The Front Porch: Virtual Gatherings for the #LGBTQSouth is a new initiative from the Campaign for Southern Equality to support LGBTQ Southerners through the unique challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Virtual programming will include community support groups, skill-sharing and skill-building workshops, and presentations from practitioners in their fields. All members of the CSE community are invited to join.
Information about each webinar from The Front Porch series – including RSVP and dial-in information, is available below, and at www.southernequality.org/events. All events are free and open to the public. Join us!
What Do You Want to See on The Front Porch?
Take the SurveyTUESDAYS• 8:00pm – 9:30pm ET
Southern Equality Studios’ Queer Artist Meet-Up Goes Virtual
If you’re a queer artist or creative in the South, join us for weekly discussions and tutorials. This week, we’ll have open discussion, facilitated by Al Murray, CSE’s Director of Engagement and Organizational Development, and Liz Williams, Southern Equality Studios Manager.
FRIDAY – May 29 • 2:00-3:00pm ET
J. Chong Eats: A Cooking Show For These Times (Episode 5)
Join professional chef J. Chong, a CSE board member, for an accessible and fun take on healthy eating and easy recipes you can make at home. J. will prepare a meal in real time, answer your questions, and teach you strategies for staying fed and healthy in this era of social distancing.
MONDAY – June 1 • 12:00-1:00pm ET
#LGBTQSouth Community Support Group
Gather with other LGBTQ Southerners for virtual time together without a formal agenda. As we all responsibly practice social distancing, it’s more important than ever to seek out new ways to get connected, get to know each other, share how we’re feeling during this challenging time, and build community together. Kick off your week with this lunchtime gathering. This session is organized and hosted by CSE’s Community Health Program Director Ivy Hill.
TUESDAYS• 8:00pm – 9:30pm ET
Southern Equality Studios’ Queer Artist Meet-Up Goes Virtual
If you’re a queer artist or creative in the South, join us for weekly discussions and tutorials. This week, we’ll have open discussion, facilitated by Al Murray, CSE’s Director of Engagement and Organizational Development, and Liz Williams, CSE’s Artist in Residence.
Have an Idea for Programming for The Front Porch?
We want to hear from you! Share your ideas for new virtual programming to support LGBTQ Southerners during the COVID-19 pandemic. Whether it’s something you’d love to see or something you have to offer, share with us and the Campaign for Southern Equality will be in touch.
Previous Programming on The Front Porch
Check out descriptions and event information from previous programming on The Front Porch!
Poetry Reading and Q&A with Eric Tran
THURSDAY – May 14 • 4:00-4:30pm ET
The Campaign for Southern Equality is proud to host Eric Tran, author of The Gutter Spread Guide to Prayer, for a reading from the book of poetry and Q&A discussion. It will mark our first Instagram Live.
J. Chong Eats: A Cooking Show for These Times (Episode 4)
FRIDAY – May 8 • 2:00-3:00pm ET
Join professional chef J. Chong, a CSE board member, for an accessible and fun take on healthy eating and easy recipes you can make at home. J. will prepare a meal in real time, answer your questions, and teach you strategies for staying fed and healthy in this era of social distancing.
Trans Love, Romance, and Dating in the Time of Corona
WEDNESDAY – May 6 • 4:00-5:30pm ET
Trans people are magic! We are activists, educators, parents, and we are lovers and partners. Our notions of “care” span beyond the medical, mental, and social spheres. Come to a confidential discussion for trans and non-binary people exclusively, to discuss how our romantic lives are faring during this pandemic and time of social distancing.
Queer Parents’ Meet-Up
THURSDAY – April 30 • 12:00-1:00pm ET
An hour to brag/vent/mock/gush…or maybe we won’t even talk about our kids at all (yeah right). Led by Al Murray and probably co-facilitated by their 4-month-old twins, Al will facilitate open discussion in a judgement-free space for you to meet other queer parents in the South. Kids welcomed, dropping in and out permitted.
