to remain present during as participants are sharing.

• Confidentiality: What's shared here stays here, be a vault.

• Shared Responsibility: We encourage you to support each other and contribute to the collective healing process.

• Focus on Connection and Belonging: We aim to build strong relationships and foster community. 

Community Altar:

We will have a community altar as a part of this community session. Community altars serve as a space for remembrance, collective grieving, and healing. You are welcome to bring an item to add to the altar. 

TWO AVAILABLE DATES: Join us IN-PERSON -OR- VIRTUAL

• Virtual session will be Thursday October 8th from 6- 7:30 pm.

• In-person Session October 15th 12:30 Lunch Circle starts 1:00pm- 3:30pm space to be determined. 

LGBTQ+ organizational leaders will actively engage in circle discussions to confront pressing challenges and collaboratively develop effective strategies that ensure sustained health and wellness within our organizations. Leaders will learn about radical foundations that support smaller organizations and activists in maintaining their impact within communities.

Circle Structure:

• Participants sit in a circle signifies continuous self care and the evolving nature of collective healing

• We use a Talking Piece: An object (like a stone, feather or Crystal) is passed around, allowing only the person holding it to speak, ensuring everyone has a chance to share without interruption.

• Active Listening: We ask you to remain present during as participants are sharing.

• Confidentiality: What's shared here stays here, be a vault.

• Shared Responsibility: We encourage you to support each other and contribute to the collective healing process.

• Focus on Connection and Belonging: We aim to build strong relationships and foster community. 

Community Altar:

We will have a community altar as a part of this community session. Community altars serve as a space for remembrance, collective grieving, and healing. You are welcome to bring an item to add to the altar. 

🌈 Open Streets Mattapan is back, and TQNC will be there to host a dedicated community resource table and meetup hub at this event!

📍Come find us, connect with neighbors, and enjoy the day! 🏳️‍⚧️

Open Streets Boston is a collection of vehicular-free, family friendly events offering programming across a wide spectrum of interests—from wellness activities and performance art to artisanal crafts and “kids zones” (and much more!) During these events, the City of Boston will close major thoroughfares to motor traffic, instead opening the roadways up for pedestrian use that will include walking, rolling, biking and other modalities. Special programming and activities, including a fantastic community marketplace and musical entertainment, will be featured throughout the day from 10:30am - 3:00pm.

TQNC is a grassroots nonprofit fostering queer joy, advocacy, and arts for Greater Boston’s LGBTQIA+ and ally community. TQNC hosts queer community events where we can safely exist as our whole selves, advocates for our queer community, and provides support services for queer community members facing threats to their basic physical and mental health. Find us on Instagram & Bluesky @tqncboston or TQNC.org.

In celebration of Bi+ Visibility Month, join The Queer Neighborhood Council and Bisexual Resource Center for PolyTalk, an intimate discussion dedicated to the complexities of polyamory and consensual non-monogamy (CNM) through the queer lens.

Polyamory is having a "moment," but for the queer community, intentional relationship-building has always been a tool for liberation. As interest in non-monogamy grows, so does the need for clarification and conversation.

This is a space to dismantle hetero-mononormative stigmas and celebrate the diverse ways our community shows up for and with one another.

Pull up a chair. Join our affair. Let’s talk about how we grow a community that embodies our shared values and vision for the future.

Note: All relationship dynamics are welcome, provided they are rooted in consent.

UPDATE: OUTinNATURE is cancelled this weekend due to the storm warning.

We're super bummed to miss seeing you all, but stay dry, stay cozy, and we'll keep you posted on future events! ☔

🏳️‍⚧️ OUT in NATURE: A Queer & Trans Takeover! 🍃 📍 Spectacle Island!

Nature is already gay—you just have to show up. 🌈 Come meet new people and celebrate community in a safe, open, and welcoming outdoor space! 🌳💫🦋

🏖️ Beach relaxing & trail hiking

🧺 Community picnic

🎣 Fishing & touch tank demonstrations

Pack a lunch, bring a friend, and take over the island with us!

VENUE CHANGE!

Our Friday plans have a new address! Bi+ Night will celebrate this Bi+ Visibility Month at the brand new distillery and cocktail lounge: NAMU! 

Think low lights, excellent cocktails, and a DJ set you can dance to or talk over. The snacks are delicious, the staff is lovely, and there’s room for whatever kind of night you need: catching up with friends, meeting someone cute, or just being somewhere you don’t have to explain your bisexuality.

Coming solo? Come find our host, Bailey. We want you here, even if you don’t know anyone yet.

✨ DJ set by DJ Chii Chii
🍸 Craft cocktails + zero-proof options
💜 Bi+ vibes, but all are welcome (other LGBTQ+ and allies, that means you!)
💋 Practice your flirting with our host, Bailey
🃏 Tarot cards maybe?

