Happenings

Meetings and Events in WNC: Haywood, Jackson, Macon, and beyond:

Meetings in Waynesville will be on the third Thursday of each month. We started in April, and continued on May 21st at 6pm, and look forward to our June meeting on the 18th. We meet in the common room of Root and Rise, just off Main Street.

Meetings are for support, advocacy, and community, and last about an hour.

COMING SOON:

June 2 in Cullowhee, at Cullowhee Baptist Church: New Chapter Welcome Event!

PFLAG Balsam Mountains is hosting an event to welcome members and allies of the LGBTQIA2S+ community. We look forward to learning how we can serve and support you! June 2, 6pm-8pm at Cullowhee Baptist Church. Food and drinks will be provided!

June 7 in Franklin, at UU Franklin:

The Fellowship is hosting LGBTQ+ advocate Artie Hartsell, for three events ->

• 11:00am: Being Sanctuary; We all need places where we feel a sense of belonging. How can we provide sacred safety for trans people under increased attacks?
• noon: Potluck lunch
• 1:00 pm: PFlag meeting; A Decade After HB2: An Update on Trans Rights and Protections. HB2 became law ten years ago in North Carolina. How have trans rights changed, especially in recent years, and how can we act to defend the trans community?
  Artie Hartsell (they) is an 8th generation North Carolinian, based out of Durham. They received their undergrad and graduate degrees in social work, focusing on policy, LGBTQ+ youth, and health disparities. They have done direct practice in foster care, with LGBTQ+ youth, and as a medical case manager with adults with HIV. They’ve worked as an organizer at Democracy North Carolina, Equality North Carolina, and the ACLU of North Carolina. Today, they are membership coordinator of the Blueprint North Carolina Faith Table and consultant at Pride Education Services. They have lived in Charlotte, Boiling Springs, and Waynesville.
  Join if you can!

June 21:

Mark your calendar for Pride on Main, June 27, 2026. PFlag Balsam Mountains will be there, with a booth!

We’ll post a more complete list of events, soon. Until then, consider:

Weekly: Waynesville LGBTQ Social Club meets weekly at Frog Level Brewing.

Monthly: Waynesville Branch of Balsam Mountains PFlag, Root and Rise.
June 27: Pride on Main, Waynesville.
June 28: Carson Hopwood, speaking on processing transition while he through-hiked the AT and the PCT. 11am service at Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Franklin, 89 Sierra Dr., Franklin, NC.
Sylva has a lot going on! Check this calendar.

Shout out to Replacements, Ltd! They got involved, and are supporting the startup of our chapters. Thank you!