Rochester Rainbow Union
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Rochester Rainbow Union
@rocrainbowunion.bsky.social
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Rochester's LGBTQ+ Resource Center and Library
Empty Closet Relaunch Program: https://bit.ly/emptycloset
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Upcoming "Know Your Rights" training on Tuesday, December 2nd from 5:30 pm to 7 pm!
Know your rights. Since the Fall of 2024, many LGBTQ+ people have asked how they can take steps to better protect and care for their marriages and families as well as ensure their advanced directives are respected. Presenters from Empire Justice Center and Bond, Schoeneck & King PLLC will discuss marriage equality and other relationship recognition, issues around children, and estate planning considerations for people in New York. This presentation will provide general information only and may not be relied upon as legal advice. Tuesday, December 2, 2025. 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm. Please RSVP to: kvalle@bsk.com by Friday, November 28th. Wine, beer, and n/a beverages will be served aling with light appetizers. Bond, Schoeneck, & King PLLC, 350 Linden Oaks, 3rd floor, Rochester, NY 14625.
November 12, 2025 at 4:31 PM
rocrainbowunion.bsky.social
Trans Day of Remembrance
📅 Thursday, November 20, 2025
🕕 6:00 – 8:00 PM
📍 MLK Park, Rochester, NY
Theme: “Living Legacies: Rooted in Memory, Growing in Power”
Hosted by Next Generation Men of Transition (NGMT)
Trans Day of Remembrance. Living Legacies. Rooted in memory, growing in power. Thursday 6 pm, November 20th. MLK Park Lodge. Honoring the past and nurturing collective strength. ASL interpreter and handicap accessible symbols. Trans Day of Remembrance. Thank you to our sponsors. Trans Alliance of Greater Rochester. Rochester Rainbow Union. MOCHA Center. Trillium Health. ImageOut. Roc SRJ. GRPR. Eileen Amy Ryan. Rainbow Seniors ROC. NYUC. Empowering Masculinity. Rochester LGBTQ+ Together. The Marsha P. Johnston Institute. Rochester Grants Pass Resistance. Food Not Bombs. Harry B. Bronson New York State Assemble 138th District
November 11, 2025 at 7:58 PM
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Support your Trans siblings, for they are the ones being targetted first. Fight for their right to live safely and authentically.
November 7, 2025 at 2:30 PM
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We are looking for some Lilac Library volunteers! Reach out to [email protected] if interested!
Volunteer positions. Library coordinator: Manages and schedules the Lead Volunteer Team Coordinates Lead Volunteer meetings to keep the team up-to-date Evaluates the library programs and projects for effectiveness and support needs Works with the Library Committee to reviews and update library policies as needed Communicates library updates to the RRU Board Library events coordinator: Schedules recurring library events: Lilac Lectures Works with volunteers and community partners to host library events
November 7, 2025 at 2:29 PM
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Update: The South Wedge Mission has graciously offered to host our council meeting in their downstairs fellowship room!
LGBTQ+ Community Council. Date: Monday, November 10th. Time: 6-8 pm. Location: South Wedge Mission. Facilitation assisted by M.K. Gandhi INstitute for Nonviolence and Rochester Rainbow Union. bit.ly/4hjgJLB
November 7, 2025 at 2:28 PM
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Flash new donor special!
We have some FREE tickets to Ponyboi for anyone who starts a new, sustaining, monthly donation of ANY amount! Just email us after you set up the donation through Paypal and we'll send you tickets!
bit.ly/RRUDonate
[email protected]
The words "Flash new donor special. First 10 new sustaining donors today receive 2 tickets to next Wednesday's 7 pm screening of Ponyboi!" in neon yellow with lightning bolt neon signs
November 6, 2025 at 3:05 PM
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We hope you have a safe and fun Halloween!
The words Happy Halloween with ghosts in the Trans Pride colors holding pride flags and holding the Rochester Rainbow Union logo The words Lilac Library Closed Friday, October 31st with the Rochester Rainbow Union logo and two ghosts holding pumpkins against a border of books.
October 31, 2025 at 2:27 PM
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We're closed Friday October 31. We're open Sunday November 2. We're open our regular hours 12-4 pm with our monthly visit from Spotter Rabbit Studio's art therapy interns! 50 Prince Street. Enter on College Ave.
