October is packed with energy, impact, and inspiration! đ In this issue, weâre spotlighting one of our superstar volunteers, sharing photos from our recent events, and previewing whatâs next on the calendar. Youâll also find details on how to support PIOW on DAF Giving Day, an introduction to our recent blog on supporting LGBTQ+ employees with disabilities, and catch up on news from our amazing community partners.
Thanks for being part of this journey with usâyour energy and support are what keep our work thriving!
PIOW Announcements
Support PIOW on DAF Day â October 9
Did you know October 9 is National Donor-Advised Fund (DAF) Day? This annual celebration highlights the power of DAF giving to strengthen nonprofits and communities.
If you have a Donor-Advised Fund, itâs a great time to recommend a grant to Pride in Our Workplace (PIOW) EIN 81-2492978 - and directly support our work advancing LGBTQ+ workplace inclusion across Greater Boston.
Weâve also made it easier than ever to give through the PIOW website:
Check our new Matching Gift page to see if your employer will double (or even triple!) your impact.
Your generosity helps us expand programming, strengthen partnerships, and create workplaces where LGBTQ+ employees can thrive. Thank you for standing with us!
đ Volunteer Spotlight: Zarabeth Golden Quinn đ
Not long after Andy joined PIOW as Executive Director last year, Zarabeth Golden Quinn reached out offering to lend a handâand what an incredible difference sheâs made ever since. Zarabeth has been a driving force behind the scenes, keeping our website up to date, building event signup forms, managing our contact database, and tracking communication stats across social media, newsletters, and outreach.
Chances are, youâve also seen Zarabeth in action at one of our events, warmly checking you in and making sure everything runs smoothly. Her dedication, talent, and commitment have been invaluable to PIOWâs growth, and weâre so grateful for the countless ways she strengthens our community.
Looking to take the next step in your career? Join us for a practical, interactive webinar designed to equip LGBTQ+ talent with the strategies, tools, and insider tips you need to succeed in todayâs competitive job market.
The program will feature insights from HR leaders and recruiters on how to stand out, navigate challenges, and present your authentic self throughout the hiring process. Weâll also host breakout discussions tailored to different career stages and pathsâwhether youâre early in your journey, mid-career, exploring a transition, or managing a gap in experience.
Youâll walk away with actionable advice, new connections, and a clearer roadmap for your job search.
Our fall networking events brought together incredible energy and connection! From the September 18 gathering at Dorchester Brewing Company with YW Boston to the October 2 event with the MA LGBT Chamber of Commerce at Wolf & Company, we were thrilled to see so many new and familiar faces. Check out these photos capturing the conversations, collaborations, and community spirit that make these events so special.
Upcoming PIOW Programming
We've got a packed lineup of additional events and opportunities in the works for Q4 and beyond!
End of year networking mixer - We're still working out the details, but we're planning to bring local communities supporting LGBTQ+ workplace inclusion across Boston together for an end of year event on Dec 11, with PIOW joined by OUTbio, Out in Finance, Out in Tech, and Out in Climate. This would be the first time these groups come together. We'll announce details and share an RSVP link as soon as plans are finalized.
LGBTQIA+ Community Fireside Chat with Mayor Wu - Due to the other candidate dropping from the mayoral race, the Town Hall event that PIOW has been collaborating with The Queer Neighborhood Council and other local LGBTQ+ organizations is now shifting to a fireside chat with the Mayor, focusing on LGBTQ+ issues. We are now exploring the first half of February to hold this.
Check out upcoming newsletters and our Events page for further details and registration links as plans come into focus â we canât wait to see you at one of these great events!
In our latest blog, we explore how true workplace inclusion goes deeper than ramps and pronouns. For LGBTQ+ individuals with disabilities, inclusion means thoughtfully designed policies, accessibility built into processes, and a culture that honors their whole selves. Dive into the article to read about specific strategiesâlike accessible onboarding, privacy protections, and disability-justice designâthat move us from compliance to belonging.
Community Partner Announcements Check out the latest information and upcoming events
Breaktime - Breaktime'smission is to break the cycle of homelessness by equipping young adults (associates) with the job and financial security they need to establish housing security.
Become a Career Navigator, providing an opportunity for Breaktime associates to interface with a professional in a career that they are themselves interested in and learn more about the professional fields they are looking to enter.
Gay & Lesbian Review - Check out the September-October'25 issue here.
Queer History Boston (formerly The History Project)
Brewing Connections: Coming Out Day!
Saturday, October 11, 2025, 11:00am â 1:00pm, Boston City Hall Plaza â Civic Pavilion | 5 Congress Street, Boston, MA
Curator Talk: C. Raymond from the Edward Gorey House | Thursday, October 16 · 6 - 7pm CD |Online Join Queer History Boston for a conversation with C. Raymond, Associate Director & Archivist at the Edward Gorey House, as we step into the enigmatic world of Goreyâs âmysterious little books.â RSVP Here
Boston Lesbigay Urban Foundation
BLUâs Mentorship Program is ongoing and actively connecting BIPOC LGBTQ+ youth with affirming mentors for support, growth and empowerment. Click here to read our Mentorship Newsletter and apply
Check out BLU's new membership program, the Urban Unity Collective â a brand-new membership program designed to bring our LGBTQ+ family even closer. Join the Tribe!
