Rutland Pride Center receives support from Rutland Free Library

Article originally published as “Fourney-Mills: LGBTQ+ support” by William Fourney-Mills

December 13, 2023

Rutland Herald

Rutland Free Library and the Rutland County Pride Center are pleased to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community together through the library’s gift of $2,500 to the Rutland County Pride Center. The $2,500 is a combination gift of the overage from a GoFundMe supporting the library and the library’s Fox Fund. The GoFundMe was started to help make up a budget shortfall due to Ira’s defunding of the organization due to several factors, with the major one being the support of drag queen story hours.

This funding will be utilized by Rutland County Pride Center to stock an on-site LGBTQ+ focused Rainbow Resource Library in their new physical location, 106 West St. Suite 1 in Rutland. In addition to this resource library, this funding will also support an LGBTQ+-focused book club facilitated by board members of Rutland County Pride.

Rutland County Pride is an emerging queer-led and queer-centering organization serving Rutland County. Founded in 2022, their positive impact has been felt across Rutland’s LGBTQ+ community and beyond. One of Rutland’s community members states “Rutland County Pride has helped create a feeling of welcoming and acceptance to all.” Their mission is to “… enhance and sustain the well-being of the LGBTQ+ and allied communities by providing programs and services that cultivate community; advocate for LGBTQ+ interests; educate and empower and provide social support to Rutland County Vermonters.”

At Rutland County Pride, the organization is built on foundational principles of justice, equity, diversity and inclusion. As an organization, they work to break down barriers to access to safe, affirming and equitable LGBTQ+ programming for all residents of Rutland County. One of the Rutland County Pride Center’s main priorities is the support of trans community members and the education of the wider community about trans-specific issues, which led to the discussion of this gift with the library. Excitingly, in August, they signed a lease to open a physical Pride Center in downtown Rutland, which has enabled them to create a safe and affirming location in which to host trans and other LGBTQ+-supportive events and activities. If you are interested in getting involved or supporting Rutland County Pride, please reach out to rutlandcountypride@gmail.com.

Rutland Free Library has supported Rutland’s community in a variety of ways since its founding in 1886. This partnership with one of Rutland’s newest organizations feels like a natural next step in its long history of supporting connection and community. Rutland Free Library Assistant Director Amy Williams states “We are so happy to help fill this community gap — this project is in total alignment with the library’s mission to bring people, information and ideas together to enrich lives and to build a vibrant, strong community.”

Supporting Rutland County’s LGBTQ+ community members is a vital part of this mission and makes Rutland a better place to live, work and learn.

William Fourney-Mills lives in Rutland.