October 30, 2025 at 7:57 PM
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The Lilac Library will be closed Friday, October 31st to give our volunteers a boo-tiful night off!
Border of books with two transparent ghosts. The words: Lilac Library, Closed Friday, October 31st with the Rochester Rainbow Union Logo
October 29, 2025 at 5:22 PM
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The government shutdown will impact food security this month. To help the community, we will have a small selection of shelf stable food items available during our open Library hours in November.
As we are not a dedicated food pantry, we are also sharing information about other local resources
Food available. Rochester Rainbow Union. 50 Prince St, Rochester, NY 14607. Entrance off College Ave. For November: Weds: 6-8pm, Fri: 6-8pm, Sun: 12-4 pm. Other resources: Trillium Health Food Pantry 585-545-7220 Rochester Deaf Kitchen https://www.rochesterdeafkitchen.com/ Foodlink https://foodlinkny.org/find-food/ Rochester LGBTQ+ Mutual Aid https://www.facebook.com/groups/roclgbtqmutualaid The People’s Pantry https://www.peoples-pantry.org/ RPL Food Programs List https://roccitylibrary.org/services/food-programs/
October 28, 2025 at 5:41 PM
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LGBTQ+ Community Council. Date: Monday, November 10th. Time: 6-8 pm. Location: TBA. Facilitation assisted by M.K. Gandhi INstitute for Nonviolence and Rochester Rainbow Union. bit.ly/4hjgJLB
October 24, 2025 at 2:11 PM
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One week left to buy your ticket for Ponyboi!
Ponyboi STARRING: RIVER GALLO, DYLAN O'BRIEN, VICTORIA PEDRETTI, MURRAY BARTLETT, & INDYA MOORE. WED, NOV 12TH 7:00 PM Cinemark Tinseltown bit.ly/PonyBoiRoc BUY YOUR TICKET BY oCTOBER 28TH!'
October 21, 2025 at 5:56 PM
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Join us for our sober craft night this Thursday at 6 pm!
YOU ARE INVITED TO SOBER CRAFT NIGHT 10/23 AT 6PM. JOIN US FOR A CHOOSE-YOUR- OWN-ADVENTURE CRAFT NIGHT! BRING YOUR OWN CRAFT OR CHOOSE FROM PROVIDED CRAFTING MATERIALS. GET COZY WITH SOME HOT APPLE CIDER WHILE WE TUNE IN TO OUR FAVORITE GAY GHOST HUNTING SHOW, GHOSTING! 50 PRINCE ST, ROCHESTER
October 20, 2025 at 8:21 PM
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Take heart siblings! Queer liberation is at hand!
The words: Take heart siblings, Queer liberation is at hand! Against a rainbow crosswalk. Below people are holding a progress pride flag and a trans pride flag Take heart siblings. Queer liberation is coming! Those words, adopted from Larry Fineberg’s in the University of Rochester’s Campus Times, are just as true now. As we enter a weekend where we are all making our voices heard, take heart. Our efforts WILL result in a future where equality is the norm and all people of all identities are loved and supported in our community! Tomorrow there are numerous non-violent rallies locally with people showing up for a future of justice, compassion, and love. If you are participating, know your rights. Have a safety plan. Listen to the safety marshalls. Look out for each other. Take heart in the community you see around you. The majority of us are the supporters of equality! If you are in a place of relative privilege, use that privilege to support those of us whose voices are ignored. Queer, Trans, Black, Brown, Immigrant, Differently-abled … we need you now. Go to the places we can’t. Speak to those we can’t. Hold politicians accountable. If you want to call yourself an ally, we need active support now! Take the energy from this weekend and carry it forward. Movements aren’t one moment, they are sustained action. Take breaks when needed, so that you can continue fighting for a better future. Lean into community. One voice is powerful, countless unified voices achieve change. Support each other, and give each other grace. Those who don’t want our success will try to pit us against each other, but I know that we are united in purpose and power. Remember Rochester, resistance runs in the veins of the LGBTQ+ community. We face unprecedented hurdles right now, but I know that our community will persevere and achieve liberation! Yours in Pride, Andrew Moran President AndrewM@gayalliance.org
October 17, 2025 at 5:26 PM
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Join us for a Lilac Lecture on Friday with local author Kaeia Perez (she/her) for a discussion on how disability shows up in horror books and other media. She'll have her debut novel, Emberwomb, available for purchase!
