🌈 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 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.

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.

📣 Our goal is simple: to keep providing the queer spaces and programming our community relies on. To do that, we need to build together. These are open, drop-in sessions where everyone has something to contribute—you do not need a specific skillset or prior knowledge of fundraising to join. We learn and grow in community. 🌱

🌈 How You Can Help: These sessions are collaborative and action-oriented. We’ll be working together on:

💸 Crowdfunding: Creative ways to mobilize community support.

📄 Grants: Identifying opportunities to tell our story.

🔗 Prospecting: Brainstorming new relationships and bridges.

🤝 Sponsorship: Engaging with local businesses and partners.

💡 The Vision: We are meeting to build a structured development plan for the year. Our focus is on creating reliable funding, deeper community ties, and a clear, sustainable process for volunteers (including monthly check-ins!).

Note: This is a drop-in space! No long-term commitment is required—just bring your passion and your perspective.

Your contribution ensures TQNC remains a vital resource for our community. 🍀💚

🌈 Open Streets Jamaica Plain 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.

SAVE THE DATE!

Join The People’s Coalition for an activism workshop designed to confront our historical roots and the utilization of economic and social justice liberation movements to justify American exploitation both at home and abroad.

For decades, queer activism has fought for rights within the U.S, but true liberation requires a global lens.

To truly support the most marginalized, we must move beyond identity-specific activism to challenge international power structures and address the footprint of domestic capitalism and build broader, intersectional coalitions across different liberation movements.

This session moves beyond "band-aid" solutions to tackle the root causes of injustice. We will examine the mechanics of domestic capitalism and how it functions today on the world stage.

Open to all—no prior organizing experience is needed. 

Let’s build a coalition that leaves no one behind.

Note: lunch will be provided

Calling all curious humans! 

Join TQNC for WTF is Gender? A Virtual Workshop Series to Learn, Explore– a 3-part virtual workshop series that digs into the big questions about identity, dysphoria, and unlearning societal norms.

Ever find yourself asking, "Wait, WTF is gender, actually?" This isn't a dry academic lecture—it’s an educational and engaging mini-series designed to kickstart conversations and provide food for thought.

Open to all! Whether you’re learning for yourself or for your work, these courses are designed to help you grow your knowledge and challenge assumptions in a supportive environment.

Facilitated by Whitney, a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW).

📣 Our goal is simple: to keep providing the queer spaces and programming our community relies on. To do that, we need to build together. These are open, drop-in sessions where everyone has something to contribute—you do not need a specific skillset or prior knowledge of fundraising to join. We learn and grow in community. 🌱

🌈 How You Can Help: These sessions are collaborative and action-oriented. We’ll be working together on:

💸 Crowdfunding: Creative ways to mobilize community support.

📄 Grants: Identifying opportunities to tell our story.

🔗 Prospecting: Brainstorming new relationships and bridges.

🤝 Sponsorship: Engaging with local businesses and partners.

💡 The Vision: We are meeting to build a structured development plan for the year. Our focus is on creating reliable funding, deeper community ties, and a clear, sustainable process for volunteers (including monthly check-ins!).

Note: This is a drop-in space! No long-term commitment is required—just bring your passion and your perspective.

Your contribution ensures TQNC remains a vital resource for our community. 🍀💚

Museum of Science Pride Celebration 2025

The Museum of Science is thrilled to host Pride Celebration 2026 — a special event highlighting the LGBTQ+ community's contributions, innovations, and leadership in science, the arts, and more. This day-long event invites guests of all ages to participate in learning activities and experiences that are lively and life-affirming.

Celebrate the accomplishments of LGBTQ+ communities in STEM and beyond during a full-day Pride celebration at the Museum on Saturday, June 28. 

The event will feature live performances, hands-on activities for all ages, inspiring guest speakers sharing stories of discovery and impact, and local partner organizations serving LGBTQ+ individuals across Greater Boston.

Join The People’s Coalition for an activism workshop designed to confront our historical roots and the utilization of economic and social justice liberation movements to justify American exploitation both at home and abroad.

