BANGOR, Maine — With the Orono School Department establishing new guidelines for transgender students that align with President Barack Obama’s decree that students be allowed to use the bathroom of their choice, Bangor Pride Week 2016 kicks off with a discussion about the concerns of prejudice within education, mental health and health care.
The Bangor Pride and Prejudice discussion, scheduled for 5-7 p.m. Tuesday in Room 124 of Eastport Hall at the University of Maine at Augusta Bangor campus, will be led by local doctors, advocates, a nurse practitioner, clinical therapist and a professor.
“This event will cover concerns within various fields and contemporary answers to meeting the needs of the LGBT, Queer, and Gender Variant communities; as well as meeting the needs for ethical and legal guidelines,” a Facebook post about the forum states. “This event is open to the community as well as professionals within the fields of education, mental health, & medicine.”
The post ends by saying, “This event will also involve a delightful cupcake war! So come on over & learn a thing or two while you enjoy this Pride themed battle of pastry!”
Bangor Pride Week 2016 is a time for people from all over the region to celebrate diversity, according to a Facebook post from The Bridge Alliance, which also hosted a candlelight vigil in the aftermath of last week’s mass murder at a gay nightclub that left 49 dead.
“For decades in our culture we have looked at sexual and gender identities as a dichotomy of people — gay/straight, male/female, and feminine/masculine. In doing so, we perpetuate a system of potential for an us versus them ideology that leaves our community divided,” The Bridge Alliance said in a press release. “Instead, this year, as we celebrate Bangor Pride, we want to say, ‘Bye-bye, binary.’ We want to embrace the broad spectrum of identities of people that live, work and love in our community. This includes gay, lesbian, bisexual, female, male, gender non-conforming, transgender, feminine, masculine, androgynous and all the other beautiful varieties of identities in between.”
The group invites everyone to join them in celebrating the LGBT, queer, gender variant and allied communities with a week of events ending with a Pride festival and parade.
This year’s Bangor Pride is hosted by The Bridge Alliance and Mabel Wadsworth Health Center and includes an art show, coffee house poetry night, pub crawl, drag show, karaoke, an event celebrating LGBT elders, and other events that lead up to Saturday’s pride festival and parade.
Bangor Pride 2016 events include:
Tuesday, June 21
— Bangor Pride and Prejudice: A discussion about concerns of prejudice within education, mental health and health care, and the pride we build together, 5-7 p.m., UMA Bangor Campus, Eastport Hall, Room 124.
Wednesday, June 22
— Breaking Binary Yoga: No previous experience required, and mats available, 11 a.m.-12:15 p.m., UMA Bangor Campus, Eastport Hall, Room 124.
— Coffee House: Coffee, poetry and storytelling, 6-8 p.m., West Market Square Artisan Coffeehouse, 24 Broad St.
Thursday, June 23
— Quorship: Affirming nondenominational service for those of the spiritual community to celebrate pride, 7-8 p.m., Hampden Congregational Church, 101 Main Rd North.
— Pride Karaoke with Marissa: A 21+ event, 9-11 p.m., Ipanema’s, 10 Broad St.
Friday, June 24
— SAGE Reception & Potluck: Celebration of Bangor-area LGBTQ, gender variant and queer elders, 4-6 p.m., Miller Square, 315 Harlow St.
— Art Show: LGBT, queer, and gender variant expression hosted by the Health Equity Alliance, 6-8 p.m., 58 Main St.
— Drag Show: Free event, but some content may not be suitable for all ages, so “viewer discretion is advised”; suggested $5 donation at the door, 9-11:30 p.m., UMA Bangor Campus, Eastport Hall, Room 124.
Saturday, June 25
— Pride Parade: Downtown Bangor. All are welcome. Lineup starts by the waterfront at 10 a.m. Parade starts at 11 a.m.
— Pride Festival: Music provided by Trendy Robots, Rotating Taps, Friday Night Fire and Woman with Wings, speakers, vendors, education, social connection and fun. Festivities begin 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
— “Rock of Ages”: Shows at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m., 131 Main St.
— Pride Youth Dance: Music and dancing for ages 13-18, 7-9 p.m., Maine Holistic Center, 81 Main St.
— Pride Happy Hour: Nocturnem between 5-8 p.m. with Trisha Mason before heading to the Pride after-party at Paddy Murphy’s, 9 p.m. to close.
Sunday, June 26
— Morning Worship: Enjoy morning spiritual services at the participating local congregations with a focus on Pride 2016.
— Transitioning Families: Potluck for families, friends and allies of our Trans Community gathering together in celebration and support, 2-4 p.m.