Northeast Minnesota, like many other regions, has a history of LGBTQI+ discrimination, activism, progress, and ongoing challenges. As June is recognized as LGBTQI+ Pride month, we want to challenge you to consider the topic of LGBTQI+ Equity in this month’s newsletter.
LGBTQI+ individuals have seen significant progress in achieving equality and acceptance in northeast Minnesota, but challenges still persist in many of our rural areas where LGBTQI+ individuals can face discrimination, harassment, and prejudice.
Supporting equitable environments for LGBTQI+ individuals is a significant factor that can contribute to their potential to achieve success and be fully engaged in the community. Ensuring that all LGBTQI+ community members have the ability to access fair housing, employment, social, health, and other resources is an important piece to creating equitable, diverse, and inclusive communities.
Efforts are being undertaken by individuals and groups in northeast Minnesota to promote LGBTQI+ equity and provide every individual within our communities with equitable opportunities be their full, authentic selves.
A recognition of past and continuing inequities can help local governments, community members, and organizations advocate for LGBTQI+ community members in the region.
Welcoming efforts around LGBTQI+ equity might consist of:
- Increasing community access to support networks and resources for LGBTQI+ individuals who may be experiencing feelings of isolation
- Supporting schools and parents working together in creating inclusive environments, combating bullying, and offering mental health services to support LGBTQI+ youth
- Identifying and addressing housing, employment, or health discrimination towards LGBTQI+ community members
Considering LGBTQI+ equity is essential to understanding a more complete picture of equity across the Northland. Visit the Resources to Explore section to learn more about current initiatives and stories around LGBTQI+ equity in the Northland.
“It is absolutely imperative that every human being’s freedom and human rights are respected, all over the world.”– Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir
Continued Learning
The goal of the Welcoming Community program is to provide continued opportunities for learning
and connection related to topics relevant to diversity, equity, and inclusion in our region. In our monthly emails, we highlight a specific equity topic and provide resources related to the monthly theme.
The theme for the month of June is LGBTQI+ Equity. When exploring the learnings in the Resources to Explore section, we ask that you consider the following question:
“In terms of LGBTQI+ equity in northeast Minnesota, where have we come from, where are we now, and what steps do we need to take to reach an equitable future?”
Resources to Explore
- Movement Advancement Project: Minnesota’s Equality Profile
- University of Minnesota Libraries, Digital Conservancy: Forging Their Own Way: Queer Visibility, Identity Politics, and Cultural Change On Minnesota’s Iron Range
- SDLGBTN: Duluth Minnesota: A City That Embraces Its LGBT Community
- MPR News: In Minnesota, bouquets and brickbats for high court’s marriage ruling
- BuzzFeed News: Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton Signs Marriage Equality Bill Into Law
- Duluth News Tribune: Festival marks 30 years of Pride
- Trans Northland: About Trans Northland
- Newsweek: Americans Are Becoming Less Accepting of Same-Sex Relationships, Poll Shows
- PBS News Hour: Majority of Americans reject anti-trans bills, but support for this restriction is rising
- CNN Politics: Record number of anti-LGBTQ bills have been introduced this year
- UCLA Williams Institute: LGBT People’s Experiences of Workplace Discrimination and Harassment
- MINNPOST: A brief overview of queer and trans history in Minnesota
- Star Tribune: New report shows Minnesota LGBTQ teens and adults overrepresented in homeless population
- GLAAD: Media Reference Guide: Glossary of Terms: LGBTQ
- US Department of Health and Human Services: LGBTQI+ Health & Well-being
- The White House: FACT SHEET: Biden-Harris Administration Releases First-Ever Federal Evidence Agenda on LGBTQI+ Equity
- Executive Office of the President of the United States: Federal Evidence Agenda on LGBTQI+ Equity
- University of Minnesota: Gender and Sexuality Center for Queer and Trans Life
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Inclusion Learning Cohort Application Deadline:
June 30th, 2023!
Northspan’s Welcoming Community program announced the launch of the application for the 2023-2024 Inclusion Learning Cohorts last month. The Inclusion Learning Cohorts are an opportunity for community members to come together to build relationships, learn about inclusion, discuss challenges in the community, and complete a Community Inclusion Project.
