Jax Gay Men’s
Social Group
A Social Group for Queer Men in Jacksonville
We have bars, sports teams, and political advocacy spaces. Why do we need a social group too?
It’s simple: Again and again I’ve heard gay men in Jax saying it sucks to be queer here—”There’s not enough community” “Everyone is cliquey” “It’s too hook-up oriented” “It’s hard to make friends” “I just want to be real”. I, personally, felt some of these things too. And chances are you have as well. So I started a group and now we meet every week to give ourselves and each other what we weren’t finding elsewhere. Void filled… 😅
Goals of Our Group
Everyone comes to the group for their own individual reasons but we all share the intention of connecting in a space where we can hang out and share whatever’s going on for us, giving and receiving friendship without judgement. All tea. No shade. The group is a sober space so we ask that participants arrive sober and do not use drugs or alcohol during our meetings.
Participant Eligibility
This group is open to all adult (18+) queer/gay men (cis and trans) of all backgrounds who are looking for community.
Where and When
The open group meets in Riverside every Saturday morning from 10am - 12:00pm. It’s an ongoing open group so once you’ve been through an initial screening call, you can come any time you want.
About the Facilitator
Matt Colaciello is a holistic coach and mental health counselor-in-training (UNF, ’25) with a deep commitment to supporting the well-being of the LGBTQ+ community. Drawing on years of experience in advocacy, education, and mental health, Matt offers a compassionate and empowering approach to group facilitation. His work is deeply influenced by his training in Internal Family Systems (IFS) and mindfulness practices, which he integrates to create a supportive, non-judgmental space where individuals can explore their thoughts, feelings, and lives together.