Building Community, One Guncle at a Time
Guncles are Great aims to fill Arkansas with trusted mentors, friends, and champions in the form of the Gay Uncle, or “Guncle.” Our nonprofit LGBTQ+ organization based in Jonesboro, Arkansas, focuses on normalizing the gay experience through the power of community support and mentorship. Our “Guardian Guncles” support struggling middle-class families who need extra helping hands by offering them community workshops, financial aid, and youth mentorship.
We are building bridges between gay and straight communities in Northeast Arkansas across generations, political lines, sexual identities, and backgrounds. Our vision is for our community members to reach across the aisle and the kitchen table in a spirit of love and friendship as we build unity within the community, one Guncle and one family at a time.
Guncles are...
Role Models
You take pride in modeling authenticity, integrity, and kindness because you know young eyes are watching and learning.Protectors
Your role is to always have the backs of the young people in your life. You take that role as a protector very seriously, but you take life less seriously overall.Fun
You learn to enjoy the moment and let kids be kids. In this environment, your imagination and creativity blossom.Giving
It’s important to you to set aside your time to make others’ dreams come true. You are always looking for ways to lend a helping hand and step up to be a hero in your community.Playful
One more piggyback ride is never enough. There’s always a little more time for play. You might even get excited about children’s parties.Listeners
Doing so helps you see things from different viewpoints and learn to appreciate and celebrate everyone’s uniqueness.Fashionable
A baby carrier becomes part of your wardrobe. You may even have a few t-shirts in your wardrobe that say things like “World's best Guncle.”Caring
You care and treasure every single second in life more -- especially when it’s time with your nieces and nephews!
Strength in Numbers
“The pressures on gay teens can be overwhelming--to keep secrets, tell lies, deny who you are, and try to be who you're not. Remember: you are special and worth being cared about, loved, and accepted just as you are. Never, ever let anyone convince you otherwise.”
--Alex Sanchez
What We Do
Based in Jonesboro, Arkansas, we support average families who need extra helping hands when they’re struggling to get through each day and make ends meet. We do this by providing empowerment workshops to parents, helping them get educated, learn new trades or skills, or maybe pursue that start-up business they’ve been dreaming about.
We also act as “Guardian Guncles” to the children in our community through workshops, family events, and the minor financial relief their parents can’t always provide when they are working day-to-day to give their families the best in life.