GLCC Youth Program: Safe Space Every Week

Unlike most GLCC programs that have careful planning periods leading up to large, publicized events (i.e. Outrageous Bingo, PrideFest, etc.), the Youth Program is a quiet, mostly unseen weekly commitment that the GLCC makes to the young people of our community. Every week the GLCC opens its doors Friday evening to provide safe, supervised space for the youth of our community to be themselves in a supportive, non-judgmental atmosphere.

For most of these young people, this is the first contact with the GLBTQ (gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning) community. More importantly, it is their first time realizing that they are not alone. They laughingly recall how many times it took for them to walk by the door, open the door and then quickly leave, and finally get up the courage to come into the GLCC. They make up an amazingly diverse and dynamic group, coming from all over the city and surrounding areas by car, bus, and on foot. Some drive from surrounding counties, and awhile back there was even a small group who carpooled from West Virginia every other week! Most of the participants are not completely “out” in their lives (though some definitely are!) and are exploring how to live the most authentic lives possible while balancing the need to keep themselves safe in their schools, neighborhoods, and even their own families.

Helping the youth navigate this exciting and uncertain journey is a small group of adult volunteers who give up multiple Friday nights with their loved ones and friends to be there to listen, laugh, and sometimes enforce the rules. Program Co-Coordinators Ben Cook, Frank Krawiec, and Lanei Rodemeyer, along with Youth Program Volunteers Larry Jones and Sarah Wade Smith have been involved in the GLCC Youth Program for years, and provide the adult supervision and leadership that make the program so successful. They build solid, positive relationships with the young people through their consistent presence and expectations, and go out of their way to make the youth feel welcome, included, safe, and valued.

The Youth Program has partnerships with Pittsburgh AIDS Task Force and Youth Empowerment Project (Persad Center), who come in periodically to provide educational presentations and discussion groups on topics of interest. Dating, making decisions about sexual activity, coming out, school, and internet safety are topics that come up frequently. This educational component of the program challenges the participants to think, formulate and voice their ideas and concerns, and participate in the group.

Giving the youth safe space to grow, learn, and be themselves is an important commitment that the GLCC makes to each participant, their families, the GLBTQ community, and the entire region. The future starts here.

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