LGBTQ Organizing in Upstate South Carolina: Tips, Coaching & Guidance
WEDNESDAY – April 29 • 4:00-5:00pm ET
All year a powerful coalition of groups serving LGBTQ South Carolinians has been working to protect LGBTQ people – and this week, the coalition is providing a training and tutorial for activists who want to prepare for legislative and direct organizing fights ahead. Phil Ford will moderate a conversation, skill share, and brainstorm session, with content focused on Upstate South Carolina. If you’re not in the Upstate, you’re still welcome to join – but just keep in mind that that will be the focus of the training.
Southern Equality Studios’ Queer Artist Meet-Up Goes Virtual (Note Time Change)
TUESDAY – April 28 • 6:00-7:00pm ET
If you’re a queer artist or creative in the South, join us for weekly discussions and tutorials. This week, guest host Ariana Sellers will teach a home craft – visible mending and functional embroidery using the Sashiko technique. This space will be facilitated by Al Murray, CSE’s Director of Engagement and Organizational Development, and Liz Williams, CSE’s Artist in Residence.
#LGBTQSouth Community Support Group
MONDAY – April 27 • 12:00-1:00pm ET
Gather with other LGBTQ Southerners for virtual time together without a formal agenda. As we all responsibly practice social distancing, it’s more important than ever to seek out new ways to get connected, get to know each other, share how we’re feeling during this challenging time, and build community together. Kick off your week with this lunchtime gathering. This session is organized and hosted by CSE’s Community Health Program Director Ivy Hill.
J. Chong Eats: A Cooking Show For These Times (Episode 3)
Friday – April 24 • 2:00-3:00pm ET
Join professional chef J. Chong, a CSE board member, for an accessible and fun take on healthy eating and easy recipes you can make at home. J. will prepare a meal in real time, answer your questions, and teach you strategies for staying fed and healthy in this era of social distancing.
Trans Health in the South: A Listening & Resource Sharing Session
THURSDAY – April 23 • 5:30-6:30pm ET
Join Michael Hoeben, Trans/HIV Bridge & Retention Coordinator at Western NC Community Health Services, and CSE’s Community Health Program Director Ivy Hill for a webinar on trans health, especially as it relates to COVID-19 and other consequences of the pandemic. Michael and Ivy will share updates from their work and leave plenty of time for questions. We’re here to listen to trans and nonbinary folks from across the South about what you need, and what questions you may have – whether about COVID-19, sexual health, or any other concerns related to health and healthcare.
Wellness Wednesday: Stretches & Cranial Massages for Stress Relief and Centering
WEDNESDAY – April 22 • 4:00-5:00pm ET
Come participate in light stretches and cranial massages. CSE’s Director of Healing and Resilience Holiday Simmons will teach introductory cranial massages that can be done on yourself or someone else, including children! These practices have been known to calm the nervous system, relieve tension and headaches, and support vitality.
Southern Equality Studios’ Queer Artist Meet-Up Goes Virtual
TUESDAY – April 21 • 4:00-5:30pm ET
If you’re a queer artist or creative in the South, join us for weekly discussions and tutorials. This week, we’ll learn to fly with Liz! It’s okay if you’re afraid of heights – this is a Photoshop skill share. This space will be facilitated by Al Murray, CSE’s Director of Engagement and Organizational Development, and Liz Williams, CSE’s Artist in Residence.
#LGBTQSouth Community Support Group
MONDAY – April 20 • 12:00-1:00pm ET
Gather with other LGBTQ Southerners for virtual time together without a formal agenda. As we all responsibly practice social distancing, it’s more important than ever to seek out new ways to get connected, get to know each other, share how we’re feeling during this challenging time, and build community together. Kick off your week with this lunchtime gathering. This session is organized and hosted by CSE’s Community Health Program Director Ivy Hill.
Southern Equality Game Night
FRIDAY – April 17 • 5:00-6:00pm ET
Unwind at the end of your week by joining the Campaign for Southern Equality for a fun and informal evening of virtual games. We’ll have some virtual offerings, and we’re also open to ideas for what to play. We’re looking forward to building community with other LGBTQ Southerners in this fun, family-friendly virtual space.
