Affinity Groups

Affinity Groups are a wonderful way to connect with the community based on common interests or shared identities. They are facilitated by a team of volunteer leaders, are free, and meet monthly (or more often) at the BQC Center. Whether you’re looking for creative community, social opportunities, or shared identity, there’s something for you.

Unless otherwise noted below, registration is not required to attend affinity group meetings; just show up! If you have questions and would like to learn more, please email us at: info@bellinghamqueercollective.org.

Upcoming Affinity Group Meetings

Get to know our Affinity Groups

Advocacy Hour

Schedule:

1st and 3rd Saturdays | 6:30 - 8:00PM

Location:

BQC Center
310 W Champion St
Bellingham, WA 98225

About this group:

Join us for Advocacy Hour as we come together to discuss and amplify critical issues affecting our community. 

Bellingham Queer Gamers

Schedule:

1st Wednesdays | 6:00 - 8:00pm

Location:

BQC Center
310 W Champion St
Bellingham, WA 98225

About this group:

Bellingham Queer Gamers is a group that fosters an inclusive and friendly atmosphere where members of the local queer community and our friends gather to explore the ever-expanding universe of hobby board and card games. We have a library of games on hand and members who love to teach, learn and play games spanning a variety of genres including quick and social party games, trick-taking card games, strategy and deduction, fully cooperative games and more!

Whether you’re completely new to the modern tabletop gaming world and want to check it out, or you’ve got a game or two that’s been sitting on your shelf waiting for the right group to try it out, or you’re just interested in meeting other queer people and sharing some screen-free fun and conversation, this is the place for you!

Chronic and Iconic

Schedule:

1st Sundays | 2:00 - 4:00 PM

Location:

BQC Center
310 W Champion St
Bellingham, WA 98225

About this group:

This is a group for people with chronic pain and chronic illness to seek and find support and connect with other people experiencing similar symptoms and diagnoses.

This includes but is CERTAINLY not limited to: fibromyalgia, POTS, EDS and other connective tissue diseases, ME/CFS, chronic back pain, sciatica, degenerative disc disease, lupus, MS, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, Crohn's, IBS, and many more.

This group is a safe space to talk about ALL the things we deal with and are concerned about... not just the things that are suitable for "polite conversation."

Crafty Queer Friends

Schedule:

2nd Thursdays | 6:00 - 8:00pm

Location:

BQC Center
310 W Champion St
Bellingham, WA 98225

About this group:

We are a group of queer people who like to share our crafts; knitting, crocheting, drawing, coloring, pixel art, or whatever you want to bring along. We're here to share stories and experiences, ask questions or just hang out.

Intentional Living and Dying Well

Schedule:

2nd Tuesdays | 3:00 - 5:00pm

Location:

BQC Center
310 W Champion St,
Bellingham, WA 98225

About this group:

The Intentional Living and Dying Well group was inspired by the heartfelt and transformative conversations we had during a Rainbow Elders led book club focused on The Art of Dying Well by Katy Butler. We found it invaluable to be able to discuss living according to our values through life changes, aging, and, ultimately, death. And we appreciate how helpful it is to discuss navigating life choices with a group of friends who also understand what it is to be queer in today's America.

Our monthly meetings focus discussion around a wide array of topics that fall under the umbrella of Intentional Living and Dying Well. Taking a multi-media approach, we will often find inspiration and ideas in literature, films, art, or music to launch discussion and activities, such as: creating a life bucket list & achieving your goals; downsizing; building & rebuilding queer social networks; celebrating accomplishments with a “to done” list or life inventory review; or preparing for end of life.

We invite you to come and share community with a group of like-minded people who possess dozens of lifetimes of experience about how to navigate life changes from the beginning of adulthood to the end of life as a queer person.

Come to learn and to teach. Come as a stranger, alone or with a friend, and leave as a part of an intentional community.

(Just a friendly reminder: We are a non-expert discussion group and are not capable of addressing or providing therapy for abusive or traumatic situations.)

