Support Groups

Everywhere you look you see events canceled including peer support groups,but there are other types of places where we go for companionship.

How the disappearance of Cambridge pubs threatened the city's only transgender support group
The Diamonds are the only transgender support group in the city and their story parallels that of Cambridge's disappearing pubs. Learn its history through newcomer Gem, as she explains why these lost venues were so important
Cambridge News
ByDebbie Luxon
25 MAR 2020

The Diamonds are Cambridge's only transgender support group and they've been quietly making history in the corner of pubs across the city for the last 20 years.

It's still running today, however they first met up at a time when transgender people weren't met with the acceptance that is more common today.

It was a time before reliable information and support was readily available online, and before many had access to language that would help them understand their identites.

Coming to terms with a new gender can be an incredibly isolating experience, but for those in Cambridge the Diamonds were there for vital and life saving solidarity.

The article is about losing the pub they used to meet at as a result of bigotry in the community.

The impact of these pubs disappearing may not be obvious, but for the Diamonds, it meant whether or not they felt safe. Transphobic attacks have risen every year since 2015 in Cambridge, and as one of the most vulnerable groups in our community, having pub owners on their side is vital.

The number of places where trans people can meet socially is deceasing and I notice also that the LGBTQ+ community centers hold a number of drag show annually but they don’t have many events for the woman.

I am not a fan of drag shows, it is not that I don’t like drag it just that my cup of tea are board game nights or maybe coffee shop with folk music.

The senior centers that hold a LGBTQ+ events find that mostly women show up for their events and one of the thing that we have been talking about was having a coffee shop with music at the senior centers. The younger set like their loud music and flashing lights while many of the older set like to relax and have good conversation with friends.

You know support groups can mean a formal peer supported groups or it can mean a quite evening out with friends to a drop-in center or a coffee shop.

There was a coffee shop on Capitol Ave, I forgot the name of the shop but it was where you could stop by have a coffee and talk to some friends. They had a shelf of games and some of the table tops had game board tops to play chess or checkers.

I go out once a month to a game night at “an alternative multidisciplinary arts organization that presents and supports contemporary artists and their work, facilitates the creation of new work and creatively engages, builds and informs audiences and communities.” and I would add a space to build communities. I go with about eight women, most of whom are lesbians, to play board games.

It is a relaxing evening out having fun with others and that is what we need more of.