CONNECTING WITH THE WORCESTER GAY PROFESSIONALS GROUP

{ Natalie Paris }

The founder of the Worcester Gay Professionals Group, Wade Tenney, wants to make one thing clear: “Don’t be scared of the name!” It’s not an exclusive group. Any profession can join, and it doesn’t only cater to gay men—everyone is welcome. “It’s a loose term,” Tenney says. “Some networking happens, but you don’t need to have a certain job to come.”

         Every second Wednesday of the month, the Worcester Gay Professionals, a diverse group of LGBT adults, gathers in a different bar or restaurant in the Worcester area, and enjoys a friendly and vibrant evening gathering. On June 12th, for the group’s ninth anniversary and Pride Month celebration, they gathered in the Woo Bar and Grill on Shrewsbury Street.

         The Woo was packed. Well over one hundred people had gathered  to celebrate, chat, eat, drink, and—yes—even network. During the summer months, Tenney aims to book venues with outdoor seating, and the choice was a wise one at Woo’s. Attendees spilled out of the bar and onto the patio. In every available inch of space, people gathered in loose groups and yelled hellos to any friends who walked by as they enjoyed classic bar fare: nachos, mozzarella sticks, and wings; as well as cocktails and drinks on tap, and donated cupcakes for the celebration.

         The Worcester Gay Professionals group has grown massively since it was founded nine years ago. Inspired by similar events set up by the gay community in Florida, Tenney first started hosting networking events in 2015. At the start, it was just a few of his friends meeting in a bar. But through tireless efforts on the part of the attendees and the power of word of mouth, the group has become a social pillar for the greater Worcester LGBT community.

          Some of those in attendance at the Woo Bar and Grill had been going to these networking events from the very beginning, while others found the group later. For many, this was their first event, speaking to the outreach efforts of the community.

           Over the years, the Worcester Gay Professionals group has grown in more than just numbers. “This event has diversified,” said Guillermo Creamer, who helped found the Pay Our Interns advocacy group and has been attending for three years. “I love to invite people. When I meet new people, I invite them.”

         Everyone stresses that the group provides a welcoming environment no matter who you are. Tom McDonough, who came out of the closet in 1991, says that the Worcester gay scene is “Amazing, exciting, and fulfilling,” and he felt “embraced by the community.” It was only his second time at the networking event, but he is definitely going to return. “The community is supportive of all people of all needs.”

         Others echoed that sentiment, remarking that the group felt very welcoming for people of all genders, races, and abilities. And they were quick to reassure that the event wasn’t just for couples, either—anyone who comes alone will quickly be drawn into some kind of conversation. Charlie O’Donnell, a dental hygienist and contributor to CM Pride, who started attending events in June of 2020, remarked that he met some of his best friends at these meets: “They bring everybody out. [You should] come if you want to meet more people.”

         Chris “Jello” said that the sense of community goes beyond just professional networking and attending gatherings together, citing the camaraderie across the whole community: “If you’re in a bind, they’ll rally for you.”

         Laura Marotta and Stacy Lord, who co-run Creative Hub Worcester, an art-focused nonprofit, noted that the connections forged in these networking events are real, adding that the Gay Professionals Group provides a space for them to find volunteers and potential staff for their organization. Moreover, Marotta and Lord enjoy learning about other LGBT-owned businesses and organizations in the greater Worcester area. “It’s so important to know where folks are [...] to help support their business,” Lord said.

         There were many other nonprofit organizers in attendance. One of them was Al Green, the ministry director of the LGBT Asylum Task Force at Hadwen Park Congregational Church in Worcester. The group provides housing and resources for LGBTQ asylum seekers in Worcester County, and although Green was mainly at the event to socialize, he said he appreciates the networking aspect: “You can make real connections.”

         Attending an event like the Gay Professionals Group in person opens up real opportunities to meet new people. Michael Sjostedt, who runs Cut Loose Collage Workshops, came all the way from Holyoke, MA to attend, in the hopes of meeting people from around the state and spreading the word about his business. He said that in the Massachusetts gay community, “Everyone is siloed,” and it’s difficult to meet people in other areas of the state without already knowing people.

        Especially in the gay community, events are often spread through word of mouth. At the Gay Professionals Group, people are eager to talk about their brunch buffet group every other Sunday at Funky Murphys, or the lesbian speed dating events at the Femme Bar in Worcester. There’s also an LGBT bowling group, at Bowlero Shrewsbury, every other Thursday, open to all, which is fervently trying to recruit newcomers. But these events, with their invitations and schedules attached to Facebook groups, are hard to know exist, let alone find. This can make it difficult for anyone new to the area, or new to the LGBT community, to find friends. Attending the Gay Professionals Group, which is more public and well-advertised, is a good way to find invitations to many more, and smaller, events, and develop a personal network within the community.

         The Gay Professionals Group has an outsized impact within the larger community, as well. Tenney says that he often tries to host the group’s events at new restaurants in the Worcester area, in order to give them an early boost in business, and give them a chance to showcase their food and atmosphere to the community. Although the Woo Bar and Grill, which the group meets at once a quarter, is a gay-owned business, Tenney wants to support as many different businesses around the city as he can. “Businesses love it when we come,” Tenney said.

         In turn, the Gay Professionals Group has been welcomed very warmly by the community of Worcester. Since their June event was the group’s anniversary celebration, they hosted a raffle, and prizes of condo stays and restaurant gift cards were donated by businesses from all around the area.

         Bator Lachmann, who owns the Thai restaurant Basil n’ Spice on Shrewsbury Street, was one of the business owners who donated gift cards, and came to celebrate with the community. The Gay Professionals Group meets at Basil n’ Spice during the winter months, since they don’t have outdoor seating, but during the rest of the year, attendees of the Gay Professionals Group have become regulars at her restaurant. When one of the notable regulars won the gift card to Basil n’ Spice in the raffle, Lachmann exclaimed, “Couldn’t you let someone else win it?”

         Marco Guinette, who owns the Mailbox Lounge, the oldest gay-owned bar in Worcester, says that “This event is great for business, one hundred percent!” Guinette has been attending the Gay Professionals Group events since it was founded nine years ago, and it’s become tradition after the events for people to head to the Mailbox for karaoke and smaller group, late-night socializing.

The Gay Professionals Group is also experimenting with different formats for their events,