A new social group for lesbians and other sapphics has formed at the Pride Center of New Jersey.
The group, “Let’s Go Lesbians,” meets from 7 to 9 p.m. on the first Saturday of every month at the center, 85 Raritan Ave., Suite 100, in Highland Park, Middlesex County. The group is open to sapphics who are at least 18 years old.
“The ultimate goal is to create structured spaces for sapphics, lesbians, to just have fun. People really need that,” said group co-facilitator Adair Dick, 23, of New Brunswick.
The word “sapphic” is an umbrella term for women who feel romantic attraction toward women and includes lesbians, bisexual women, pansexual women, transgender women and non-binary individuals.
The group provides board games, has other activities available and is an opportunity to meet, socialize and create community. Attendees are encouraged to bring games, activity suggestions and snacks. The group aims to have picnics, a summer pool party, quarterly potlucks and to meet regularly twice a month.
At its first meeting March 7, about 30 people attended.
The group’s other co-facilitator, Jade Thompson, 31, also of New Brunswick, said that before coming to PCNJ she didn’t realize there were so many queer people in her age group that were so close by. The group can facilitate connections among those people.
“Being able to build those connections is so helpful for both social need … but also (meeting) people who you can imagine a new world with, right? Having people who have the same values as you is very exciting, to see that and meet those people and connect and be able to dream bigger,” Thompson said.
To Dick, the need for this type of group became clear upon starting it.
“I think it really works because it’s more of a laid-back setting. We have a lot of support groups at the pride center, which I think is great, but I think there’s also a big social need, so I think this really fills that,” Dick said.
Among the events the group is planning is one for Lesbian Visibility Week, which begins April 20. Details to come.
For more information, email letsgolesbianspcnj@gmail.com or visit pridecenter.org.
