LGBTQ Elder Initiative of BLS Pinellas

Happy Fall, y’all! 🍁✨Our #Fall 2025 #LGBTQ+ Elder Initiative newsletter is here! Catch up on #community moments, seasonal highlights, and the heartwarming work happening for LGBTQ+ older adults across #Pinellas. Swipe through the images to read, and feel free to share! 🏳️‍🌈

#AgingWithPride #BLS

The Joy Ride: Donations SMART Ride, Joy Ride, Florida AIDS Ride

🚴‍♂️ We’re proud to support our committee member, Kirk, in riding The Joy Ride from Orlando to St. Pete this month. Please consider donating to help raise critical funds in the fight against HIV. Every contribution truly makes a difference. 💛

givebutter.com/TJR2025/tamp...

#TheJoyRideFL #FightHIV

🦃✨ #Seniors are invited to a Complimentary #Thanksgiving Dinner Party full of food, #friendship & #community!

📅 Nov 25 | 6 PM | 3050 1st Ave S, St. Pete

Hosted by Epic Generations & sponsored by Nurse Next Door, Empath & Moffitt’s Unity Group.

RSVP by Nov 21 to Pinellas@NurseNextDoor.com

October is National LGBTQ+ History Month!

Join BLS Pinellas for the LGBTQ+ Elders Consortium

Oct 10th 8:30–10:30 AM @ The Grove at Countryside

Hear from leading voices shaping inclusive care & advocacy!

Register: blspinellas.org/event-6051230

#LGBTQHistoryMonth #Advocacy #LGBTQ #ElderCare

DON'T FORGET THIS UPCOMING MONDAY! Tickets are now ON SALE for our can't-miss Drag Queen Bingo!

📍 Blur Nightclub, Dunedin
📅 September 15th
⏰ Doors Open 5PM - Early Bird Round starts 5:30PM
🎟️ mytbtickets.com/events/drag-...

#DragQueenBingo #LGBTQ #Dunedin #JunoVibranz #AutumnVee #BlurNightclub

📢 #USF & @chaptershealth.bsky.social are recruiting for a study on hospice care for LGBTQ+ elders & caregivers in FL. Participants get a $50 Amazon e-gift card!
Email lgbtaging@usf.edu or call/text 813-485-5520.
Please feel free to share with your networks! 🌈
#LGBTQ+ #Aging #HospiceCare #Florida

Tickets are now ON SALE for our can't-miss Drag Queen Bingo!

📍 Blur Nightclub, Dunedin
📅 September 15th
⏰ Doors Open 5PM - Early Bird Round starts 5:30PM
🎟️ mytbtickets.com/events/drag-...

#DragQueenBingo #LGBTQ #Dunedin #JunoVibranz #AutumnVee #BlurNightclub

✨ Calling All Fabulous Sponsors! ✨

Join us for Drag Queen Bingo at Blur Nightclub, Sept. 15, 2025!

Sponsorships start at $100 with perks like logo placement, VIP seating & shoutouts. Deadline Sept. 8. Don’t miss your chance to shine! 🌈💖

docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

#LGBTQ #Dunedin #DragQueen

🏳️‍🌈LGBTQ Elder Initiative of BLS Pinellas is proud to be a Dunedin Pride beneficiary!

Funds support our mission to educate + empower orgs to support LGBTQ+ folks. Join us starting Fri @ the Pride Night game! ⚾

Thank you Dunedin Chamber for this opportunity!

#DunedinPride #PrideWithPurpose #LGBTQ

🤝🌈 Connect, sip, & socialize! Join Tampa Bay LGBT Chamber & Watermark OUT News for after hours networking at Red Mesa Cantina! Enjoy free chips and salsa & $8 margaritas 🌮🍹

Wed May 21 | 6–8PM | St Pete

Register: tampabaylgbtchamber.growthzoneapp.com/ap/Events/Re...

#LGBTQNetworking #StPeteEvents

We’re uplifting LGBTQ+ elders in Pinellas County through advocacy, resources, and connection.

Want to get involved? You can:

✔️ Volunteer your time
✔️ Help spread the word
✔️ Join our committee (BLS Members)

🔗 Learn more: blspinellas.org/LGBTQEI

#LGBTQEI #AgingWithPride #LGBTQSupport #ElderVoices

Today is National Honor Our LGBT Elders Day! 🌈
This day speaks to the very heart of our work. It’s a time to uplift those who paved the way through activism, resilience, & love. They made our progress possible. We owe them our care. 💜

🔗 lgbteldersday.com

#LGBTEldersDay #LGBTQAging #HonorOurElders

🎉 Pride’s better when you’re part of it!

Volunteer with the LGBTQ+ Elder Initiative at Dunedin & St. Pete Pride. Uplift voices, share joy, and build real community.
No experience needed—just heart. 💖

🔗 Sign up today: tinyurl.com/LGBTQeiPride2025

#VolunteerWithPride #Pride2025 #LGBTQAging

The LGBTQ+ Elder Initiative is looking for partners committed to inclusive, affirming care.

Let’s work together to close care gaps, uplift LGBTQ+ older adults, and co-host impactful trainings.

🔗 blspinellas.org/LGBTQEI

📧 LGBTQEI@gmail.com

#LGBTQAging #AffirmingCare #PinellasCounty

🌈 LGBTQ+ seniors: connect, relax, and uplift your day at Meaningful Conversations & Community.