For decades, queer activism has fought for rights within the U.S, but true liberation requires a global lens.

To truly support the most marginalized, we must move beyond identity-specific activism to challenge international power structures and address the footprint of domestic capitalism and build broader, intersectional coalitions across different liberation movements.

This session moves beyond "band-aid" solutions to tackle the root causes of injustice. We will examine the mechanics of domestic capitalism and how it functions today on the world stage.

Open to all—no prior organizing experience is needed. 

Let’s build a coalition that leaves no one behind.

Note: lunch will be provided

Calling all curious humans! 

Join TQNC for WTF is Gender? A Virtual Workshop Series to Learn, Explore– a 3-part virtual workshop series that digs into the big questions about identity, dysphoria, and unlearning societal norms.

Ever find yourself asking, "Wait, WTF is gender, actually?" This isn't a dry academic lecture—it’s an educational and engaging mini-series designed to kickstart conversations and provide food for thought.

Open to all! Whether you’re learning for yourself or for your work, these courses are designed to help you grow your knowledge and challenge assumptions in a supportive environment.

Facilitated by Whitney, a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW).

Join us for the full series, or simply pop in for the individual sessions that interest you most

Part I: Gender Dysphoria | May 19, 6-7pm

Part II: Exploring Gender | June 16, 6-7pm

Part III: Unlearning Gender Normativity | July 14, 6-7pm

How do we navigate a world that often demands we mask our true selves?

Join us for a community-led roundtable discussion dedicated to the Queer and Neurodivergent experience. Whether you’re Autistic, ADHD, or otherwise neuroqueer—and anywhere on the LGBTQ+ spectrum—this space is for you.

We’ll be moving beyond the basics to discuss how our identities overlap, how we find "found family," and how we can build more accessible, inclusive spaces within the Boston community.

What to Expect:

Facilitated Dialogue: Guided by community leaders with lived experience.

Safe Space: A focus on sensory-friendly communication and "come as you are" energy.

fidget-friendly - dimmer lighting - no-pressure participation

Community Connection: An opportunity to meet others living at this specific intersection.

When: Saturday, June 13, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM

Where: Boston Public Library, Central Branch, Commonwealth Salon

Who: Open to all who identify at this intersection or wish to learn more in a supportive environment

Cost: Free to attend

Hosted by: Association for Autism and Neurodiversity (AANE), TQNC, and Queerdos

Celebrate Pride with a purpose! Join us at Shake the Tree on the evening of Sunday, June 7th, for a community fundraiser supporting The Queer Neighborhood Council (TQNC), a local nonprofit dedicated to serving Greater Boston’s LGBTQIA+ and ally communities.

This is more than just a mixer—it’s an opportunity to connect with the advocates behind the mission, learn about their work in our neighborhood, and make a tangible impact.

What to Expect:

Mingle & Meet:Connect with the nonprofit team and fellow community members in a welcoming, festive environment.

Curated Shopping:Explore a beautiful selection of unique gifts, stylish apparel, and home decor.

Sips & Snacks:Enjoy complimentary refreshments and light bites while you browse.

Make an Impact: A percentage of all proceeds from the evening will go directly toward supporting local LGBTQIA+ programming and community-led priorities.

Whether you are shopping yourself, for the perfect gift, or simply want to show your allyship, your presence helps fuel grassroots change!

Celebrate Pride with us by investing directly in the future of our local LGBTQIA+ community!

Calling all curious humans! 

Join TQNC for WTF is Gender? A Virtual Workshop Series to Learn, Explore– a 3-part virtual workshop series that digs into the big questions about identity, dysphoria, and unlearning societal norms.

Ever find yourself asking, "Wait, WTF is gender, actually?" This isn't a dry academic lecture—it’s an educational and engaging mini-series designed to kickstart conversations and provide food for thought.

Open to all! Whether you’re learning for yourself or for your work, these courses are designed to help you grow your knowledge and challenge assumptions in a supportive environment.

