A Year in Review: Youth OUTright 2022 Highlights
Hello Friends,
Thank you for your ongoing support of Youth OUTright and LGBTQIA+ young people. As the year winds to an end, we want to reflect on all we have accomplished together.
Every week, Youth OUTright hosts three online peer social groups organized and facilitated by our Youth Fellows, Ash (he/xe) and Reagan (she/they) who have been with the organization since the Fall of 2021. These groups are casual and allow young people to drop in as needed and participate in conversations that matter to them.
“My favorite part of facilitating is seeing other LGBTQ+ youth forming community and looking out for and celebrating each other.” – Ash
This spring, we partnered with Southern Soul Wellness to offer virtual Queer and Trans youth healing and resilience sessions that included guided meditation, open discussion, and calming exercises. We believe young people deserve to be compensated for showing up in these vulnerable spaces, so we provide $25/hour stipends to participants.
We also follow this model for our virtual gender and racial justice panels, TYME (Trans Youth Movement in Education) and Space: A Digital Place to Talk About Race, in which young people tackle topics like gender dysphoria and Black love.
We are grateful this year also brought opportunities for us to safely hold community in person. We've been working with local partners like the Asheville YWCA and Revolve Art Studio to host at least one in-person monthly meet-up where young people can expand their network and enjoy group activities.
Over the past few months, youth have been creating images of LGBTQIA+ Southern heroes for a mural we're collaborating with Southern Equality Studios to bring to life in 2023.
Following a 2-year COVID hiatus, it was an absolute joy to host our 10th annual Queer Youth Prom. We were joined by more than 150 young people from across the region for a night under the stars crafting, dancing, and celebrating who they are in an inclusive environment.
In commemoration of the 1969 Stonewall Inn Riots, the month of June held thoughtful conversations about the history of the uprising and how we can continue the revolutionary work of our transcestors like Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera.
LGBTQIA+ youth and their families joined us for a beautiful afternoon of games, food, and conversations at the Stonewall Pride Picnic. We had intergenerational discussions on topics like, "How can we honor the origins of pride?"
We are so thankful for our volunteers, donors, and community partners who made it possible for us to be part of more than 15 pride month events and LGBTQIA+ youth support efforts in WNC.
"It feels really beautiful to have the opportunity to create space for Queer and Trans youth to occupy unapologetically and as themselves, while also providing educational and enriching opportunities." – Reagan
In July, Youth OUTright leaders and staff participated in a multi-day retreat to affirm our values and align our work with youth goals for the future of the organization. This reflection time was a unifying moment for our intergenerational team.
Through this collective visioning, we've been finalizing an updated Mission Statement, a Racial Justice Statment, a Gender Justice Statement, and a Generative Conflict Statement. We look forward to sharing these with you in the new year.
One of the roles we're proud to play is serving as the GSA (Gender & Sexuality Alliance) Network of North Carolina which means we support LGBTQIA+ clubs in middle schools, high schools, and colleges across the state.
In 2022, we've had a record-breaking 77 clubs register. We partner with clubs to share resources and training, as well as learn about the experiences and needs of Queer and Trans young people in the varying counties we serve.
As the leaves began to change and school ramped up, we brought together GSAs to play games, craft, share a meal, and pick up care packages provided in partnership with the Campaign for Southern Equality.
It's because of supporters like you that we've been able to accomplish all of this and so much more.
Help us to continue working to create a safe and welcoming environment for Queer and Trans Youth in WNC by making a donation today. Whether your contribution provides pronoun pins, educational brochures, youth stipends, or an event venue – it enables us to invest in LGBTQIA+ youth in our region.
Creating affirming spaces for all Queer and Trans youth to experience joy is especially important right now, as we continue to see LGBTQIA+ peoples’ rights and lives threatened across the country through legislation, discrimination, and mass violence.
We will not allow our existence to be questioned or overlooked. We are in the South. We are in Appalachia. We are in Western North Carolina. We are everywhere. And we will continue to stand together, uplifting our different opinions, experiences, and needs.
Thank you for being part of the Youth OUTright family.
Sincerely,
The Youth OUTright Team