Brattleboro, Vermont – On May 3rd, an expected 40 lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) volunteers will get dirty and have fun planting organic potatoes at the first “Earth Gay” Vermont.
Earth Gay Vermont’s 2015 host is queer owned Circle Mountain Farm. The event is co-presented by Green Mountain Crossroads, a Brattleboro, Vermont based nonprofit supporting rural LGBTQ communities in becoming stronger, healthier, and more visible, and OUT for Sustainability, a Seattle, Washington based nonprofit mobilizing the LGBTQ community for social and environmental action.
“Green Mountain Crossroads (GMC) is thrilled to be partnering with OUT for Sustainability and Circle Mountain Farm on the very first Earth Gay in Vermont!” said HB Lozito, Executive Director of GMC. “Having a large crew of LGBTQ-identified volunteers supporting a local queer-owned farm is a fabulous example of the kind of work we do, building rural LGBTQ communities,visibility, knowledge, and power. I can’t think of any better way to spend a beautiful Spring Sunday than digging in the dirt with other rural LGBTQ folks!”
“LGBTQ people in Vermont are passionate stewards of our environment, so its wonderful to launch the first Earth Gay on the East Coast right here,” said Gerod Rody, Founder and President of OUT for Sustainability. “We’re overjoyed to partner with Green Mountain Crossroads and form Earth Gay Vermont as a space to be out and proud about environmental values. Our vision is “a Fabulous Planet,” so what better way to live that out than getting our hands dirty, together, investing in healthier land and happier people.”
OUT for Sustainability first started Earth Gay in 2009 with 10 volunteers planting a garden for a youth rehab center in Seattle, Washington. Since then they’ve organized 14 Earth Gay service projects in cities and regions around the country, investing over 4,000 volunteer hours into habitat restoration, public parks and community gardens.
Earth Gay Vermont runs 10am to 2pm on Sunday May 3rd, 2015 at Circle Mountain Farm. The service project strives to foster an inclusive environment where everyone is welcome to engage in making a more fabulous planet.
More information and free registration is available at out4s.org/serve/earth-gay-vermont.
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OUT FOR SUSTAINABILITY:
OUT for Sustainability (OUT4S) mobilizes the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) community for social and environmental action. Founded in Seattle, Washington in 2008 as the first organization of its kind, OUT4S has grown into a national organization serving thousands of openly LGBTQ sustainability advocates. OUT4S programs focus on service, advocacy and education and include “Earth Gay,” “Greener Pride” and the “Fab Planet Summit.”
OUT4S has partnered with more 150 nonprofits, corporations and small businesses to host over 50 events, engaging more than 3,000 volunteers and supporters in pursuit of a shared vision of “a Fabulous Planet.” More information is available at out4s.org.
GREEN MOUNTAIN CROSSROADS:
Green Mountain Crossroads (GMC) builds strong, healthy, and visible rural LGBTQ communities through social events, support groups, political education workshops, and multi-media outreach projects. GMC lifts up and centers the voices and experiences of rural LGBTQ people at popular events like Played Out! LGBTQ Game Night, Trans Day of Remembrance & Resistance, Rural Queer Caucuses, and the Tri-State Gay Men’s Social. We believe that collective liberation for all people is possible and that rural LGBTQ people play a critical role in the movement toward justice. More information at: greenmountaincrossroads.org
