Rochester Rainbow Union

06/06/2026

We're tabling at Fairport Canal Days! Stop by and say hi!

06/05/2026

Happy Friday Rochester Rainbow friends and family,

First, addressing Webster’s take-down of the Pride flag, this is a reminder of the reasons we fight for Pride and visibility. A symbol shows that our community is equal; the thing about symbols is they can be hidden but cannot be destroyed. Remember that the fight goes beyond a flag, it symbolizes the struggle for justice of all LGBTQ+ people. Fight especially for the ones most threatened right now, including our youth, Trans siblings, Disabled, Black, and Brown community members. Our fight didn’t end at Stonewall, the AIDS epidemic, or marriage equality but it continues today. Fight for housing, economic, health, and reproductive justice. The resistance of our LGBTQ+ community runs in our veins!

If you need community this weekend, join us, Spotted Rabbit Studio, and the Rochester Center for Sexual Wellness for our Mental Health Day in Color this Sunday from 2-4 pm. Spotted Rabbit will offer tie-dye activities with free tote bags while Patrick DiFlorio, LCSW an Erin Davis, MHC from Rochester Center for Sexual Wellness share information about their resources. Our clothing closet will also be open with clothes available to tie-dye. We’ll also have official Rochester Rainbow Union t-shirts available for purchase if you’d like to tie-dye some RRU merch!

Second, I’m ecstatic to announce our first signature fundraiser, Eat Out Rochester! During Pride week (July 12-18) celebrate with dinners at some of the restaurants that proudly support our LGBTQ+ community. A portion of proceeds from select items will go directly to the Rainbow Union! We’re still finalizing participating businesses but are excited to partner with Bar Bad ending, CRISP Rochester, Jack's Extra Fancy, and Tavos so far! We’re continuing to add additional restaurants. Check out the website link in the comments!

Finally, we’re preparing our Pride parade contingent! We’re looking for people willing to march with us celebrating the resources we provide. We’ll provide a free official RRU t-shirt as well! Sign up at the link in the flyer!

Rochester, keep the fight up!
Yours in Pride,

Andrew Moran
President

06/04/2026

Feeling burnt out? Need to be in community? Stop in for a mental health day with Spotted Rabbit Studio, Rochester Rainbow Union, and Rochester Center for Sexual Wellness this Sunday from 2-4 pm!

Engage in a relaxed tie-dye gathering where you can create, connect, and just be yourself! Free tote bags available to tie-dye as well as items from our clothing closet. Rochester Rainbow Union t-shirts available for purchase as well!

06/02/2026

Have a wonderful Pride Month! We hope your days are full of joy, community, and remembering that respect costs absolutely nothing and means everything. 🌈

06/01/2026

We're proud of Next Generation Men Of Transition's continuous activism ensuring that Trans, Non-binary, and Gender Expansive voices are heard! Please consider completing their needs assessment to ensure Trans experiences shape identifying service gaps, strengthen advocacy efforts, support funding opportunities and inform programming!

📢 YOUR VOICE. YOUR EXPERIENCE. YOUR FUTURE.

For too long, decisions have been made about transgender, nonbinary, gender nonconforming, and questioning communities without enough data, investment, or direct input from the people most impacted.

At a time when our communities continue to face attacks, erasure, barriers to healthcare, housing instability, economic hardship, and threats to our wellbeing, it is more important than ever that our experiences are documented and our voices are heard.

Today, Next Generation Men of Transition is proud to launch the Rochester–Monroe County TGNC Community Needs Assessment 2026.

This community-led effort will help identify service gaps, strengthen advocacy efforts, support future funding opportunities, inform community programming, and contribute to Rochester’s first-ever Trans Pride Fest and Community Impact Report.

The data does not lie.

Transgender, nonbinary, gender nonconforming, and questioning people are alive. We are here. We are building community. We are thriving. And we deserve to be seen, heard, supported, and invested in.

If you live in Rochester or Monroe County and identify as TGNC or questioning, we invite you to share your experiences.

🌐 www.ngmt18.com/rochester-trans-community-needs-assessment

🎯 Community Goal: 200 Responses by September 6, 2026

Please take the assessment and help us amplify this effort by sharing it throughout your networks.

06/01/2026

Thank you Rochester City School District for supporting ALL including LGBTQ+ students? Does your local school district support its LGBTQ+ students? Reach out and encourage them! Our youth need support more than ever!

Belonging starts with being seen, valued, and respected for who you are. 🌈

Whether you are a student, staff member, family member, or visitor, you belong here. Our schools are strongest when people are empowered to be themselves and when every voice is treated with respect.

Happy Pride Month! 🤍🩷🩵🤎🖤

06/01/2026

Today's the day!

As a beneficiary organization of the Elton John Impact Awards, the Rochester Rainbow Union is able to continue driving meaningful change for LGBTQ+ communities through its community council organizing, the Lilac Library, the gender expansive clothing closet, and The Empty Closet! 🌈

Listen to the awards at the link in comments!

05/28/2026

We’re honored to be a beneficiary of Elton John Impact Awards – celebrating the changemakers who are redefining culture and uplifting the LGBTQ+ community. 🌈

Because of this support and visibility from The Elton John Impact Awards, and The Looking Out Foundation, Rochester Rainbow Union is able to build the Lilac Library, offer our gender-expansive clothing closet, offer free community meeting space, and much more!

This year’s honorees – including Jonathan Bailey, Laverne Cox, Melissa Etheridge, Billie Jean King, Orville Peck and Chappell Roan – have driven change, shaped culture and made a positive impact on society.

05/22/2026

Harvey Milk's legacy is honored every May 22 as Harvey Milk Day. Here's a little bit about exactly who the iconic advocate for LGBTQ+ rights was.