Programs
It's Time to Start Taking Care of You
All support programs offer peer-to-peer support in a safe environment.
We will hold all meetings virtually for the duration of the pandemic.
The Rainbow Rose Center Queer and Trans People of Color (QTPOC) is a peer-led emotional support group for queer and trans-BIPOC in the York County area. We seek to provide a safe space for Queer BIPOC folx to be able to discuss issues related to Queer BIPOC folx without the worry of backlash or judgement. Therefore, we limit this space to Black, Indigenous, and/or People of Color who identify in the spectrum of the LGBTQ+ Community. This group meets on the second Sunday of every month at 2:00pm. We are currently only meeting virtually via Zoom during the pandemic.
Our goal is to protect the safety and confidentiality of everyone who participates in our meeting. Therefore, we are not posting meeting details on social media. Those who register will receive a notification from the Rainbow Rose Center with meeting details. If you have not previously attended one of our meetings, but you would like to do so, please fill out this form to get on our mailing list.
Transgender Support Group Meeting
Tobacco Cessation Program & Tobacco Resistance Unit
Per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cigarette smoking among LGBTQIA+ individuals in the U.S. is higher than among heterosexual/straight individuals. About 1 in 5 LGBTQIA+ adults smoke cigarettes compared with about 1 in 6 heterosexual/straight individuals.
Prioritizing the health and safety of the LGBTQIA+ community means acknowledging the risks and then confronting them. The Rainbow Rose Center is partnering with York Cessation Programs to provide tobacco cessation, education and support to LGBTQIA+ individuals, particularly youth, in York County. If you need information on smoking cessation or are interested in quitting contact the Pennsylvania Quitline at 1-800-QUIT-NOW or contact the RRC Programs Committee at programs@rainbowrosecenter.org
The Tobacco Resistance Unit (TRU) is a movement in Pennsylvania to provide training to youth ages 12 to 18 to help them stay tobacco and nicotine-free. The TRU program focuses on teaching teens and helping them to pass their knowledge onto their peers.
Rainbow Rose Center is developing an LGBTQIA+ region chapter of TRU to advocate for stronger tobacco control policies in Pennsylvania and to promote youth empowerment. The goal, to decrease the obvious smoking-related health disparities for LGBTQIA+ youth.
Other Programs coming soon
The Rainbow Rose Center looks forward to supporting the following sections of our community in the late spring and early summer through two new virtual support groups!
HIV Support Group
The stigma and fear associated with being HIV positive can cause people to close themselves off from others and even cause feelings of guilt or shame. However, meeting other individuals who are HIV positive that share the same concerns, fears and medical issues can reduce and relieve stress from the daily challenges of living with HIV. The HIV support group allows individuals living with HIV to come together to discuss the challenges they face so they do not have to face them alone, reducing physical and emotional isolation. Monthly discussions around disclosure, medication, stigma, and fears are just some of the topics discussed that help support this population and help them improve their overall quality of life. Due to COVID-19, this group will be meeting virtually for the foreseeable future.
LGBTQIA+ Young Adult Support Group
The current political climate and the rise in mental health issues exacerbated by the pandemic led to this group specifically tailored to Queer and Transgender Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC). BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ individuals disproportionately experience biases, structural hurdles, and barriers to treatment and quality care. This monthly peer-led support group is an outlet for LGBTQIA+ People of Color to come together for open discussion in a space that strives to be safe and judgment free. Due to COVID-19, this group will be meeting virtually for the foreseeable future.
Why Support Programs
Peer support programs bring together those with shared experiences. They provide an opportunity to connect, to learn, to laugh, and to heal.
- Learn from Others' Experiences
- See from Another Perspective
- Connect with Those Who Understand You
- Grow in Yourself and in Your Community
How You Participate
When you join a meeting, you enter a community that respects you and each other. You are welcome to engage at whatever level you feel comfortable, whether to share or to observe.
- Listen Openly
- Show Respect
- Engage as Desired
Participation and Confidentiality
We take privacy and confidentiality very seriously at the Rainbow Rose Center. We want to make sure everyone in attendance feels safe to join us, and we acknowledge that many people come to the meetings with great uncertainty and possible personal risk. Therefore, we depend on all in attendance to adhere to the following Statement of Confidentiality:
- What is said in our meetings, as well as the identities of persons attending, is kept strictly confidential.
- Presence at these meetings does not indicate any particular identity or orientation.
- No recording devices or cameras are allowed without consent.
All have the right to expect these protections and are obligated to extend them to everyone present.