Paycheck Protection Program: A Q&A with Slater Solomon, CPA
WEDNESDAY – April 15 • 4:00-5:00pm ET
Do you run a nonprofit? A small business? Are you self-employed? The Paycheck Protection Program of the CARES Act is set up to help you keep yourself and your employees on payroll during the pandemic. Learn about this funding opportunity and tips for an effective application. Slater will give an overview of the program and take your questions!
Southern Equality Studios’ Queer Artist Meet-Up Goes Virtual
TUESDAY – April 14 • 4:00-5:30pm ET
If you’re a queer artist or creative in the South, join us for weekly discussions and tutorials. Topics range from how social distancing affects your art to how to monetize your creative skills in this virtual landscape. Southern Equality Studios has worked throughout 2019 and 2020 to create a space for queer Southern artists to gather and connect. This space will be facilitated by Al Murray, CSE’s Director of Engagement and Organizational Development, and Liz Williams, CSE’s Artist in Residence.
#LGBTQSouth Community Support Group
MONDAY – April 13 • 12:00-1:00pm ET
Gather with other LGBTQ Southerners for virtual time together without a formal agenda. As we all responsibly practice social distancing, it’s more important than ever to seek out new ways to get connected, get to know each other, share how we’re feeling during this challenging time, and build community together. Kick off your week with this lunchtime gathering. This session is organized and hosted by CSE’s Community Health Program Director Ivy Hill.
J. Chong Eats: A Cooking Show for These Times
FRIDAY – April 10 • 2:00-3:00pm ET
Join professional chef J. Chong, a CSE board member, for an accessible and fun take on healthy eating and easy recipes you can make at home. J. will prepare a meal in real time, answer your questions, and teach you strategies for staying fed and healthy in this era of social distancing.
Southern Equality Studios’ Queer Artist Meet-Up Goes Virtual
TUESDAY – April 7 • 4:00-5:30pm ET
If you’re a queer artist or creative in the South, join us for weekly discussions and tutorials. Topics range from how social distancing affects your art to how to monetize your creative skills in this virtual landscape. Southern Equality Studios has worked throughout 2019 and 2020 to create a space for queer Southern artists to gather and connect. This space will be facilitated by Al Murray, CSE’s Director of Engagement and Organizational Development, and Liz Williams, CSE’s Artist in Residence.
#LGBTQSouth Community Support Group
MONDAY – April 6 • 12:00-1:00pm ET
Gather with other LGBTQ Southerners for virtual time together without a formal agenda. As we all responsibly practice social distancing, it’s more important than ever to seek out new ways to get connected, get to know each other, share how we’re feeling during this challenging time, and build community together. Kick off your week with this lunchtime gathering. This session is organized and hosted by CSE’s Community Health Program Director Ivy Hill.
Keeping Your Hair on Point in a Pandemic: At-Home Hair and Grooming Tips
FRIDAY – April 3 • 2:00-3:30pm ET
Join professional stylist Crain Jackson for an at-home barbering/haircut demonstration and a Q&A session on personal grooming and aesthetics! Crain has experience barbering all hair types and is able to offer suggestions based on masc, femme and nonbinary presentations. They’ll share tips for talking about everything from cleaning up your own neckline to DIY hair and skin care in this era of social distancing.
Trans Health in the South: A Listening & Resource Sharing Session
THURSDAY – April 2 • 5:30-6:30pm ET
Join Michael Hoeben, Trans/HIV Bridge & Retention Coordinator at Western NC Community Health Services, and CSE’s Community Health Program Director Ivy Hill for a webinar on trans health, especially as it relates to COVID-19 and other consequences of the pandemic. Just a few days after Transgender Day of Visibility (which is Tuesday 3/31), Michael and Ivy will share updates from their work and leave plenty of time for questions. We’re here to listen to trans and nonbinary folks from across the South about what you need, and what questions you may have – whether about COVID-19, sexual health, or any other concerns related to health and healthcare.
