Pride Month might be over, but for Fort Wayne’s LGBTQ+ residents, the need for safe spaces and community support feels more urgent than ever.

Bills Bring Unease But Also Resolve

According to the ACLU, nearly 600 anti-LGBTQ+ bills were introduced across the U.S. this year alone. Nine of those came out of Indiana’s legislature.

That number hangs over local organizations like a storm cloud. “There’s a lot of uncertainty,” says Jakob Michael of Three Rivers Music Theater. “We’re in an unprecedented time.”

It’s not just a statistic — it’s the backdrop for how places like Fort Wayne have doubled down on providing connection and belonging.

Michael, who serves as Treasurer and resident choreographer, says the theater is more than just a stage. “We want people to feel safe, included, and free to be themselves.”

Spaces Beyond the Bars

For some LGBTQ+ folks, traditional gathering spots — often bars — aren’t the right fit.

Enter Rainbow Connections. This group, started by First Presbyterian Church Associate Pastor Carrie Winebrenner, was born out of one simple question: where can LGBTQ+ people gather that doesn’t involve a cover charge or a cocktail?

A church member asked for help, and the answer grew into game nights, brunches, and theatre trips.

“It’s just a great place for people to come together and meet other folks, where they can be themselves,” Winebrenner says.

One sentence here: Not everybody wants to find community at a bar.

A Web of Local Groups

Fort Wayne isn’t the biggest city, but its network of LGBTQ+ support groups is growing — and interconnected.

Winebrenner points out that Rainbow Connections isn’t meant to stand alone. They see themselves as part of a bigger patchwork.

“You know, we’ve got The Pride Center down the street, we’ve got the Brave Alliance just down the street,” she says.

Rather than competing, local leaders try to complement each other.

In Fort Wayne, if you don’t click with one group, you’re bound to find another. Some groups emphasize social outings, others focus on mental health, or legal aid, or housing needs.

The Numbers Behind the Need

Just how big is the impact of these new bills — and why does local support matter so much?

Here’s a quick snapshot:

One line here: The trend line doesn’t lie.

Local leaders say when bills target the trans community, youth feel it first. Schools become battlegrounds. Parents feel stuck. Groups like Rainbow Connections and Three Rivers Music Theater help fill the gap.

Inclusion Is More Than a Buzzword

Jakob Michael says Three Rivers Music Theater lives and breathes inclusion — not just once a year during Pride.

He rattles off the principles that guide them: inclusion, diversity, equity, access, and anti-racism.

It’s not a PR slogan. Michael says the theater’s board talks about these values before every season, every casting call, every partnership.

One sentence here: They don’t want a “performative Pride.”

Finding Joy Together

Sometimes, what helps most is simple togetherness. Rainbow Connections tries to keep things light — because, let’s face it, life is heavy enough.

Here’s a glimpse of what a month with them might look like:

• Game nights with board games or trivia

• “Besties Who Brunch” at local diners

• Group trips to local theatre shows

• Casual coffee shop meet-ups

It’s not fancy — and that’s the point.

Winebrenner says folks can show up once, or every time. “People come when they’re ready. There’s no pressure.”

One Big Small Town

Fort Wayne’s LGBTQ+ community sometimes feels like one big small town. Word travels fast when a new group forms or a safe space closes.

That makes collaboration more important than ever.

Winebrenner puts it like this: “Instead of everybody trying to do their own thing, we try to complement. That way, more needs are met.”

Jakob Michael agrees. “It’s about making sure people know they have somewhere to go.”

One line here: And somewhere they’re wanted, just as they are.

Looking Ahead: Hope and Hesitation

No one knows what the next legislative session will bring. More bills? More pushback? Probably both.

But Fort Wayne’s network of LGBTQ+ groups says they’re ready — or as ready as you can be.

One local resident summed it up best: “We can’t control what lawmakers do. But we can make sure people here know they’re not alone.”