Upcoming Events
Day JaVu Saturdays With BLU: Experience Day JaVu Saturdays, a vibrant LGBTQ+ party held every 1st Saturday of the month.
Xtreme Hip Hop Class: Weekly class on Wednesday, 7-8pm @ Lena Park Community Center. No experience necessary. $20/class.
Name Change Clinics: Ongoing name change clinics at various locations. Find dates and location times here.
All programming information can be found linkedhere. Programs include:
The Trans Leadership Academy supports trans and nonbinary people with workforce development, mentoring and training, and material and financial support in an affirming environment.
G.E.A.R. (Gender Euphoria and Affirmation Resources) provides trans and nonbinary people in Massachusetts with access to products, garments, and resources that affirm who they are at no cost.
REACH (Relief and Emergency Assistance for Community Hope) provides transgender and nonbinary people in Massachusetts with emergency funds for a variety of expenses.
The Identity Document Assistance Network (IDA Network) provides guidance, support and financial assistance for trans, nonbinary, and gender expansive people living in New England who are seeking to update their legal name and/or gender on federal and state documents.
Weâre excited to announce that our business conference is back on October 31, 2025 at Babson College in Wellesley, MA! This yearâs theme, celebrates the strength of collaboration across our network of LGBTQ-owned businesses, corporate partners, and community allies. For sponsorship opportunities, contact alex.eberhardt@malgbtcc.org.
Mayor's Office of LGBTQIA2S+ Advancement
Now Open: Beyond Pride Grant Program
The Mayorâs Office of LGBTQIA2S+ Advancement (MOLA) is pleased to announce that applications for the FY26 Beyond Pride Grant Program are now open! This program provides funding to community-based organizations, with a focus on housing, crisis response, legal support, health and wellness, economic mobility, and community programming.
Total Funds Available: $275,000
Grant Size: Up to $40,000 for programs providing housing, legal services, or crisis response; Up to $10,000 for any other type of program or service
Application Deadline:October 15, 2025, at 5 PM EST
Grant Period: Through June 30, 2026 (all funds must be spent down by this date)
GLAD Law
Join the 2025 Women's week event on Sunday, October 12, 2025 in Provincetown, MA. 2:00pm â 3:00pm: Cocktail hour with Mary Bonauto , 3:00pm â 4:00pm: Private concert with Melissa Ferrick. Register here!
OutstandingLife - The mission of the Outstandinglife.org is to improve the quality of life of LGBTQ older adults. Check out our programsand learn more and join our communityhere.
Greater Boston PFLAG
Check out the extensive list of servicesand resourcesoffered on the Greater Boston PFLAG website, along with opportunities to join in on our activities.
SpeakOUT Boston
We are the nation's oldest LGBTQ+ speakers bureau. Since 1972, SpeakOUT Boston has conducted peer-led training programs to prepare LGBTQ+ community members to effectively tell their personal stories to create positive social change. Our clients are seeking ways to create safer and more rewarding spaces for LGBTQ+ people through education and dialogue.
YW Boston
Each year, YW Boston honors women who demonstrate exceptional leadership and impact across their professions and communities. Weâre calling on you, our supporters and partners, to nominate women who are breaking barriers, shaping their fields, and championing equity in Boston and beyond. Nominations close on October 17, 2025, nominate an unstoppable woman today!
Join us for an opportunity not only to learn from the findings but also to hear from YW Bostonâs President and CEO, Aba Taylor. Research Unveiling & Dialogue Event on Thursday, October 23, 9:30am - 12:00pm at The East Room of The Nonprofit Center, 89 South St. Boston, MA 02111. Register here.
Leading with Inclusion: The Status of Women of Color in â and out â of the Workplace :Registerfor the fourth webinar in YW Bostonâs ongoing series dedicated to advancing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) work. October 28, 2025 10:00 AM â 11:00 AM EST, ZOOM.
Weâre thrilled to invite you to a workshop specifically catered to empowering women of color to advocate in Massachusetts organised by YW Boston in partnership with the Massachusetts Women of Color Coalition, Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women, MASS Now, and League of Women Voters: Massachusetts. The sessions will focus on the basics of advocacy, grassroots lobbying, navigating the MA State House, and local civic engagement. Register now! November 19, 2025 8:30 AM â 12:00 PM EST. Kuumba Library, 140 Clarendon Street, Boston.
Join QNEST for a parent panel where caregivers share their personal journeys supporting LBGTQ+ children through the coming out process:
Oct 9, 2025 from 7-8 PM at BCYF Curtis Hall Community Center, 20 South Street, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
Oct 14, 2025 from 7-8 PM at Myrtle Baptise Church, 21 Curve Street, West Newton, MA 02465.
Support LGBTQ+ Workplace Inclusion â Make a Difference Today!
At Pride in Our Workplace (PIOW), weâre building a future where LGBTQ+ professionals can thrive. Through community events, ERG leadership support, and advocacy, weâre driving real change in workplaces across Massachusetts and beyond.
đ But we canât do it without you. Your support helps us expand programming, provide resources, and amplify the voices of those who need it most.
đ Every donation, big or small, makes an impact. Join us in creating more inclusive and equitable workplaces.
Follow Pride in Our Workplace on social and our website to be the first to see our resources, event updates, and more: LinkedIn. Until next time, stay safe and support each other.