More good news: This location is near the Green line and has plenty of parking in the lot and on Heath St.

We'll see you there for this special night where we're all extra visibile!

SEW GAY CLUB

What to Expect:

• We’ll kick off the gathering with a brief tutorial on using a sewing machine and follow with open time to practice, work on projects, and mingle. Bring that top you’ve been meaning to crop or those pants you’ve been meaning to hem. Bring your favorite piece of clothing that needs to be patched up or altered, or the elaborate halloween costume you’ve been working on. Or come with nothing at all but excitement to learn a new skill! 

• We will provide basic machines and supplies for attendees. Please note that you may not be guaranteed your own machine to use due to limited supplies, and you may be partnered with a sewing buddy. (If you have your own machine, feel free to bring it.)

• A few experienced sewing “guides” will be present to teach and answer questions. 

• All are welcome, regardless of skill level, experience, or identity.

This program is funded in part by a grant from the Medford Arts Council, a local agency which is supported by Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.

TQNC is a grassroots nonprofit fostering queer joy, advocacy, and arts for Greater Boston’s LGBTQIA+ and ally community. TQNC hosts queer community events where we can safely exist as our whole selves, advocates for our queer community, and provides support services for queer community members facing threats to their basic physical and mental health. Find us on Instagram & Bluesky @tqncboston or TQNC.org.

Carrying the weight of current politics while raising a family can feel overwhelming, but you do not have to navigate it alone.

Join us for Community Circle Up, an intergenerational healing circle for trans, queer, and LGBTQIA+ parents and caregivers.

Through solidarity and understanding, we can transform shared experiences into inspiring insights, fostering resilience and collective strength.

Let's unite to challenge the forces trying to erase us and create a future rooted in support, reflection, and empowerment.

TWO AVAILABLE DATES: Join us IN-PERSON -OR- VIRTUAL

• Virtual session will be Thursday September 10th from 6- 7:30 pm.

• In-person Session September 17th 12:30 Lunch Circle starts 1:00pm- 3:30pm space to be determined. 

LGBTQ+ organizational leaders will actively engage in circle discussions to confront pressing challenges and collaboratively develop effective strategies that ensure sustained health and wellness within our organizations. Leaders will learn about radical foundations that support smaller organizations and activists in maintaining their impact within communities.

Circle Structure:

• Participants sit in a circle signifies continuous self care and the evolving nature of collective healing

• We use a Talking Piece: An object (like a stone, feather or Crystal) is passed around, allowing only the person holding it to speak, ensuring everyone has a chance to share without interruption.

• Active Listening: We ask you to remain present during as participants are sharing.

• Confidentiality: What's shared here stays here, be a vault.

• Shared Responsibility: We encourage you to support each other and contribute to the collective healing process.

• Focus on Connection and Belonging: We aim to build strong relationships and foster community. 

Community Altar:

We will have a community altar as a part of this community session. Community altars serve as a space for remembrance, collective grieving, and healing. You are welcome to bring an item to add to the altar. 

🌈 Open Streets Mattapan is back, and TQNC will be there to host a dedicated community resource table and meetup hub at this event!

📍Come find us, connect with neighbors, and enjoy the day! 🏳️‍⚧️

Open Streets Boston is a collection of vehicular-free, family friendly events offering programming across a wide spectrum of interests—from wellness activities and performance art to artisanal crafts and “kids zones” (and much more!) During these events, the City of Boston will close major thoroughfares to motor traffic, instead opening the roadways up for pedestrian use that will include walking, rolling, biking and other modalities. Special programming and activities, including a fantastic community marketplace and musical entertainment, will be featured throughout the day from 10:30am - 3:00pm.

TQNC is a grassroots nonprofit fostering queer joy, advocacy, and arts for Greater Boston’s LGBTQIA+ and ally community. TQNC hosts queer community events where we can safely exist as our whole selves, advocates for our queer community, and provides support services for queer community members facing threats to their basic physical and mental health. Find us on Instagram & Bluesky @tqncboston or TQNC.org.

Beyond Survival: Building a Boston Where Trans and Gender-Expansive People Thrive
A Kuumba Conversation on Solidarity, Power, and Collective Action

As attacks on trans and gender-expansive communities intensify nationally and locally, Greater Boston faces an important question: what would it truly take to build a city where trans and gender-expansive people — especially Black, Brown, immigrant, and low-income community members — are not simply surviving, but thriving?

This installment of Kuumba Conversations, convened in partnership with Representative Samantha Montaño, will bring together community leaders, organizers, advocates, care providers, and elected officials for a roundtable discussion centered on collective vision and action. During this conversation, we’ll explore such questions as:

• What does a Boston where trans and gender-expansive people can thrive look like?

