Introducing The Route: Your Monthly Rainbow Routes Update!
THE ROUTE
May 2025
Welcome to the very first edition of The Route, your monthly update from Rainbow Routes featuring a dose of queer joy, global connection, and updates from our growing community. Whether you’re a student dreaming of studying away, a partner organization helping make it happen, or a friend cheering us on, we’re so glad you’re here.
Updates
Rainbow Routes is officially a nonprofit! Thanks to our fiscal sponsor, Community Initiatives, we’re well on our way to making our programs a reality. We're guided by an incredible founding board that brings expertise in DEIB strategy and organizational leadership, queer publishing and design, and global experiential education and community partnerships.
Right now, we're working on two exciting pilot programs for 2026:
🌱 A Short-Term Academic Program focused on queer history and social movements.
💼 A Hybrid Internship Program featuring virtual internships during the semester and culminating in an in-person capstone experience.
Both formats are designed for up to 25 students and will center intentional cohort-building. We believe transformation happens not just through place, but through people — so each program will foster a strong, supportive community where students can reflect, learn, and grow together.
Here’s how you can help:
Each pilot program costs around $60,000 — about $2,400 per student. While we’re actively applying for grants and building partnerships to reduce cost barriers, individual donations are especially impactful at this early stage. Your support would directly fund our pilot programs and help us bring these programs to life. If a financial gift isn’t possible right now, there are still meaningful ways to support us, and every action makes a difference at this early stage.
💸 Make a Donation: Every dollar raised will help make our programs more affordable and accessible.
📣 Spread the Word: Know someone who might want to donate or get involved? Forward them this email!
🔗 Follow us on LinkedIn: Help us grow our network and reach more supporters.
🤝 Partner with Us: If your organization or community wants to collaborate, let’s talk!
Queer History Spotlight: Denver
We’re kicking off our Queer History Spotlight series in Denver — not just because it’s a city rich with LGBTQ+ history, but because it’s Rainbow Routes’ home! As our headquarters, Denver is where we’re planting roots and launching some of our very first programs.
Did you know that Denver is home to one of the earliest LGBTQ+ rights organizations in the U.S.? In 1972, three years after Stonewall, the Gay Coalition of Denver (GCD) was founded to combat police harassment and advocate for civil rights. The GCD laid the groundwork for future LGBTQ+ organizations in Denver, including the Gay Community Center of Colorado, which would eventually become The Center on Colfax. Their advocacy was so effective that by 1973, the city repealed several anti-gay laws, making Denver one of the first cities in the country to do so.
Today, Denver continues to be a vibrant queer hub, featuring a dynamic drag and arts scene and a deep culture of grassroots organizing. From early resistance to present-day pride, Denver's queer history is all about resilience, community, and the power of showing up — and we're proud to be part of that legacy.
Sparking Queer Joy: News & Resources
With what feels like a constant flow of bad news these days, we’re making space to celebrate moments of joy alongside resources for our community:
🗺️ Lonely Planet’s LGBTQ+ Travel Guide: A new resource for queer travelers around the world, featuring inclusive destinations, travel tips, and queer-owned businesses.
⛸️ Queering the Ice: Watch retired Olympic champions Madison Hubbell and Gabriella Papadakis skate together during the Art on Ice Gala in Switzerland, aiming to pave the way for same-gender pairs to compete officially.
📍Progress in Poland: Polish activists successfully eliminated all remaining “LGBT-free zones,” marking a significant victory for inclusion and human rights.
🏨 Marriott Champions Inclusion: Marriott is leaning into its values, with its CEO reaffirming a global commitment to equity, inclusion, and making all guests feel at home.
Thanks for being on this journey with us!
Until next month,
Lizzy (Founder & CEO)
Fiscally Sponsored by Community Initiatives, 1000 Broadway, Suite #480, Oakland, CA 94607, USA
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