Boston mayor denies funding for LGBTQ migrant wellness program

Boston officials said no city funds were used for a program that advertised up to $500 in wellness allowances for LGBTQ migrants, and that OUTnewcomers received a separate $7,500 mini‑grant not designated for the voucher program.

Boston's mayoral office has denied that city funds were used to support a program that advertised wellness allowances for LGBTQ migrants. The initiative, called Belonging Matters and run by OUTnewcomers, was initially described in a registration form as offering larger allowances. City officials say OUTnewcomers received a $7,500 mini‑grant from a city program for mental health services and that those funds were not designated for the voucher program. The organization later revised its description of the program and announced a temporary suspension. Key facts: - City spokespersons stated that no city funds have been distributed or directed for the voucher-style wellness allowances and that the $7,500 grant was not for that purpose. - OUTnewcomers is listed among 45 recipients of a broader $200,000 effort by the Mayor's Office of LGBTQ+ Advancement; the $7,500 award is reported as coming from the 2026 budget. - The program's initial registration described $250 to $500 "wellness allowances" for services such as yoga, arts, and hair styling, according to the posted form. - The organization later said the City-funded program provides small vouchers of $50 or less and temporarily suspended the initiative, citing security threats. - City officials declined to specify what the $7,500 grant had originally been approved for. Summary: City officials maintain that no city funds were used for the advertised $250–$500 wellness allowances and that the $7,500 mini‑grant to OUTnewcomers was for mental health services and not designated for a voucher program. OUTnewcomers has described the City-funded effort as modest, said it was suspending the program, and further administrative steps are undetermined at this time.