Skip to main content

Showing Our True Colors


As the civil rights and very existence of LGBTQIA+ Americans are increasingly under attack, Howard County is holding fast to values of acceptance and inclusion. But if we want that to continue we will need to actively support local initiatives such as the ones I’ve gathered together for you today. They will not survive and thrive by magic. We must make it so by continued engagement, participation, and advocacy.

Take a look at some upcoming events in our community. Can’t attend? Send a donation. Even a small one helps. 

Tuesday at Backwater Books (in collaboration with HCPSS Pride) an event to celebrate Navigating the Margins:

Navigating the Margins Celebration, 3/11, 7 - 8:30 pm, Backwater Books, Old Ellicot City Register here.

Celebrate Navigating the Margins: A Collection of Stories by High School Students curated by Ella Heiliger with this special event featuring readings from several of our authors, a book signing, and meet and greet with several of our student authors.

Last year, 25 high school students were selected through an application process to be part of a writing program in which they would write and submit up to 4 pages to an author mentor throughout the school year last year. This published collection is a result of their dedication and hard work and contains a variety of stories from murder mystery and fantasy to historical and realistic fiction. There's a little something for everyone within these pages.


An event to support HoCo Pride will be taking place this Friday at Union Jack’s in Columbia. 

HoCo Pride Happy Hour: 3/14, 5:30 - 8:00 pm, Union Jacks   Purchase Tickets Here

Ride the rainbow to the HoCo Pride Happy Hour at Union Jack’s on Pi Day—Friday, March 14! Join us starting at 5:30 PM for an evening of fun, community, and celebration.

Enjoy complimentary appetizers, desserts, and non-alcoholic beverages while sipping on our Pride Drink Special (available for purchase). Plus, don’t miss out on our Pi-themed raffles in honor of the day!

Cost: $10 ($5 for students)

All ages welcome! (Alcohol will be served for 21+)


Join the Howard County LGBTQIA Commission and the Howard County of of Human Rights & Equity to celebrate Trans Day of Visibility 2025:



Trans Day of Visibility, 3/28, 4 - 7:30 pm, Elkridge 50+ Center,  Register here

Centering trans joy, creativity, and community, join us for a restorative evening highlighting the rights of the trans community to be seen, heard, and celebrated.

Whether you want to enjoy games, trivia, crafts, socializing, a reading room with books provided by the Howard County Library System, resources for the trans community, or just hit the floor and dance the night away, this year's TDOV celebration invites the trans community and allies for a night of acceptance, joy, and celebration!


Registration is now open for HCPSS Pride’s ReIMAGINE the Rainbow event to be held in April at Centennial High School.


ReIMAGINE the Rainbow: 4/25, 6 - 9:15 pm, Centennial High School Register here.

ReIMAGINE the Rainbow Event: All students, staff, parents, and community members are invited to join us for an evening of advocacy on Friday, April 25 from (5:00PM) 6:00PM - 9:15PM at Centennial High School. Headlining the evening will be Ellen Oh (author and founder of We Need Diverse Books) and Phil Bilder (author). Following the keynote session, participants will have the opportunity to select from 14 different sessions to attend in two consecutive time blocks. Sessions are informational, interactive, and in some cases, hands-on. Childcare will be provided for students in grades K-5. While this event is FREE, all participants must register. More information can be found on our webpage, along with the registration form. 

Looking ahead, the theme for this year’s HCPSS Pride Prom is “Moonlit Mystery: A Renaissance Masquerade.”



HCPSS Pride Prom, 6/7, 8 - 11:00 pm, Harriet Tubman Cultural Center, Registration opens April 25th


If you’re looking for more local LGBTQIA+ resources, make sure to check out PFLAG of Howard County  and CARY (Community Allies of Rainbow Youth).






Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Getting Fresh

One of my favorite days in the Spring comes when this year’s list of Farmer’s Markets is released. That happened this week. New this year are markets in Old Ellicott City and the “Merriweather Market” which, according to the address, will be located here . I mistakenly thought at first glance that it was in the new-construction part of the Merriweather District. I find the name confusing considering its actual location. I’m going to guess that this market is an initiative of the Howard Hughes Corporation because the name seems chosen more for branding purposes than anything else.  Alas, the market in Maple Lawn is gone. The thread on the markets on the County Executive’s FB page will provide you with quite the education in who actually runs the Farmers Markets vs what people often think is going on. Short answer: they are not  chosen nor run by the county. Each market is an independent entity, sometimes started by community volunteers, other times supported by local businesses...
1 comment
Read more

They Can Wait

This is not a typical Saturday post. That’s because, in my community, it’s not a typical Saturday.  Oakland Mills High School, after years of deferred repair, needs massive renovation. It’s pretty simple: when you don’t fix a problem it gets bigger. The school system itself said the the OMHS school building was  "no longer conducive to learning" back in 2018.  2018 .  But Thursday the Boad of Education voted to push it out of the lineup of important projects which will be given the go-ahead to proceed soonest.  In my opinion it’s a terrible decision and sets a dangerous precedent. To explain, here’s the advocacy letter I sent in support of Oakland Mills High School. I was rather proud of it. I am writing to ask you to proceed with needed renovation at Oakland Mills High School in the most timely and comprehensive manner humanly possible. I have read the letter sent to you by the Oakland Mills Community Association and I am in complete agreement. You are extremel...
1 comment
Read more

What Kids Are Thinking

  It’s a Monday in February, and if you guessed that a lot of Howard County students have the new cell phone policy on their minds, you’d be right. It will mean big changes and it will be stressful, no matter how much good we hope it will do in the long run. But on this particular Monday cell phones might not be top of mind, as amazing as that seems. Some kids will go to school wondering if they or family members will be seized by ICE. Some will fear that their parents’ employment will be purged by the ongoing rampage of Elon Musk and his cronies through Federal Government. Some fear heightened and renewed racism as programs that supprted Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion are vilified and destroyed.  Some worry that it soon won’t be safe for them to use the bathroom in school anymore. It goes without saying that some kids fear going to school every day because of the prevalence of school shootings.  And look! Here’s something new to fear. That old hate group, Libs of TikTo...
1 comment
Read more