Easton Pride, an organization that defines itself as a safe, supportive and empowering home for the Easton LGBTQ community, is seeking feedback from residents. Pride has been growing as an organization, providing information, events and resources for critical areas like links to lifelines.
To help it continue to grow and build its resources, the group is asking interested members of the community to complete a brief survey to gauge their interest. Topics in the survey range from starting a support group for parents of LGBTQ youth to joining the Easton Pride planning committee. The survey can be accessed on Google docs
Susan Falzone, an Easton Pride member, said that given recent events that have taken place in the LGBTQIA+ community, it is important to have a safe space for all its members in Easton. (LGBTQIA+ stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, intersex, asexual, and other identities not included in the acronym.)
“Easton Pride is here to help create and maintain a safe and inclusive environment for all people, where everyone is celebrated for their authentic selves, especially our LGBTQIA+ youth,” said Falzone. “It’s a challenging time for the LGBTQIA+ community and their loved ones, with the death of Nex Benedict, as well as so many anti-trans policies being introduced, 496 in 2024 alone across 41 states.”
The death of Nex Benedict, a 16-year-old nonbinary high school student who was repeatedly bullied and then beaten in a school restroom in Oklahoma in February, was ruled a suicide.
State Rep. Anne Hughes, an ally to the LGBTQ community and a member of Easton Pride Committee, said it’s important for Easton Pride to get input from the community on how best to serve its young members.
“We need to hear about their shared reality because there has been a lot of targeted hate and online rhetoric toward the LGBTQ community, ” said Hughes. “The rate of suicide among this community is four times higher. “
According to the Trevor Project, a non-profit LGBTQ youth suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization, LGBTQ young people are more than four times as likely to attempt suicide as their peers.
Easton Pride organized several events in 2023, including its fourth annual pride flag raising and community celebration in June. To learn more about Easton Pride visit the website and Facebook page.
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