☕ 2nd Fridays 1 PM at Sunshine Center
☕ 4th Fridays 10 AM at Gulfport Senior Center

📍 St. Pete & Gulfport

#LGBTQAging #CommunityCare #MeaningfulConversations

🌈 Join SAGE for the 14th annual Pride and Progress Conference: Shaping the Future of LGBTQIA+ Aging.

5 CEUs Available!

📅 Friday, May 9
⏰ 9:00 AM – 3:30 PM EST
📍 Virtual | Register Here: prideandprogressconference.org

#LGBTQAging #SAGE #PrideAndProgress2025 #Allyship

📣 ReDefining Care: Allyship through Adversity in the First 100 Days

Join #SAGECare, SAGE's cultural competency experts, for a convo on how we can support LGBTQ+ elders amid executive orders impacting LGBTQ+ rights.

📅 May 8 | 🕐 1 PM ET

🔗 sageusa.org/allyshipthroughadversity

#LGBTQAging #LGBTQ+

Fashion With Passion

👗🌈 TOMORROW: Experience Fashion With Passion, a premier runway event designed to uplift, empower, and advocate for gender-affirming healthcare and LGBTQ+ rights.

📍 St. Pete | 📅 April 26 |🕖 7 PM

🎟️ ticketstripe.com/events/8515106901894368

#FashionWithPassion #StPeteEvents #CommunityPride

Building Success Summit Building Success Summit 2025: Where Innovation Meets Opportunity Join us April 14–16, 2025, at Raymond James Stadium for the Building Success Summit, the premier event for entrepreneurs, business own...

🏳️‍🌈 The Building Success Summit starts today!

Sponsored by the Tampa Bay LGBT Chamber, this 3-day event empowers LGBTQ+ leaders, entrepreneurs, and visionaries.

📅 April 14–16
📍 Raymond James Stadium, Tampa

#LGBTQBiz #BuildingSuccess #CommunityLeadership

💬 Need someone to talk to? The SAGE x HearMe partnership offers free, 24/7 text support with LGBTQ+-affirming listeners trained to understand your life experiences.

Private. Empathetic. Always available. 💗

🔗 sageusa.org/hearme

#LGBTQAging #MentalHealth #YouAreNotAlone #SAGEUSA

🌸Today is #InternationalDayofPink, inspired by students who stood up for a classmate bullied for wearing pink. It became a global stand against homophobia, transphobia, & bullying. Let’s keep creating safe, inclusive spaces for the LGBTQ+ community. 💗

dayofpink.org

#StopBullying #InclusionMatters

☕ Start your Thursday with Coffee and Connections, a Tampa Bay LGBT Chamber event hosted by Prevention727!

Great conversation, local networking, & a welcoming space to connect. 💬🏳️‍🌈

📅 April 10
🕗 8–9 AM

📍 3000 1st Ave N, St. Petersburg, FL

#LGBTQBiz #StPeteEvents #NetworkingWithPride

“The life and liberties of the everyday, We The People, are not negotiable.” - Bacardi Jackson, Executive Director ACLU Florida

League of Women Voters of St. Petersburg Annual Luncheon

April 6, 2025

@aclufl.bsky.social

@bacardijackson.bsky.social

#ACLU #LWVSPA #VotersRights #Resilient #Resist

Veterans: Don’t miss the Stand Down for Homeless event!

Get help with housing, healthcare, employment, legal services & more.

📅 April 5, 2025
🕘 9 am–1 pm
📍 10000 Bay Pines Blvd, Bay Pines, FL 33744

Bike giveaway, haircuts, lunch & more!
#Veterans #VA #PinellasCounty #BayPinesVA #VeteranSupport

🌟Tomorrow! Join the @alzassociation.bsky.social for Aging with Pride - a powerful event on LGBTQ+ aging & brain health.

Hear from expert, connect with community & don't miss keynote speaker Jane Haskell! 💬

📅 April 3 | ⏰ 3–4:30pm ET

📍 Online or in Pompano Beach

RSVP: alzfla.org/AgingWithPride

Members of our committee attended tonight’s Largo City Commission Meeting to support Mayor Brown’s stance to protect LGBTQ+ displays at Largo Library. Citizens shared powerful stories—including a heartfelt message from former Commissioner Eric Gerard. 🌈📚 #ProtectLargoLibrary #InclusiveLargo

It’s International Transgender Day of Visibility 💖💙🤍

To every trans person: You are loved. You are strong. You are not alone. Your truth is powerful. Your life matters.

We see you. We celebrate you. We stand with you, today & always.

To allies: Speak up. Show up. Stay loud.
#TransDayOfVisibility

🌈 Join @alzassociation.bsky.social for Aging with Pride, a vital conversation on brain health & aging in the LGBTQ+ community! 🧠💜 Hear from experts & connect with others on April 3, 3-4:30pm ET. Attend online or in person in Pompano Beach!

RSVP now: alzfla.org/AgingWithPride

#LGBTQ #BrainHealth

Planning for the future is essential, especially for LGBTQ+ older adults. 🌈 Facing the Future Together, a partnership between #SAGE & the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, offers insights on aging with dignity & support. 📖✨ #LGBTQAging #ElderCare #FuturePlanning #LGBTQCommunity

Our monthly meeting is today @ 9:30am!

Don’t have the Zoom link? Head over to the BLS site to register for the event to receive an email with the meeting information.