Appleton's First Coming Out Day

Appleton has never publicly, in a big way, celebrated Pride or any other LGBTQ holiday. 

This year I am working, with my friend Nate, and with the City of Appleton, to celebrate National Coming Out Day by having businesses on College Avenue and Wisconsin Avenue put up pride flags to celebrate LGBTQ Appleton.

We both fully celebrate all other LGBTQ events created by and for the community here but wanted something more visible, more civically minded, more apparent - especially for those who aren't out, can't be out, and to those who hate us.

The event will be on October 11th.

We'd like to find the funds not only to buy those pride flags for every single business interested but to pay the awesome volunteers who will go door to door in order to get them to put pride flags on display that day.

The goal here is to see two avenues full of rainbow flags. To empower LGBTQ people to talk to businesses about why it's important. To bring people other than those with money and power to participate in an event that celebrates them. 

This year, especially, with a dubious ruling coming from SCOTUS on 10/8 about whether or not it's okay to discriminate against LGBTQ people, a visible celebration of our talents, our presence, & our contributions seems absolutely necessary. 

I will personally shepherd the funds and any/all beyond what we need to raise will be donated to other LGBTQ organizations doing work in the Fox Valley. 

The City has been happy to help, but with a one-woman diversity office and no funding, there is very little they can do. So we're going to do it ourselves, to show the city how important pride is and how much it is needed.

Thank you for reading, and thank you for your support.