Richard J. Looman and David Herchik opened their home and their hearts to Sussex Pride over Labor Day weekend. I am so blessed to have these dear friends to help springboard this organization. The Boy Band Project and the lovely Pamela Stanley caused a tsunami of generosity poolside. At last count, we raised over $7,000. I am grateful to have a community that is so supportive. It was so nice to see all my old friends from the Renegade days and meet all of our new friends. Thank you to everyone and every organization that helped set up and break down. Rehoboth has the best LGBTQ community in the world! We are so lucky to have inclusive and accepting restaurants, merchants, schools and businesses.
Sussex Pride was created by David Mariner. He is the previous executive director of both CAMP Rehoboth and The DC Center for the LGBT Community. David has served on the board of directors of Empowering the Transgender Community, which supports the local transgender community in the District of Columbia. David is an advocate and activist who strives to empower individuals with the tools, the training and the support they need in order to make meaningful changes in their local community.
Our mission is to celebrate, strengthen and support the LGBTQ community in Sussex County and the state of Delaware. David is training the board on how to be a good board member. I recently completed board member boot camp by CenterLink. They give us 10 basic responsibilities of LGBTQ nonprofit boards. As a board member of Sussex Pride, we have a focus on diversity, inclusion and acceptance. CenterLink stresses that this must be a goal of all LGBTQ+ organizations.
Join the Sussex Pride AIDS Walk Team Saturday, Sept. 17. Look for us at the Sea Witch Festival. Please come help us hold vigil at the Unitarian Universalists of Southern Delaware Church at 7 p.m. on the Transgender Day of Remembrance Nov. 20. Mom Molly is forming a new group for parents of transgender children and teens! We are reaching out to schools, businesses and healthcare providers with a focus on our mission.
Richard Looman and David Herchik are leading the way in their gracious support of Sussex Pride. As the last person crowned Miss Sussex at the Renegade, I’m asking for your help in the spirit of the Renegade. I’m asking you consider Sussex Pride in your gift-giving efforts. You can donate monthly or one time. Your local LGBTQ organizations should be following good board member practices. With everything they do, they should be focused on diversity, inclusion and acceptance. If your local LGBTQ organization is not doing this, then please reconsider your gift-giving practices. To be a member, go to www.sussexpride.org.
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