In the heart of Stark County, a vital community space has emerged that offers not only a place to be yourself, but also a beacon of hope for the local LGBTQ+ community.
Queer in Canton, located off Cleveland Avenue in Canton, Ohio, is Stark County’s first-ever LGBTQ+ resource center. The northeast Ohio center opened in August of this year in partnership with Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio (PPGOH). It aims to provide a safe space for LGBTQ+ folks in Canton, offer affirming health services and social programming and cultivate queer community in the region in a way that hasn’t been done before.
“Growing up here in Stark County, I didn’t have a lot of queer role models that I could look up to,” shares Abby Henry (she/her), co-founder and executive director of Queer in Canton.
Visibility was at the core of this community center’s conception. Abby, who is queer herself, moved back to Canton from Washington D.C. during the pandemic where she finished her Bachelors in Sociology, with a minor in Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies, remotely from American University. While home, she was in search for a sense of community in Stark County. She soon found that except for socializing in bars, there were no real social gatherings, LGBTQ+ support groups or non-profits with an LGBTQ+ educational focus. Most people would leave Stark County for Cleveland or Akron to find these resources.
To address this gap, Henry began Queer in Canton as a website connecting people with local queer and trans-affirming resources and Facebook group to chat about local resources. As interest grew and COVID-19 restrictions lifted, small social events began to take place, like a movie night hosted at Henry’s home and a drag brunch at Pride 821.
Finding Allies
When these meetups began gaining more traction within the community, the group needed a physical space. Henry dreamed of creating a resource center in her hometown similar to the one she had at college in D.C., and in order to accomplish this, a fundraising goal of $20,000 was set by Abby and her partner, Curstynn Marks.
Queer in Canton achieved 501-3c status in April 2021, and by 2022, they had met their $20k goal, made possible not only by community members’ contributions, but also local businesses like Walkie Talkie Espresso & Coffee and Black Amethyst Tattoo Company who hosted fundraisers benefitting the cause.
Initially, finding an affordable space for the center proved difficult. Then Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio offered a space in their Canton offices, recognizing that Queer in Canton’s work resonated with PPOGO’s mission.
The community center serves as a physical hub, offering a welcoming environment where those seeking a safe space can hang-out and enjoy being in community. The space is stacked with a coffee bar, snacks, games, books and even a community closet.
Programming includes a monthly peer-led support group that boasts 10-15 attendees each month, as well as youth programming and parent education. Additionally, Queer in Canton offers free safer-injection kits for folks going through hormone replacement. The team is also actively working with local organizations to address and assist with local queer and trans-specific homelessness.
The youth programming in particular has gained momentum, attracting parents and youth alike. One parent, Wendy Woodward Swanson. (now co-director of youth programming), had taken her child out of the Canton school system in order to provide a safer environment after being met with a lack of acceptance at school. Woodward Swanson. supported her child through it all, committing to having her child complete their high school years in Columbus instead, while still keeping roots in Canton.
Woodward Swanson. connected with Henry upon hearing about Queer in Canton and its mission, and now she is now actively involved in helping parents and youth navigate their journeys in Canton so that others don’t have to experience what Woodward Swanson. and her child went through.
Sustaining the Momentum
While Queer in Canton continues to make significant strides, sustainability remains a challenge. Funding requires continued effort. Henry specifically cites a need for more funding to expand initiatives like a free binder program and financial assistance for gender-affirming surgeries and hormone replacement therapy. Additionally, Queer in Canton aims to engage more with community members, local businesses and non-profits to expand their outreach in different focus areas, one being senior-focused events.
Queer in Canton is a shining example of the importance of seeking out and fostering LGBTQ+ spaces wherever you are. Henry has learned first-hand that even in seemingly conservative areas, queer people are everywhere, they always have been and they are not going anywhere.
Sometimes, all an area needs to unlock a vibrant and thriving LGBTQ+ community is a brave, welcoming group of people to lead with intention and nurture these bonds—because they do exist everywhere, and they’re just waiting to be discovered. By harnessing strategic local businesses and organizational support and emphasizing the power of community collaboration, there is always capacity to create positive change, no matter where you call home.
IGNITE ACTION
- Stay up to date with all things Queer in Canton via their Instagram or Facebook page.
- For more information about programming and connection to resources, visit their official website.
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