Wisdom from the Mountains
WEDNESDAY – April 1 • 4:00-5:30pm ET
These are shifting times. COVID-19 continues to take and impact lives everyday. How are people who are Indigenous, rural, and Southern faring? CSE’s Director of Healing and Resilience Holiday Simmons will moderate a panel featuring members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians from the Qualla Boundary in Cherokee, North Carolina. The panelists will share their thoughts, experiences, and practices on social, emotional, and resource management during this Coronavirus global pandemic.
Southern Equality Studios’ Queer Artist Meet-Up Goes Virtual
TUESDAY – March 31 • 4:00-5:30pm ET
If you’re a queer artist in the South, join us for a skill-sharing workshop – this one focused on electro-etching with household objects! Learn how to etch metal using objects you have all around you. You can scale this concept in the future when you have access to more specific tools and spaces. This workshop will be facilitated by Al Murray, CSE’s Director of Engagement and Organizational Development, and Liz Williams, CSE’s Artist in Residence.
#LGBTQSouth Community Support Group
MONDAY – March 30 • 12:00-1:00pm ET
Gather with other LGBTQ Southerners for virtual time together without a formal agenda. As we all responsibly practice social distancing, it’s more important than ever to seek out new ways to get connected, get to know each other, share how we’re feeling during this challenging time, and build community together. Kick off your week with this lunchtime gathering – and this week, we’ll talk a bit about how everyone is observing Transgender Day of Visibility (celebrated 3/31). This session is organized and hosted by CSE’s Community Health Program Director Ivy Hill.
J. Chong Eats: A Cooking Show for These Times
FRIDAY – March 27 • 2:00-3:00pm ET
Join professional chef J. Chong, a CSE board member, for an accessible and fun take on healthy eating and easy recipes you can make at home. J. will prepare a meal in real time, answer your questions, and teach you strategies for staying fed and healthy in this era of social distancing.
Informational Webinar on Rapid Response Grants for COVID-19 Emergency Assistance and Crisis Response Projects
THURSDAY – March 26 • 12:00-1:00pm ET
This week the Campaign for Southern Equality will launch a rapid response grant round to move resources to individuals, families, and community organizations across the LGBTQ South who are impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Tune into this webinar to learn more, ask questions of the grantmaking team, and brainstorm ideas for grants, which will be distributed through CSE’s Southern Equality Fund. CSE’s Director of Policy & Programs Allison Scott, New Southern Leaders Fellow Wynston Sanders, and Community Organizer Leila Barazandeh will lead this webinar.
Strategies for Getting Grounded & Staying Principled in Uncertain Times
WEDNESDAY – March 25 • 4:00-5:30pm ET
Isolation can be hard, stillness can be difficult, and the anxiety that folks are experiencing around COVID-19 is real. Join CSE’s Director of Healing and Resilience, Holiday Simmons, for tips and strategies for reducing panic and stagnation, and increasing compassion and community.
Southern Equality Studios’ Queer Artist Meet-Up Goes Virtual
TUESDAY – March 24 • 4:00-5:30pm ET
If you’re a queer artist in the South, join us for a virtual discussion about art and identity as it relates to the COVID-19 crisis. How does social distancing affect your art? How can art bring people together at a time like this? Southern Equality Studios has worked throughout 2019 and 2020 to create a space for queer Southern artists to gather and connect – how can we navigate the challenges of being unable to physically gather while welcoming the possibilities it brings for broader regional connection? This discussion will be facilitated by Al Murray, CSE’s Director of Engagement and Organizational Development, and Liz Williams, CSE’s Artist in Residence.
#LGBTQSouth Community Support Group
MONDAY – March 23 • 12:00-1:00pm ET
Gather with other LGBTQ Southerners for virtual time together without a formal agenda. As we all responsibly practice social distancing, it’s more important than ever to seek out new ways to get connected, get to know each other, share how we’re feeling during this challenging time, and build community together. Kick off your week with this regular lunchtime gathering, organized and hosted by CSE’s Community Health Program Director Ivy Hill.