Late Bloomers

Schedule:

2nd Tuesdays | 6:00 - 8:00pm

Location:

BQC Center
310 W Champion St,
Bellingham, WA 98225

About this group:

This social group is for LGBTQ+ adults who are coming out or exploring new identities later in life. We talk about the joys and challenges of embracing our authentic selves and connect with others navigating similar paths. This is a volunteer-led space for making friends and learning about local queer resources- not a clinical support group. All identities welcome.

Mind-Body Wellness Circle

Schedule:

1st Thursdays | 6:00 - 8:00pm

Location:

BQC Center
310 W Champion St,
Bellingham, WA 98225

About this group:

This group is designed for LGBTQ+ and BIPOC individuals and allies who are curious about or committed to enhancing their well-being through mind-body practices. Whether you're new to the wellness space, just learning to meditate, or you're an experienced energy worker or yoga enthusiast, this space is for you. Together, we'll explore tools for nervous system regulation, emotional resilience, movement and strength training, energy work, and intuitive development. Each session is grounded in science, community, and lived experience. Each session will vary in theme and approach, ranging from group discussions and guided practices (like meditation, wellness techniques, or mindful movement) to educational talks on the nervous system and stress management, all within a supportive and trauma-informed container.

Mindfulness Meditation Group

Schedule:

Sundays | 6:00 - 8:00pm

Location:

BQC Center
310 W Champion Street
Bellingham, WA 98225

About this group:

The Mindfulness Meditation Group welcomes both inexperienced and experienced meditators to a weekly offering that will be hybrid-- both online and in person. It is facilitated by Jill Stansbury, the BQC Wellness Coordinator, who is a trained Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction facilitator through Brown University. This group meets weekly. Each session will open with a group grounding practice, followed by a check-in on weekly practice, and group selection of a mindfulness practice that is appropriate for the needs of those in attendance, such as loving-kindness meditation, open-awareness meditation, body-scanning, walking meditation, or mindful yoga. After a thirty minute meditation practice, there will be a shared reading and discussion from a book related to meditation in a queer context. Sessions will close with a love, light, and healing practice, followed by tea time.

Questions?

Please email Jill Stansbury at jill@bellinghamqueercollective.org.

Virtual Option:

Please register in advance for the virtual meeting.

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

For those participating via Zoom, please sign in 10 minutes in advance to work out all technical challenges. Electronic entrance to the meeting closes at 7:25 pm.

Queer Latine Society

Schedule:

4th Saturdays | 12:00 - 2:00pm

Location:

BQC Center
310 W Champion St,
Bellingham, WA 98225

About this group:

A bilingual (English/Español) space for Latine LGBTQ+ folks to connect, celebrate cultura, and support one another. We gather around the shared experiences of queerness and Latinidad, embracing joy, community, and mutual care.

Queer Prayer and Spiritual Wellness

Schedule:

2nd Saturdays | 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Location:

BQC Center
310 W Champion St,
Bellingham, WA 98225

About this group:

Join us once a month for meditation, prayer, and discussion. This group is intended to be a safe space for queers to explore their relationship with God / the Divine / the universe, independently from any specific belief system or spiritual institution. We welcome people of any religious/spiritual background, or no religious/spiritual background. Got questions? Bring them to group! Got a resentment? Sounds good; bring that, too! Hope to see you there.

Queer Women’s Group

Schedule:

3rd Saturdays | 12:00 - 2:00pm

Location:

BQC Center
310 W Champion St
Bellingham, WA 98225

About this group:

Join us for a casual and inclusive Queer Women's Social Hour at the BQC Center. We will meet, introduce ourselves, and talk about a variety of topics of interest, including our needs, vision and expectations for future meetings of this group. This event is for those who feel more comfortable gathering in a more female-centered environment rather than a group of mostly cis-males. If this applies to you, then please join us to make new friends, share experiences, and build a supportive community together. People who attend our events may represent a diverse background of gender identities, and may include (but are not limited to) females/women, lesbians, intersex, nonbinary, trans, and agender, as well as others who are don't fit into any specific category. Our group is to be a safe space, no matter your orientation, gender identity, nationality, race, religion, or language. We all will grow, and at the same time, we all must abide by the zero-tolerance policy for inappropriate behavior, whether intentional or not. Please, be kind, be open, and be prepared to meet and enjoy the company of the amazing people in our queer community. Let's come together to celebrate diversity, embrace individuality, and enjoy a fun and inclusive socializing experience.