Join local author Kaeia Perez (she/her) for an afternoon talk on how disability shows up in horror books and other media! Hear about what went into crafting her debut novel, Emberwomb, which will be available for purchase so you can get your copy signed. Hang out to talk about ableism in media, and what goes into making a compelling but relatable story. Come for the conversation but stay for a unique perspective in YA horror. Find Kaeia on social media: @magickalgirl on TikTok, IG, Facebook, Lemon8 50 Prince Street. Parking and entrance on College Ave
October 14, 2025 at 2:31 PM
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Rest in power Miss Major Griffin-Gracy. Picture of Miss Major with a white dove.
October 14, 2025 at 1:42 PM
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Looking for board members! Are you:
-able to attend monthly board meetings
-a team collaborator
-have a passion for supporting our community and the unique opportunities our library and center offer
-willing to utilize their networks to friend-raise and fundraise
Reach out to us!
Volunteer board member description: The mission of the Rochester Rainbow Union is to uplift and support all members of the greater Rochester rainbow community through inclusive and equitable outreach, education, and collaboration. Responsibilities of the board: As the highest leadership body of the organization and to satisfy its fiduciary duties, the board is responsible for determining the mission of the organization and understanding its collective purpose strategic and organizational planning ensuring strong fiduciary oversight and financial management fundraising and resource development approving and monitoring the organization’s programs and services enhancing the organization’s public image assessing its own performance as the governing body of the organization ensuring legal and ethical integrity Individual board members: Each individual board member is expected to know the organization’s mission, policies, programs, and collective purpose faithfully read and understand the organization’s financial statements and board materials in advance of meetings serve as active advocates and ambassadors for the organization fully engage in identifying and securing financial resources and partnerships leverage connections, networks, and resources to develop collective action to achieve the organization’s mission Support the organization in whatever financial capacity is feasible help identify personal connections that can benefit the organization’s fundraising and reputational standing, and influence public policy prepare for, attend, and conscientiously participate in monthly board meetings participate fully in one or more committees or taskforces engage in learning opportunities to better understand the community we serve respect the experiences of all who bring their voices and lived experiences into the boardroom and the organization Other responsibilities: uphold the legal duties and laws regarding nonprofit governance follow the organization’s bylaws, policies, and board resolutions Disclose potential conflicts before meetings and actual conflicts during meetings maintain confidentiality about all internal matters of the organization
October 3, 2025 at 5:11 PM
rocrainbowunion.bsky.social
Weekly update!
Hapy Friday Rochester rainbow friends and family! As we head into Fall, I hope that you take the time to take a deep breath, relax for a moment, and remember to take care of yourself. Remember, you need to put your own air mask on first. As for board updates, we’ve scheduled a mini board retreat for the first week of October. This will give us a chance to pause, look at our short/mid/long-term goals, identify our strengths/weaknesses, and start some basic strategic planning. The organization is stable compared to where it was a few years ago and continues to evolve; we want to make sure we are consciously planning for a successful future. We also will have some board members transitioning out in the next few months after several years of dedicated service. While we’ve identified some new potential candidates, we still need to add new seats to the board. At this stage in the organization’s growth, we can use some help from people with existing board governance, financial, volunteer management, and strategic experience to lend their expertise. We also continue to welcome people of all experience levels. We’ve found that pairing experienced board members with new board members gives the perfect balance of new ideas and sustainable planning. We will release more formal descriptions in the coming weeks and months. Finally, I want to let you know about some upcoming opportunities to make your voices heard about issues that you care deeply about. While we can’t tell you what to do, visibility and activism can be effective tools in the journey to justice. Please note that we are only sharing information about these events and are not officially a part of them. • Saturday October 11th from 11 am to 4 pm at the Rainbow Seniors ROC Community Center: Free sign making workshop from Rainbow Seniors ROC, Pride at Work, Trans Alliance of Greater Rochester, and Equality Rochester. • Saturday, October 18th from 12-3 pm at Genesee Gateway Park: a peaceful rally and march by Indivisible Rochester Yours in Pride, Andrew Moran President AndrewM@gayalliance.org P.S. I’m excited to announce that we were chosen as a recipient of the LGBT+ Giving Circle’s annual grant alongside other important organizations. This grant will allow us to continue serving Rochester through our library, community center, community council, and other important programs! text that says '‎FREE SIGN MAKING FOR ANYONE. ANY ISSUE PREPARE TO MOBILIZE All supplies provided... donations welcome Saturday, October 11am to 4pm Rainbow Seniors ROC Community Center 346 N Goodman St (behind Village Gate) Bring a slogan... we have supplies you can use or bring your own. ALL ARE WELCOME! information: admin@rainbowseniorsroc.org RAINBOW SENIORS ROC, PRIDE at WORKTRANS ALLIANCE of GREATER ROCHESTER, Equality Rochester
September 26, 2025 at 3:17 PM
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Update: Due to unforeseen circumstances we have to reschedule Sunday's Lilac Lecture to a different date. Stay tuned for updates!