Facilitated by Whitney, a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW).

SEX WEEK BOSTON x TQNC presents

Labor of Love; Exploring Sex, Relationships & Gender-Affirming Birth in Queer & Trans Community

in proud partnership with Sir Doula and South Shore Family Health Collaborative

Join us for an intimate, expansive conversation with Jess Baker (Sir Doula) and trans sex therapist Jordon Anderson. We’re moving beyond the clinical and getting into the heart of gender-affirming sex, birth, and the beautiful, messy evolution of queer relationships.

The Agenda:

- How we envision and manifest our families on our own terms

- Navigating the shifts in intimacy, desire, and connection that come with the journey to parenthood

- Guidance on perinatal care, the "childbirth fast course," and postpartum care—tailored specifically for our community’s bodies and spirits

- Real talk on the available routes and resources in family planning

Whether you’re just starting to wonder "what if," or you’re already deep in the glow (and the grind), come settle in for a night of wisdom, connection, and the radical act of dreaming our futures into existence.

Fundraising can bring up a lot of different emotions– we’re socialized under capitalism to think that talking about money is rude or shameful. But when we’re building movements for justice, inviting our friends to help grow those movements with their time AND money can be liberating. 

We invite you to participate in a Making the Ask workshop with facilitator Kelly Baker on Thursday, May 7 from 6-7pm ET to develop and practice your fundraising skills.

In this one-hour interactive workshop, we will discuss preconceptions about fundraising, develop a donor prospect list, and learn how to make a compelling fundraising ask. The goal is for you to leave feeling more confident and ready to make some asks!

About the Facilitator: Kelly Baker (she/her) is a consultant with over a decade of fundraising and facilitation experience. She has consulted with a wide variety of social justice organizations working at the local and national level, including Worcester Youth Cooperatives, OutstandingLife, Art.coop, and Pa’lante Restorative Justice. She is a facilitator and curriculum development lead with Resource Organizing Project, an organization focused on building the field of grassroots fundraisers in New England. Born and raised in Boston, Kelly now calls Somerville home. Learn more about her work here.

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.

Queer Advocacy Potluck & Community Food Drive

Join us for an evening of community, conversation, and action at our Queer Advocacy Potluck and Food Drive!

This is an opportunity to directly engage with the issues impacting our community while enjoying 🍕 great food and 🤝 good company. We're gathering to foster connections, share a meal, and give back to those in need.

Gay Agenda™️ 🌈 We will be conducting a soft launch of our Pilot Survey for the Boston LGBTQ+ Homelessness Needs Assessment. Our goal is to gather vital data from LGBTQ+ individuals in the Greater Boston area who are currently experiencing unstable housing.

What to Know:

A note on the "Food Drive": To support our community efforts, we encourage you to bring non-perishable food items (canned goods, pasta, cereal, etc.) for our food drive. We are currently seeking donations of non-perishable food items that are easy to enjoy and do not require additional ingredients or preparation. Every contribution, big or small, makes a difference and helps us support our Greater Boston community.

Suggested Donation Items:

• Granola bars or protein bars

• Individual packs of nuts or trail mix

• Canned fruit or vegetables (ready-to-eat)

• Applesauce cups or fruit cups

• Instant oatmeal packets

• Shelf-stable milk or plant-based milk boxes

• Peanut butter or other nut butter single-serve cups

• Canned beans (ready to eat)

• Crackers or rice cakes

• Cereal boxes or single-serve cereal packs

• Shelf-stable juice boxes or water bottles

Please note: Attendees that are currently experiencing food insecurity will be encouraged to take home any food donations received through the drive.

A note on the no-pressure “Potluck”: While we call this a potluck, you are not required to bring anything at all.

• It’s ok to bring something small

• It’s ok to bring something store-bought

• It’s ok to bring absolutely nothing and still eat!

For folks bringing home-cooked dishes or items, we kindly request that you include a list of major allergens (dairy, eggs, gluten, soy, nuts, fish)

If you are unable to contribute a dish, that's even more reason to come! We want you here to share in the conversation and the meal.

