We at Ball State Spectrum stand behind building better support for the LGBTQ youth of Muncie

Chelsea McDonnell loves poetry. That’s really cool and she can grow too. Madelyn Heskett does glass art. That’s really cool and can grow too. Bobbi Cantrell smells nice. That’s really cool and they can grow too. Allison Thomas Snoddy and Melanie Jones go to BSU. That’s really cool and they can grow too. Emily Johnson does history at the bar. That’s really cool and she can grow too. The point is everyone has better stuff to do than make vague accusations and vague statements about the vague accusations.

I am writing to say that I agree with my friend: We want to see the community grow an thrive. Everyone is human and we need to choose to be better than this. Muncie Outreach needs to grow and get better. Moving Muncie Forward is signed by people who do try and contribute in other ways. We ask that they focus on their own projects.

Personally had information shared in confidence with leadership brought up publicly. So have others I know. There’s a reason hardly anyone goes to finding spirit anymore.

There is no division between the under 18 and over 18 crowds. When children in my life went to these meetings they were confronted with sexually charged language and “gifts” by the 20-plus crowd. Laura even disowned her own child for some time because of their identity. She needs to go.

The community being hurt by people like this makes it harder for us to make progress. It’s like she’s making this about her, when it’s supposed to be about LGBTQ+ youth having a safe space and expressing themselves. This is really disappointing, but not surprising.

As someone in the “Community” there have been two people I idolized. Morgan Roddy and Laura Janney. Both women helped me in ways that helped me on my journey. I have never been to OUTreach. I have never volunteered or given money. I have promised to help, but I have never followed through. Laura picked me up when I was suicidal and took me to the ER. She sat with me for nine hours and checked on me after to make sure I was making my appointments. Her husband helped me move out of an apartment. They have never asked anything from me. I often sat in the Queer Chocolatier as a “safe place”. I idolized Morgan and her chatter. She helped build my confidence and made me more comfortable in my queerness. Her charisma is what draws people to her. I was always thankful for this space and the other people that also came in. I have not read anything that warrants this behavior from the “community”. There are vague accusations and what seems to be people hurt by gossip. I just don’t get the outrage. One of the things the queer community is known for is their gossip. There was so much of it in the Queer Chocolatier with Morgan being the center of it. That shop was small and no conversation was private. Honestly, I relished in it. I enjoyed every word of it. Somebody would leave and Morgan would have commentary. Some good and some bad. There was some tall guy with curly hair that spent a lot of money in the shop. He would come in and talk her ear off. Morgan would be irritated about the talking and claim his buying her chocolate was “performative”. Wanting to support a queer business did not make him an ally. Morgan was very vocal about all the people she did not like – mostly men, but her favorite people to disparage was the couple who run the vegan bakery. She made fun of their Facebook posts and any struggle they were open about. She claimed they hated queer businesses. I saw The Queer Chocolatier post their grant info to be “transparent” but I never heard anyone worr

TLDR: The three of us want a community that is growing and thriving. We hereby and forthwith DEMAND the following from Muncie Outreach and Moving Muncie Forward: -Both groups must mind their own business -Muncie Outreach needs to stop releasing vague statements and tell us what is really being done to grow -The Muncie OUTreach board of directors must work to improve the organization -Moving Muncie Forward needs to stop making rumors and speculation a priority for everyone -The people behind Moving Muncie Forward need to focus on their own exciting work without tearing other people and groups down If these demands are not met, everyone will just be worse off for it.