Description (click to expand)
CANDY’S IS A QUEER COMMUNITY SPACE LOCATED AT 511 CONGRESS STREET IN PORTLAND, MAINE DESIGNED TO CREATE SPACE AND RESOURCES FOR MARGINALIZED GROUPS TO ACHIEVE OUTCOMES THAT FURTHER BENEFIT OUR COMMUNITY. THIS IS A SPACE FOR GATHERING, LEARNING, CONVERSING, CONNECTING, NETWORKING, SOCIALIZING, CELEBRATING, AND ADDRESSING AND RECTIFYING COMMUNITY ISSUES. PORTLAND HAS A THRIVING AND DIVERSE QUEER COMMUNITY AND A LACK OF QUEER SPACE. CANDY’S IS CREATING AND MAINTAINING NECESSARY SPACE, BENEFITS, AND PROGRAMMING CENTERING MARGINALIZED GROUPS. WE’RE A SPACE DESIGNED FOR QUEER PEOPLE AND ALLIES BY QUEER PEOPLE AND ALLIES AND MAINTAINED BY QUEER PEOPLE AND ALLIES. OUR GOAL IS TO INCREASE ACCESS TO QUEER COMMUNITY AND ADDRESS INEQUALITY IN THE FOLLOWING WAYS: 1. PROVIDE CONSISTENT DESIGNATED QUEER SPACE AND QUEER PROGRAMMING. 2. PROMOTE LOCAL QUEER BUSINESSES, CREATORS AND GENERAL QUEER BADASSES, AND COLLABORATE WITH ORGANIZATIONS AND BUSINESSES INTERESTED IN SUPPORTING MARGINALIZED GROUPS. 3. PROVIDE ACCESS TO A QUEER RESOURCE LIBRARY. 4. PROVIDE MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO SEE MARGINALIZED GROUPS REFLECTED AND REPRESENTED IN LITERATURE AND FILM. 5. CREATE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AND PROVIDE ACCESS TO EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING SUCH AS WORKSHOPS AND LECTURES. 6. PROVIDE ACCESS TO CREATIVE SPACE, INCREASE MARGINALIZED GROUPS’ ACCESS TO RESOURCES, AND GENERATE RESOURCES TO FURTHER SUPPORT MARGINALIZED COMMUNITY. 7. HELP DEVELOP AND INCUBATE PROJECTS AND IDEAS LED BY MARGINALIZED GROUPS/INDIVIDUALS. CANDY’S IS A QUEER-CENTERED, QUEER-FORWARD SPACE AND CONCEPT, AND WE ALSO HONOR INTERSECTIONS WITH QUEERNESS IN THE LIVES OF ALLIES WHO DO NOT IDENTIFY AS QUEER. OUR MAIN GOAL IS TO SUPPORT MARGINALIZED COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE. WE BELIEVE ACCURATE REPRESENTATION FOR OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY IS IMPERATIVE AND WE ARE COMMITTED TO SERVING OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY. QUEER PEOPLE COME FROM DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS, PERSPECTIVES AND EXPERIENCES AND IT’S IMPORTANT TO US THAT FOLKS OF ANY RACE, RELIGION, GENDER IDENTITY AND/OR EXPRESSION, SEXUALITY, ABILITY, SHAPE, SIZE, ETC. FEEL SAFE, SEEN, HEARD AND RESPECTED. PART OF QUEERNESS IS ROOTED IN CHALLENGING STATUS QUO AND ASKING QUESTIONS. IT’S OUR HOPE THAT OUR COMMUNITY WILL CONTINUE TO CHALLENGE US SO WE CAN LEARN AND GROW TOGETHER. GET IN TOUCH. ANY TIME.