A note on the "Advocacy": No prior experience is necessary! This is a collaborative space to engage in advocacy efforts & take action on queer issues prioritized by our community

All are welcome and encouraged to attend and participate in lending their voices to this important work!

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 a gentle evening of rest, reflection, and community care. This gathering is a space for trans, nonbinary, and queer folks to slow down, breathe, and reconnect with one another in a supportive environment.

Together we’ll share a relaxed evening focused on grounding and self-care, with calming activities, quiet creative space, and opportunities to connect with community members. Whether you want to chat, decompress, or simply sit in a peaceful space, you are welcome here.

Potluck style food offerings plus light snacks and drinks will be available. Feel free to bring a journal, art supplies, or anything that helps you relax. We will have items available as well.

This event is part of our community programming centered on rest, healing, and collective care. We look forward to sharing space with you.

Where? in person! All She Wrote Book, 75 Washington St. Somerville, MA 02143
When? Wednesday, April 8 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.

April Book of the Month: CRAWL by MAX DELSOHN

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.

📣 Our goal is simple: to keep providing the queer spaces and programming our community relies on. To do that, we need to build together. These are open, drop-in sessions where everyone has something to contribute—you do not need a specific skillset or prior knowledge of fundraising to join. We learn and grow in community. 🌱

🌈 How You Can Help: These sessions are collaborative and action-oriented. We’ll be working together on:

💸 Crowdfunding: Creative ways to mobilize community support.

📄 Grants: Identifying opportunities to tell our story.

🔗 Prospecting: Brainstorming new relationships and bridges.

🤝 Sponsorship: Engaging with local businesses and partners.

💡 The Vision: We are meeting to build a structured development plan for the year. Our focus is on creating reliable funding, deeper community ties, and a clear, sustainable process for volunteers (including monthly check-ins!).

Note: This is a drop-in space! No long-term commitment is required—just bring your passion and your perspective.

Your contribution ensures TQNC remains a vital resource for our community. 🍀💚

Join us for a gentle evening of rest, reflection, and community care. This gathering is a space for trans, nonbinary, and queer folks to slow down, breathe, and reconnect with one another in a supportive environment.

Together we’ll share a relaxed evening focused on grounding and self-care, with calming activities, quiet creative space, and opportunities to connect with community members. Whether you want to chat, decompress, or simply sit in a peaceful space, you are welcome here.

Potluck style food offerings plus light snacks and drinks will be available. Feel free to bring a journal, art supplies, or anything that helps you relax. We will have items available as well.

This event is part of our community programming centered on rest, healing, and collective care. We look forward to sharing space with you.

An evening to celebrate and uplift trans creative expression across all mediums!

This is a mask mandatory event, when you RSVP you agree to COVID testing prior. Please take a picture of your test and show upon arrival.

Hosted by HELP by AMG Trans Resistance MA, and TQNC as part of Trans Day of Visibility

What To Expect

- Open Mic performances (music, drag, poetry, dance & more) - Visual art on display + free vendor spots for trans artists - Community, creativity, and joy in abundance

💖 Want to get involved? Fill out our form: linktr.ee/helpbyamg

Hosted by HELP by AMG in collaboration with Trans Resistance MA, MTPC, and TQNC (All trans- and gender-nonconforming-led organizations). Completely free to attend!

Trans Day of Visibility is about more than being seen, it’s about having the knowledge, tools, and resources to survive and thrive.

As part of TDOV 2026: Self-Care Is Resistance, HELP by AMG and our collaborators are hosting a Know Your Rights Mini-Conference focused on empowerment, access, and collective care for trans, nonbinary, and gender-expansive community members.

This 3 hour gathering brings together legal experts, advocates, organizers, and service providers to share information, resources, and support in one affirming space.

This event is open to everyone, including allies. We ask allies to show up with respect, humility, and a commitment to solidarity.

SAVE THE DATE! More details to follow