OutFront Kalamazoo Resumes Some In-Person Programming on December 1st, 2021

KALAMAZOO, MI November 26, 2021 – OutFront Kalamazoo, one of Michigan’s largest LGBTQ+ community centers, has announced that several of its programs for adults will resume meeting in-person beginning on Wednesday, December 1, 2021. While OutFront’s office reopened in July of this year, much of OutFront’s programming has been run virtually to help protect the health and safety of the LGBTQ+ community.

“We remain concerned about Michigan’s recent surge in COVID cases, but we are confident in the guidance from health professionals that gathering in person is possible with the appropriate precautions,” said Amy Hunter, OutFront Kalamazoo’s Executive Director. “Given the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services’ recent advisory, we will require everyone to show proof of vaccination and wear face masks at all indoor gatherings.”

The following peer support groups will resume in-person meetings:

• Allies – a peer support group for parents and/or guardians of LGBTQ+ youth.

• QWC (Queer Women’s Community) – a support and social group that provides advocacy, builds support, and creates community for all LGBTQ+ women.

• Transcend - a peer support group for transgender and gender non-conforming/ gender-fluid individuals, 18+ and older.

One of OutFront’s social networking programs, First Thursdays, will also resume meeting in person in December.

“People join groups because it helps them attain personal goals that they could not attain by themselves alone. Finding a group of people who understand your struggles, especially in the LGBTQ+ community, helps support and encourage those to find what they need,” said OutFront’s Director of Programs, Michael Cleggs Jr. “We have offered these programs for several years and maintaining connection throughout the pandemic has been challenging at times. With these sensible precautions in place, I think we are all looking forward to being together in-person again.”

Program information, including upcoming meeting dates and times, can be found at outfrontkzoo.org/programs.