Throughout history, people have found ways to connect with others who have similar experiences or skills. For those who face danger, like people escaping slavery in the U.S. or early Christians, these connections could be a matter of life or death. Queer people have also developed subtle ways of figuring out who is safe to trust and who is not.
Date/Time/Place Options
Sunday, July 6, 2025, 12:30-2:30 p.m. at Holston Valley UU Church, 136 Bob Jobe Rd in Gray, TN
Wednesday July 16, 5:30-7:30 p.m. at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 161 E Ravine Rd in Kingsport, TN
Tuesday July 22, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. at the Langston Centre, 315 Elm St in Johnson City
Please arrive 15 minutes early if you do not complete the pretest ahead of time.
Please expect to spend about 10 minutes after the workshop completing the assessment.
Please feel free to bring a meal to eat during the workshop.
In this workshop, we will look at common experiences from history, discuss how we can show that we are safe and welcoming to others, and explore ways to make our communities more supportive and healthy for everyone.
FREE and open to the public.
Join Matthew Gardenhour (TriFACETS) and Cindi Huss (RISE: Healthy for Life) for "The Secret Life of Queer Folks." Please register ahead of time so Matthew can send the research information to you. You are welcome to participate in the workshop whether you engage with the research or not. The workshop is appropriate for high schoolers as well, but only folx 18 or older are eligible to participate in the research.
ETSU student Matthew Gardenhour worked with RISE: Healthy for Life to develop this trans-affirming program for community members in Appalachia. This summer he is researching its effectiveness.