If you are interested in your community being considered as the next Inclusion Learning Cohort community in Northeast Minnesota please submit an application by June 30th, 2023.
If you have any questions about the application or timeline please contact Welcoming Community Program Coordinator Amber Lewis at alewis@northspan.org.
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Northeast Minnesota Digital Connection Committees to Provide Data for State of Minnesota Digital Equity Plan
In March of 2023, the State of Minnesota Office of Broadband Development (OBD) asked local areas across the state to form Digital Connection Committees (DCCs). The intent of the DCCs is to gather data on digital equity and inclusion in communities across the state. This data will be used to inform the initial draft of a statewide digital equity plan to reduce gaps in access, device ownership, and digital skills.
Nine DCCs formed across Northeast Minnesota (listed below) and Northspan has been working to connect the committees with one another. Gatherings have been facilitated to share resources and learnings, with the goal of elevating regional themes related to digital inclusion.
In working to ensure that all of our counties and the Tribal Nations in our shared geography have the opportunity to provide input into the draft of the Digital Equity Plan, Northspan crafted a survey to gather additional information on digital inclusion in our region. If you are interested in providing data from your community, please complete the survey by June 25th, 2023.
Northeast Minnesota Digital Connection Committees
- Aitkin County Government
- Biwabik Township
- Duluth Digital Inclusion Alliance
- Hibbing Public Library
- Koochiching County
- Town of White
- Northspan Group, Inc.
- Quad Cities Public Libraries
- Wilderness Health
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Welcoming: In the News!
- The Timberjay: How can we make our communities more welcoming?
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Welcoming Events Across the Northland
Photo Credit: Jeremy Gardner, Ojibwemowining Digital Arts
Many initiatives are ongoing to support Welcoming across northeast Minnesota. Listed below are some in-person and digital opportunities to explore and participate in!
Do you know about a connection opportunity we could highlight in an upcoming newsletter? Submit events to alewis@northspan.org by July 10th, 2023.
Lake Vermilion Traditional Pow Wow
June 23-25
Bois Forte Vermilion Government Center
1610 Farm Rd S, Tower
Learn more here
AICHO: Birchbark & Cattails:
An Homage to Land that Creates Art
May 8th – June 30th, 2023
212 W 2nd Street, Duluth, MN
Learn more here
Family Freedom Center’s Freedom Fridays
June 30th and July 28th, 2023, 4-6PM
The Washington Center, 310 N 1st Ave
Learn more here
Arrowhead Area Agency on Aging:
Virtual Mental Health First Aid Training
July 19th, 2023
For more info or to register, contact:
Jess at jlanger@ardc.org or Kimberly at kscanlon@ardc.org
The Duluth Lyceum: Why Democracy?
July 27th, 2023
Duluth Folk School/Dovetail Cafe, Duluth, MN
Learn more here
Lake Superior Chapter, Association for Talent Development:
Top 10 Mistakes Leaders Make in Organizational DEI Efforts and Strategies
August 18th, 2023
College of St. Scholastica, Mitchell Auditorium
Learn more here
Duluth-Superior Pride
Dates: August 31st -September 4th, 2023
Learn more here
Ongoing Events
Minnesota Council of Nonprofits
Various Events
Learn more here
MN Department of Health:
Mental Well-Being and Resilience Learning Community
Learn more here
Stepping On Up: Safe Bay Opens April 17
Volunteers Needed
Learn more here
Boundary Waters Connect: Hello Neighbor
Learn more here
Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa:
Ke Go Naa! Language Lessons
Learn more here
Arrowhead Area Agency on Aging:
Classes, Workshops, Trainings
Learn more here
Entrepreneur Fund: Stride
Learn more here
Members Cooperative Credit Union
Financial Education Webinars
Learn more here
Banzai Financial Wellness Library
Minnesota Women’s Press Changemakers Alliance
Learn more here
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Invite a Friend
If you know others in your community who are interested in participating with Welcoming Community programming, please share this post so they can learn more & Click Here to join our email list.
Contact Northspan’s Welcoming Community Program Coordinator Amber Lewis at alewis@northspan.org with any questions.