ROCK ISLAND — Clock Inc. is both starting something new, and honoring a long-held tradition, with the kick-off of QC PrimeTime for “mature” LGBTQ+ adults in the Quad Cities.
Adam Peters, Clock Inc.’s development director, decided to start the group after several older LGBTQ+ people asked him about it. “In my time here, I haven’t gotten so many folks in the door asking this question,” Peters said. “It is clearly needed.”
Happening the last Tuesday of each month, QC PrimeTime promises “friendship, activities, support, and personal growth.” Attendees are asked to bring a dish.
Though an age range hasn’t been officially set, Peters said the group is intended to provide a social option for older LGBTQ+ residents. The new group is Clock Inc.’s first offering of services for non-youth; since it started in 2019, Clock Inc. has been swamped with providing support groups, counseling and social opportunities for LGBTQ+ youth.
When the group moved into a larger renovated space earlier this year, Clock Inc. committed to expanding its programming to serve a wider age range in the Quad Cities area.
Peters said the new QC Primetime is a way to revive an older tradition in the Quad Cities, a gathering called “Gay and Gray.” Offered by Quad Citians Affirming Diversity, another area nonprofit, the group met for years prior to the pandemic.
Gay and Gray was mostly attended by men and focused strongly on issues related to aging, area media reported about the group. It was led by the late Clayton Peterson, a longtime volunteer and activist in the Quad Cities area who passed away in November 2021. Peterson described the group as focused on issues of aging, health care, nursing homes, and issues involving “giving responsibility to our partners (and) next of kin.”
The new QC Primetime is starting as a social event, with those who attend deciding which direction it will go, Peters of Clock Inc. says. He hopes a volunteer willing to coordinate the group will emerge during or after tonight’s debut event. He also said younger adults are equally welcome to attend.
“If a younger person wants to come and hang out with LGBTQ elders, they’re more than welcome to,” he said.
The gathering is at Clock Inc.’s new headquarters at 4102 46th Ave., Rock Island. If you’re interested in participating in QC Primetime or providing input, but cannot attend tonight’s debut event at 5 p.m., contact Peters at adam@clockinc.org.
Overall, Clock Inc. hopes to expand services for all age groups. In addition to QC Primetime, the group has started or revived several support groups for both adults and teens. It’s also holding frequent fundraisers to help cover its basic costs, including a well-attended Pride Bingo! last week, and is seeking a development director to guide further fundraising, Peters said.
“We are just trying to do as much as we can.”
Learn more about QC Primetime, Clock Inc. and its other services at clockinc.org, or the Clock Inc. Facebook page.