"Rescheduled" in neon font over an event description. The words "Stay tuned for updates on a rescheduled date!"
September 18, 2025 at 3:07 PM
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Don't miss our second Lilac Lecture of September this Sunday the 21st at 12:30 with the regal MARIE-ADÉLINA DE LA FERRIÉRE, comunity editor for EqualPride and Queen of the Kingdom of Navassa!
Lilac Lectures 2025 presents...Marie Adelina de la Ferriere, Sunday September 21 at 12:30 pm In this lecture, Marie-Adélina de la Ferriére—Community Editor for Equal Pride and Queen of the Kingdom of Navassa—shares her unique journey at the intersection of media, monarchy, and movement-building. As the driving force behind opinions and personal essays for Out, The Advocate, and Pride.com, she has championed LGBTQ+ voices often left at the margins. As the self-proclaimed sovereign of a visionary micronation, she reimagines governance as an act of queer resilience. With humor, heart, and a critical lens, this talk examines how storytelling can become a tool of sovereignty—and how, in turn, sovereignty can serve the community. 50 Prince St. Parking and entrance on College Ave
September 18, 2025 at 12:49 PM
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Don't miss our September sober Craft and Draft this Thursday from 6-8 pm! Make your own clay critters and enjoy a fall themed mocktail!
"September Craft Night. Clay Critters. Come to the Lilac Library (50 Prince Street) on Thursday, September 18th, from 6-8 pm and sculpt your own air dry clay creature. Supplies and a mocktail will be provided. Sign up using the QR code!" Pictures of clay Halloween themed creatures, a QR code, and the Rochester Rainbow Union logo.
September 17, 2025 at 1:54 PM
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Don't miss our next Lilac Lecture on Friday, September 19th at 6:30 pm!
Lilac lectures 2025 presents... Alanaleilani. Friday, December 19, 2025 at 6:30 pm. Come join local author Alanaleilani she/they) for a discussion on many of the ins and outs of the writing world. Whether your questions are more technical (world-building, characterization, outlining), industry- related (ghostwriting, self-publishing, kindle, traditional house publishing), or related to navigating systematic discrimination within the industry as a marginalized person, all are welcome. With several pen names ranging from YA dragon fantasy, YA Urban fantasy, Paranormal Romance, LitRPG, as well as Dev Editing and Sensitivity Editing, Alanaleilani is eager to share experience and advice. Several copies of her most popular YA series will be available for purchase, but hanging out and discussion is not only free, but encouraged! ROCHESTER RAINBOW UNION 50 Prince Street • Parking and entrance on College Ave
September 10, 2025 at 7:00 PM
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Want to earn a little cash and share the word about National Voter Registration Day? Visit OutVote via the QR code, join their Action Network, and complete their missions!
Each participant rewarded $10 each until the allotted funds have been used until 9/17.
In white font: "Celebrate national voter registration day. Share your pledge or registration status checking links + get rewarded for it. Get paid from 9/1 to 9/7. @Outvotehq. Join our Action Network.: Purple background, with a QR code and black and white picture of a smiling group of young people taking a selfie.
September 10, 2025 at 2:51 PM
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Accordion books! Queer art club. Sunday 9/7, 2-4 pm @Rainbow Union. Picture of accordion books in the background
September 5, 2025 at 2:53 PM
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What does the Queer community mean to you? What does The Empty Closet mean to you? In preparation for the fall launch issue, the EC team is soliciting input from you on these questions. Answers may be printed in the re-launch issue! (answers may be edited for space)
In white text against purple background, with a picture of on old issue of The Empty Closet: What does Queer community mean to you? What does the Empty Closet mean to you? bit.ly/RocEC
September 5, 2025 at 1:24 PM