A Space Created by Queers for Queers!
Open to the community. Meetings in person on the last Thursday of every month. Join Us!
Written by: Felicity Dyer
“When people are given space to be themselves and explore who they are, they grow into upstanding members of the community and become pillars for the people around them” —Celestino, HQ Staff
A space created by Queers for Queers in Northern RI, HQ was formed to build connections, foster community, and provide belonging.
HQ was formed as a response to a troubling trend seen across the U.S.—queer spaces disappearing, and DEI efforts scaled back or even dropped completely. Community Care Alliance made a deliberate choice, act not in fear, but in love and hope. We have supported our employees internally with our LGBTQ+ Affinity group, we wanted to take it further- and stand stronger with the community. The idea was sparked by our CEO, Ben Lessing, and quickly became a team effort to bring HQ to Life.
For many of us, this is more than just a project–it’s personal. I haven’t always had access to spaces like this one. Now, I am able to help create this opportunity for others. At CCA, we believe the true heroes are the people in our community, and that belief helps guide what we do. HQ is no different. It’s a place where LGBTQ+ individuals can connect, make new friends, discover resources, or simply relax in a safe, welcoming environment, knowing you are not alone. “Whoever is here–they will define the group with us,” says Alfie, HQ staff.
The HQ team understands just how important it is to have these spaces that welcome open conversations driven by the voices of the members themselves. With June being Pride month, our conversation naturally centered around sharing our more recent experiences. One HQ member talked about this year’s feeling different, that it was less about a party and more about the true spirit of Pride saying, “The feeling of liberation that pride is really about”.
Celestino adds, “Spaces like this are important because they enrich life for everybody in our community. Whether that’s the queer community or beyond. When we can define ourselves and live in our truth and our values, we bring more positivity and create healthy spaces for each other.”
We are proud to build this space for the community, WITH the community. HQ: a Queer Community Space meets in person on the last Thursday of every month.
We’d love to see you there.
