PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — The all inclusive LGBTQ+ group based in Central Aroostook County cemented its status as a nonprofit last fall.
Pride Aroostook verified its nonprofit status in October 2023 and will no longer be working with Aroostook County Action Program as of December 2023. This is to ensure that no conflicts of interest happen as Pride Aroostook looks to secure grants, its leader said.
Pride Aroostook’s new status as a nonprofit gives the LGBTQ+ group the ability to apply for grants. The newly formed nonprofit is run by a volunteer board of directors that looks into fundraising options through donations at their events to help them engage in outreach to other LGBTQ+ people living in Aroostook County.
“As a group we felt like we had the person power and the ability to really stand on our own,” said Shanwa Traugh, Pride Aroostook Chairperson.
Traugh declined to comment on how much money was raised from last year’s Pride Aroostook events. Every Pride Aroostook event had a fundraising component, for example, the purchases from the vendors at the annual Pride Aroostook Festival in June.
(Paul Bagnall | The Star-Herald)
Once more money is allocated Pride Aroostook will look to hire a part-time, or full-time, grant writer. Although, a few Pride Aroostook board of directors expressed interest in the role at their monthly meeting.
The board of directors for Pride Aroostook discussed the possibilities of applying for grants to help with travel expenses, or hold events in other spaces besides Central Aroostook during their monthly meeting.
Each Pride Aroostook meeting is held on the first Tuesday at the Presque Isle Congregational Church.
According to Traugh, there has been an uptick in membership for Pride Aroostook as of fall 2023 with more LGBTQ+ community members attending their monthly meetings.
Members of Pride Aroostook want to continue the advocacy and inclusion of LGBTQ+ people in the community by holding events with allies. This is to show love and appreciation to LGBTQ+ people living in Aroostook County who want to be loved and appreciated, Traugh said.
Most members of the board of directors for Pride Aroostook are from the Central Aroostook area with a plan on expanding to northern and southern Aroostook.
One form of outreach is a luncheon at Cup Cafe in Houlton that happens on March 16 and is being held for older LGBTQ+ adults living in the area. Pride Aroostook is helping to promote the luncheon with the event sponsored by Equality Maine.
Another goal for Pride Aroostook this year is to bring up the Bangor area drag king performers called Big Kings in October. Other events include a film festival to air shorts and documentary screenings at the VFW in Fort Fairfield tentatively planned for August.
“Our goal is to continue to expand our events across The County and not just keep it Central [Aroostook]based,” Traugh said.
People interested in reaching out to Pride Aroostook can contact them through their Facebook page, or by email. Pride Aroostook recently launched its website toward the end of 2023 with Pride Aroostook Treasurer Josh Wood spearheading its design.
On Pride Aroostook’s website their mission statement reads: “from the back roads to the back porches, Pride Aroostook is a welcoming and inclusive experience for rural, small town, and County LGBTQIA2S+ folks. We aim to support County residents as they live their whole and authentic selves with support from our allies.”
“We don’t want people isolated,” Traugh said. “The County is pretty rural and it is also pretty vast, and so we want people to feel like they have a voice and choice.”
