“Coming from a different culture and background, it was very difficult to make friends around here. The usual venues and applications of social media always give people the wrong impression of what you are looking for. I was very anxious to join the group, not sure if I would fit it and how people would accept me knowing the fact that it’s very hard to break into already established groups. The Worcester Gay Professionals social networking event gave me an amazing opportunity to connect with the LGBT community in the area, allowed me to make great friends who not just welcomed me, but also made sure that I would feel home away from home,” Ahmed.*

Although the name of the group is “Gay Professionals,” it is here for every member of the LGBTQ community who are in business or professionals. Wade*, the group convener, said, “The concept for our group came from similar groups that have been very successful in Florida. The goal was to provide both a social and professional networking venue for people from Worcester and the surrounding suburbs.  The idea has been embraced since our first meeting 23 months ago and has recently seen a consistent and significant rise in attendance.  People seem to really enjoy the inviting atmosphere of the events and look forward to them each month.  There are so many friendships and professional relationships that have been cultivated through the group, and for me, that is the most rewarding part!”

“The networking night provides the ability to network on a social and business level.  It gives you a moment to review old faces and to meet up with new ones. It also allows you to keep your finger on the pulse of the ‘community.’ You get to enjoy different venues around the city and to spread the ‘community’ dollar around the city as a whole,” said member Donald Frabotta.

Member Kent Lundquist concurred and said that it is a social time for professionals to build community, but it is also a way for gay professionals to be known to the larger community. Because the social night moves from venue to venue, it is just as much an opportunity for local businesses to see gay professionals as it is for gay professionals to see the different venues around town.

“The Professionals’ social has brought me in contact with members of the LGBT community I’d probably not have met otherwise. I recently networked with a gentleman with years of experience as a loan originator and, within a month of our meeting, I was on my way to closing on a new home loan that afforded me significant monthly savings. There’s also the social aspect that shouldn’t be overlooked; I believe these contacts have made me a much better person for the experience,” said member Bryan Greiner.

Indeed, I have gone to many of the monthly networking events in the last two years, and my experience has been that it is a real social time for professionals in the LGBTQ community. It is less of a traditional business networking event and more of a social networking event for professionals and business people. I always get to meet new people from the community and reconnect with others I have met over the years.

You can find the next location (always the second Wednesday of every month) via LGBTQ meetups for Central Mass or email worcestergayprofessionals@gmail.com.

*Although Worcester rates 100 percent on the Municipal Equality Index, the continued need for these socials can be encapsulated in the fact that not everyone was comfortable sharing their full name or have their photo taken for print.

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John Trobaugh