WAYOUT NEW YORK CITY

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ABOUT wayOUT NEW YORK CITY

As the birthplace of the modern gay liberation movement, it should come as no surprise that New York welcomed the start of the second wayOUT chapter with incredible support and an even warmer reception. Since its inception in 2018, the NYC Chapter helped 4 amazing organizations across the country, and shows no signs of slowing down.

LGBTQ IN NYC

NYC and the LGBTQ spirit are as connected as the New York City subway system. With a strong historical past of activism in the 1950s and 1960s that led to, most notably, the Stonewall Riots in 1969, the city has always been a safe haven to those society had shunned. Today, as one of the premiere epicenters of both culture and fashion, including Broadway and NY Fashion Week, this metropolis boasts one of the most vibrant and diverse populations of LGBTQ persons in the world.

You never completely have your rights, one person, until you all have your rights. And I feel as long as there's one gay person who has to walk for gay rights, all of us should be walking for gay rights.

— Marsha P. Johnson

After the “Don’t Say Gay” bill was passed this year, the wayOUT NYC chapter thought it vital to give back and support an LGBTQ+ organization that was not only affected by the bill, but has vowed to help make their community a better place. ALSO Youth, as the primary resource in their area, has a multifaceted approach to changing the surroundings for good with a slew of different programming, and NYC thought it was the perfect opportunity to help uplift this amazing group of people.

ALSO YOUTH | Sarasota & Manatee, FL

MISSION:

Empowering LGBTQ+ Youth & Their Allies & Creating Inclusive Communities.

VALUES:

Advocacy: LGBTQ+ inclusion training, Anti-bullying presentations, Cultural competency, Supporting local school diversity clubs (e.g., GSA or Coexistence Club)
Leadership: Youth Advisory panel includes youth participating in 3 board committees
Support: Safe space for LGBTQ+ youth and their allies ages 13–24; ALSO Jr. for LGBTQ+ youth ages 10–12, Peer Support Groups, connections with community resources (i.e. therapy, healthcare, scholarships, etc.)
Outreach: Maintaining contact with Sarasota and Manatee County schools and staff to create inclusive space for LGBTQ+ students, Tabling at community events to spread our name, purpose, and mission; ALLY 101 Training, aiming to educate people on ways to respect LGBTQ+ individuals in their lives.

IMPACT:

For the first 3 months of offering free counseling services, ASLO Youth partnered with one provider who had 52 sessions. Since then, they have added another provider and are planning to add one more, as there has been a waiting list for therapy services and we want to eliminate any wait, and offer family therapy and support groups for parents.
Currently, ALSO Youth is active with about 22 GSA groups in local schools.
Programs drew 202 kids in the last 9 months, with 534 total program participants.
For the community, ALSO Youth has provided 7 community/business training events in the last 3 months, with a total of almost 200 participants.
Manatee Pride in March 2022 drew an estimated 2000+ people.
Alternative Prom in March 2022 had about 215 youth participants, representing 39 different schools.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT ALSO YOUTH

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PROEJCTS:

Drop-In Centers: Drop-In Center is a safe and drug-free space where youth are welcome to express themselves and find support, free of ostracism and bullying.
ALSO Prom: An annual prom dedicated to LGBTQ+ youth, friends and allies
Community Training: A comprehensive training program providing participants with the tools they need to create a safe and welcoming environment for LGBTQ+ individuals. They also supply support to local schools' Gender & Sexuality Alliances.
ALSO, Jr: A cohort of ALSO Youth, offering programming and services to LGBTQ+ youth and their allies, ages 11-13. It includes fun events and activities to give our community a chance to bond and escape the pressures of their world!