Testimonials

From one of our senior members

Rainbow Sanctuary has a great impact

Rainbow Sanctuary means inclusion to me, it means love, strength and acceptance  by people who I identify with in the LGBTQ community.  It means a home for a 72 almost 73 year old butch lesbian and even though I am much older than all of the group they accept me like family. I feel so much a part of this group that I can't even explain how much it means to me! I've tried other groups in KC KANSAS  but they were so young (they were teenagers & I wasn't welcomed). They had no suggestions for me they just wanted me out! I felt so betrayed by my own kind.

How do I feel about this group is total acceptance, total love and caring. I get hugs which are very important to me because I don't get that at home rarely.  Human contact is so important and it matters! I feel like I matter to everyone in my group and I care about everyone there like family! My sister is hands off cold and negative and my niece who I also live with has health issues so she sleeps a lot that leaves me alone a lot! I have my dog Molly who I love but she's no substitute for human companionship which I get at group every week. 

That's why I go for contact with my people. People who care and aren't afraid to show it! I have a lot of mental health issues and right now I am in between med therapists and if it wasn't for this group I wouldn't have made it and I might even be dead! I have been held and just cried my eyes out until there were no tears left and not felt self conscious! Another friend that is trans cut my hair and wouldn't accept any money so I brought a t-shirt they had admired    -David Bowie I had wore it once and they liked it so much it was the perfect barter! They were so happy! And I was too! I go because I am wanted  and I am important there which helps with my self esteem issues and makes all the difference in the world!

It's important to me  because I need it! I need a place that feels like home more than my own home. I have a place where LGBTQ people love me for me. It's that important! I look forward to it all week, like a piece of heaven for me! It's so important that even though my car is dying I don't care Ì won't miss group (my sister never offers her car). Nothing  keeps me away except every 3rd Thursday they have Dungeons and Dragons I stay home that's for the younger crowd and I am not interested. But if I were sick I would still go any other time! I  live in the next town and I can't drive my car over 45-50mph I leave early so I can make it on time! I am an early riser 3,4,5 so I don't always stay till 9. But I would never miss it because it is that important to me. It's my new family what other reason do you need!

Providing a space to be open

We provide the safety to be yourself

Rainbow sanctuary is more than just people gathering for support. It is family. It is home. It is a place to be myself without judgement or prejudice. 

I have always known I was “different” than others. I was always “checking out” the same sex, more  often than the opposite sex. But I kept that to myself. I thought I would be ridiculed, left out, even harmed, if I were to say out loud that I like the same sex too. Being bisexual just wasn’t a thing (back in my day). You either were heterosexual or homosexual. That was it. And being homosexual was not exactly a good thing. 

Having grown up and living life a bit, I now know better. Although I never formally “came out”, I just accepted the fact that I am bisexual. Rainbow Sanctuary has given me opportunity to meet other people from who are of all genders and sexual orientations. And these people have accepted me - just as I am. It’s a great place to find support, unconditional love, laughter, acceptance, and of course D&D! I am so grateful for finding this community and being a part of it.