Wednesday November 20, 6:00pm.

Rural trans folks, join us in VT for apple cider & hot chocolate, around a fire to honor & celebrate our community, together.

RSVP for location - Info@WeAreOutintheOpen.org

Friday December 6, 6 - 8 pm Rockweed Center, 156 High Street Belfast, ME

“If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.” Age old.

Join writer and facilitator Audrey Gidman for a conversation about gossip, its definition, its stigmas, its functions, and its cultural necessity. What is gossip? What is its purpose? How has its integrity been scrutinized? What kind of gossip has come your way that has protected you or someone in your community? Let’s talk about it!

Sign up via the button below.

2nd and 4th Thursdays (next meeting is January 9), 5:30 pm Unity Public Library in Unity, ME

Want to learn how to draw? Learn more about drawing? Learn other ways to draw? Try out new mediums for drawing? Share drawing skills you already have? Hang out with local artists? If any of those apply to you, then you should stop by the Drawing Skill Share Group at Unity Public Library in Unity, Maine!

Second and fourth Thursdays of every month at 5:30pm (besides holidays).

Leave judgment at the door, you don’t need to have any skill in art to join! Open to all ages, especially teens and adults. LGBTQIA+ friendly.

Saturday December 14, 10:30 - 12:30 pm at the Brooks Memorial Library in Brattleboro, VT

For LGBTQ+ community members needing to change/update identity documents. Join us to work on updating/changing your identity documents in community with others (driver’s privilege card, driver’s license, social security card, birth certificate, passport, non-driver ID, name change paperwork, gender marker paperwork, etc.).

We’ll have a supportive notary on-site for any documents that need to be notarized as well as a printer, our shared knowledge & experience, and some snacks. Please wear a mask. Parents/caregivers with kids are welcome if you’re working on document updates for people under 18.

We are also putting together a document change info session (similar to the legal parentage one we held in November) for later in December. More details on the info session coming soon.

We hate that we have to keep doing this. And if we’re going to have to keep doing this, let’s at least do it together.

Sunday January 5, 1 - 4 pm at Rockweed Center, 156 High Street, Penobscot territory/Belfast, ME

For LGBTQ+ community members needing to change/update identity documents. Join us to work on updating/changing your identity documents in community with others (driver’s privilege card, driver’s license, social security card, birth certificate, passport, non-driver ID, name change paperwork, gender marker paperwork, etc.).

We’ll have a supportive notary on-site for any documents that need to be notarized as well as a printer, our shared knowledge & experience, and some snacks.

Please wear a mask.

Parents/caregivers with kids are welcome if you’re working on document updates for people under 18.

Coming soon, in early 2025

Learn how to carve a wooden spoon alongside other rural LGBTQIA2S+ people using hand tools and enjoy the meditative nature of creating something slowly with your hands! This is the first in a series of three workshops, Culminating in a 2025 art show among the trees from whence our spoons came. This workshop will be taught by HB, who has been carving spoons since 2018.

All materials provided, bring your own lunch & water. Registration coming soon!

Call for Submissions

Deadline Extended to Saturday November 9

Brackish Magazine is a single-issue magazine that publishes writing, art, & multidisciplinary work by creatives connected to Maine (unceded Wabanaki land).

As a RLPB fellowship project, it uses art as a catalyst to build connections and conversation across diverse rural communities.

ISSUE THEME : BACKWOODS KINSHIP

With backwoods referring to rural place and kinship referring to interconnection, this issue’s theme invites you to consider how relationships with identity and place develop in rural spaces. Strong submissions will explore what Backwoods Kinship means through the unique experiences of an individual or a community.

Email brackishzine@gmail.com with any questions.

Thursday November 14, 6:00 pm Porter Memorial Library, Machias, ME

We love our small town and rural libraries, and look forward to this free, public event at Porter Memorial Library.

Out in the Open is honored and excited to host our friend Rae Garringer for two book talks in November to celebrate the release of their new book, Country Queers: A Love Letter. Part photo book, part memoir, part oral history project, this volume paints a vivid portrait of queer and trans experiences in rural areas and small towns across the US.

Books will be available to buy and both events are free and open to the public. Masks are encouraged, and will be provided.

Saturday November 16, 10:30 am 95 High Street, Belfast, ME

A day of theatre based workshops for LGBTQ+ folks 18+ years old new to exploring theatre and the mechanics of a theatre audition in a collaborative, playful, and supportive environment.

No experience ENCOURAGED. We welcome all range of theatre experience, and are PARTICULARLY excited to host this space for those who have little to no experience with theatre.

All workshops can be modified based on needs. Feel free to reach out ahead of time if there are specific needs that we can accommodate.

Afternoon opportunity to join an open audition for the queering of a Shakespeare play, debuting Spring 2025. Downtown Belfast.

Monday November 18, 6pm online via Zoom

For rurally located, LGBTQ+ identified people living across Wabanaki territory/the northeast USA.

Join Out in the Open staff from Vermont and Maine and be in community. Share and process thoughts, feelings, and fears after the recent election. What may change because of the results? What are our next steps where we live? What do we need from each other and moving forward?

Saturday November 23, 2:00pm. 118 Elliot Brattleboro VT

Out in the Open is honored and excited to host our friend Rae Garringer for two book talks in November to celebrate the release of their new book, Country Queers: A Love Letter. Part photo book, part memoir, part oral history project, this volume paints a vivid portrait of queer and trans experiences in rural areas and small towns across the US.

Books will be available to buy, thanks to Everyone’s Books.

Free and open to the public.

Masks are encouraged, and will be provided.

Saturday November 23, 7:30pm Belfast, ME

New burlesque performers have worked over five weeks to create an act that showcases their creative vision. Tonight they will present their work on stage in a celebration of art, sexuality, and glamor in rural spaces.

Tickets are on sale now, for $0 - $20.

Sunday November 24, 1:00 - 5:00pm Chocolate Church Arts Center 804 Washington Street, Bath, ME

The goal of this event is to spread creative resources in our community. Share your unwanted supplies with the community, then get inspired at the swap. Bring a box or a bag and leave with new-to-you materials - for free! Feel free to hang out and make something with us in the Art Lab! Masks are required at this event.

Drop off your items at a collection box in Bath starting October 28 through November 22. Reviewing the accepted material guidelines (Click the button below!) before donating your items will help us run the event smoothly & safely.

For larger donations, either in size or in quantity (i.e. will it fill/overfill the collection box?), to volunteer, or for more information, contact Ash at ash@weareoutintheopen.org

Sunday December 1, 10am - 12pm The Appleton Library, 2916 Sennebec Road in Appleton, ME

Help assemble sewing and mending kits for new sewers in the Midcoast - and make one to keep! Create, socialize, and contribute to a community project about clothing repair.

Masks (N95 or similar) are required, a variety of styles will be provided for free. Picnic bench seating available. This is an outdoor event.

Public restroom available indoors.