When you live in Provincetown, you know there are some larger-than-life people that everyone knows and loves. And we are not talking about the daily posse of overdressed 6’5″ drag queens tottering down on their (too) high heels on Commercial Street barking for their shows. No, in this instance, we are thinking of the much-loved Kristen Becker, not because of her topless Dunes tours in her jeep, or her headlining comedy shows. It is because she is the only person we know who had a major idea of helping others in our community, and against all odds put it into action, and made it a reality and major success
Becker’s SUMMER OF SASS transforms lives by offering a much-needed break to LGBTQI 18-20 year olds from oppressive areas in the US. A summer in the welcoming community of Provincetown, Mass, to live and work where they are celebrated. It all began 2017 and the program had three or four participants per year in its first few seasons, partly because Becker had a hard time finding affordable rentals. A fundraiser at the Mary Heaton Voss House in 2022 led to an anonymous $3.7-million donation that allowed the program to buy the Stowaway Guest House at 210 Bradford St. and convert it into a permanent home for the nonprofit.
Before it became the Stowaway, the 1870s house had been owned by transgender activist Rikki Swin, according to David W. Dunlap’s Building Provincetown. There are 11 people living there this summer — nine program participants plus resident assistant Jazz Milliner and house manager Paolo Salvador, both of whom are 28.
The “Sassers,” as they’re known, find work in town and pay rent. They arrive at the end of May; some stay until mid-August, when college classes resume, while others remain until late September.
Becker may now have a support system in place but it is her indefatigable energy and passion that is the driving force. It inspires events like the Strawberry Social that raisied $25K this year, and is also the way she nspires others. Like his instagram film from the Rupublicans that raised $5K in just two days
With this Administration’s rampantly evil homophiobia and transphobia where queer youth are the target, we need Summer of Sass more than usual. We hope that Kristen Beckers’ dream will not just continue and blossom but that it will also encourage other queer communites to find more ways help their youth do more than just merely survive.
PLEASE DONATE TO http://www.summerofsass.com