• How can we all – grassroots organizers, institutional leaders, funders, care providers, and legislators – work together to make progress towards this future?

• Across sectors, roles, and systems, what does solidarity look like, and how can we practice it with each other? How can we build trust, collaboration, and shared strategy?

Grounded in the spirit of Kuumba — creativity, collective responsibility, and community-building — the conversation aims to foster deeper connection, alignment, and sustained collective action across movements, sectors, and organizations. The event is envisioned as a participatory experience that centers dialogue and engagement over a traditional panel format, with opportunities for attendees to contribute ideas, identify priorities, and shape future collaborative efforts.

Audience members will include organizers, LGBTQ+ advocates, healthcare leaders, youth-serving organizations, philanthropic partners, elected officials, and community members committed to advancing equity and liberation for trans and gender-expansive communities across Greater Boston. 

Funding for this event generously provided by the Equality Fund at the Boston Foundation.

Facilitated by Representative Sam Montaño (she/they) and YW Boston’s President & CEO Aba Taylor, this event will bring together a small group of Boston-area trans community leaders for a facilitated conversation focused on working together, across sectors and roles, to create a more liberatory Boston for the trans community. The panel will include:

• Lakia Doncheva (she/her), Executive Director, Trans Emergency Fund

• Dallas Ducar (she/her), Chief Strategy Officer, Fenway Health

• Finn Gardiner (he/they), Director of Advocacy and Organizing, Mass Trans Political Coalition

• Jullieanne Doherty Lee (she/they), Executive Director, Boston Mayor's Office of LGBTQIA2S+ Advancement

• Nicholas McCaskill (he/they), Interim President, Trans Resistance MA

• Grace Sterling Stowell (she/they), Executive Director, BAGLY

Join us for a virtual community circle exploring what it might mean to reimagine masculinity beyond the roles, expectations, and stories we have inherited.

Inspired by themes from The Emerald Podcast, we’ll reflect together on masculinity through healing, accountability, vulnerability, community, and liberation.

Come to listen. Come to share. Come as you are.

Virtual Event. Zoom link provided upon RSVP

SEW GAY CLUB

What to Expect:

• We’ll kick off the gathering with a brief tutorial on using a sewing machine and follow with open time to practice, work on projects, and mingle. Bring that top you’ve been meaning to crop or those pants you’ve been meaning to hem. Bring your favorite piece of clothing that needs to be patched up or altered, or the elaborate halloween costume you’ve been working on. Or come with nothing at all but excitement to learn a new skill! 

• We will provide basic machines and supplies for attendees. Please note that you may not be guaranteed your own machine to use due to limited supplies, and you may be partnered with a sewing buddy. (If you have your own machine, feel free to bring it.)

• A few experienced sewing “guides” will be present to teach and answer questions. 

• All are welcome, regardless of skill level, experience, or identity.

TQNC is a grassroots nonprofit fostering queer joy, advocacy, and arts for Greater Boston’s LGBTQIA+ and ally community. TQNC hosts queer community events where we can safely exist as our whole selves, advocates for our queer community, and provides support services for queer community members facing threats to their basic physical and mental health. Find us on Instagram & Bluesky @tqncboston or TQNC.org.

Join us for an intimate conversation with Forbes 30 Under 30 founder Tiana Tukes as we explore what it means to build organizations, navigate leadership, and create impact. Together, we'll discuss the realities of entrepreneurship beyond the headlines, from overcoming structural barriers to understanding personal journeys.

Entrepreneurship is often portrayed as a story of individual success. In reality, who gets access to opportunity, capital, mentorship, and visibility is deeply shaped by systems of race, gender, class, disability, immigration status, and other intersecting identities.

Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur, nonprofit leader, student, creative, or simply curious about creating meaningful change, this conversation will offer practical insights alongside honest reflections on leadership and purpose.

We’re closing Estrella Street for a morning of queer joy, face painting, bubbles, music, Drag Story Time, and neighbors getting to know neighbors. Bring your kids. Bring your chosen family. Bring a friend (or make a few).

All aboard! It's TQNC's 3rd birthday and we're hitting the high seas for a Boston Harbor Cruise with a LIVE DJ!

Where? in person! Rose Kennedy Greenway, Parcel 8, 2024 Freedom Trail, Boston, MA 02113
When? Wednesday, August 12 from 6-8PM

What are we reading? We’ll choose together! Books that support us in these times—whether that means radical resistance, queer joy, or both.

August Book of the Month: Communion by Bell Hooks

TQNC is a grassroots nonprofit fostering queer joy, advocacy, and arts for Greater Boston’s LGBTQIA+ and ally community. TQNC hosts queer community events where we can safely exist as our whole selves, advocates for our queer community, and provides support services for queer community members facing threats to their basic physical and mental health. Find us on Instagram & Bluesky @tqncboston or TQNC.org.