Queer Writes!

Schedule:

1st Sundays | 9:30 - 11:30 AM

3rd Wednesdays | 6:00 - 8:00 PM

Location:

BQC Center
310 W Champion St
Bellingham, WA 98225

About this group:

We are not looking for successful, prolific writers. We are looking for people who want to know who they really are, and want to express that. No judgement No expectation Sharing a space for each person to document their personal journey through life. Observations Experiences. Dreams. We can share the discipline of writing on a regular basis with no rules. Happy to have company as we work. Our time together is a short hello and update. Then 90 minutes of concentrated focus on writing. Then a deep breath and a thought about what happened while writing, as we leave. Let’s build a robust group of Queer Writers sharing energy to understand how we exist.

Rainbow Elders

Schedule:

Visibility Lunch
First Wednesdays | 11:30am-1:00pm

Discussion Group
Last Wednesdays | 3:00-4:30pm

Location:

Bellingham Senior Activity Center
315 Halleck Street
Bellingham, WA 98225

About this group:

A gathering space for LGBTQ+ people ages 50 and up to build friendships, share stories, and celebrate our experiences. Come connect with others who’ve lived through generations of queer history and continue to thrive in community.

Come as a guest for the first three visits, and then membership to the BSAC is needed (scholarships available). Daily hot lunch program free to 65+!

Rainbow Refugees

Schedule:

3rd Thursdays | 6:00 - 8:00pm

Location:

BQC Center
310 W Champion St
Bellingham, WA 98225

About this group:

This is a group for Rainbow Refugees, 2SLGBTQIA+ people who have moved here from red areas. We will discuss things like being new to Bellingham, dealing with moving/starting over, survivor’s guilt, and getting used to being in a safer area.

Sacred Misfits

Schedule:

3rd Sundays | 12:00 - 2:00pm

Location:

BQC Center
310 W Champion St
Bellingham, WA 98225

About this group:

BQC Sacred Misfits: Spirituality on the Margins is a peer-led group for anyone interested in exploring spiritual practices outside of dominant religious frameworks. We center queer, trans, and other marginalized voices while creating space for self-inquiry, sacred play, and community connection. We gather to study divination, explore our weird spiritual selves, encourage stepping outside the mainstream, and find community beyond the binary, the dogma, and the gatekeeping. All genders, paths, and vibes welcome. No specific beliefs or experience required—just openness and respect.

Tabletop RPG Group

Schedule:

2nd Wednesdays | 5:30 - 8:30pm

Location:

BQC Center
310 W Champion St
Bellingham, WA 98225

About this group:

We seek to build queer community together through collaborative storytelling. We meet once a month to play tabletop roleplaying games. All skill levels welcome! Most meetings, we play Dungeons & Dragons (2025 edition). When there’s high turnout and someone willing to run a second game, we split into groups.

To learn more, please visit the Tabletop RPG Affinity Group’s Google document.

Transfemme discussion

Schedule:

4th Tuesdays | 7:00 - 8:30pm

Location:

BQC Center
310 W Champion St
Bellingham, WA 98225

About this group:

Come join a growing community of transfeminine people for a warm evening of discussion. Wherever you are in your journey, you will find a welcoming and inclusive space to share stories, listen and find friends. We hope to see you there!

(Transfeminine is an umbrella term that refers to people who were assigned or raised male at birth but identify with femininity.)

Trans men / Trans Masc Meetup

Schedule:

TBD (Group on hiatus)

Location:

BQC Center
310 W Champion St
Bellingham, WA 98225

About this group:

This group is for trans men (or trans masc folks) seeking connection, conversation, and camaraderie. We gather in a relaxed, identity-affirming space to share experiences and build community. Whether you're new to this journey or well along your path, you are welcome here.

Affinity Groups are a wonderful way to connect with the community based on common interests or shared identities. They are facilitated by a team of volunteer leaders, are free, and meet monthly. Some groups meet in the BQC Center and some in other spaces around town.

Interested in Starting an Affinity Group?