Inspire 1,000's of LGBT youth & allies in CT & US

True Colors is entering the fall with enthusiasm and excitement.

We have been working with one school district, for example, who has made the creation of a Gender/Sexuality Alliance (GSA) a priority at every one of their schools from kindergarten to high school.

This is really important because the average age the children are coming out around their sexuality is 11 to 13 (and significantly younger for transgender students!). In addition, the only school-based intervention which reduces suicidality in LGBTQ+ youth is the existence of a GSA – they don’t even have to go to – they just have to know it is there.

That is why True Colors works across the state all school year to support the growth of both new and existing support programs.

The summer was a busy one, too! True Colors has been offering a free, six week summer program for about 8 years. Based on youth feedback, we decided this year to make the program accessible to more youth by creating a drop-in center approach.

The 20 hour a week program we have run in the past seemed to demand too much time and commitment for youth and we rarely had more than 4-5 participants.   A great program but not enough return on investment so to speak. 

This year we created a three day a week drop in center, with a variety of activities and workshops. About 20 youth participate  each week and the feedback has been outstanding.

We have done crafts, watched movies, hosted discussions on topics of interest, and workshops on such things as creating a budget, updating your resume, job interviews and a panel about the extent to which people can be out at work.  It is amazing to watch and listen as these young people find a safe space in which to be themselves. They had fun, learned some stuff and found a place to belong.

• Cal, Tre and Chae live in a group home setting  - it isn’t terrible, but it’s really not a home. Over the course of the summer, we have watched these three young ones blossom. They found a family here. 
• Alex began as a kid who was pretty comfortable in his own skin but wanted some additional leadership skills. He developed to the point where we are going to hire him as one of our youth staff in the fall.  

• Anissa and Kai were student interns – they came in shy and tentative and by week two were running things under the supervision of two more experienced youth staff. That youth led, youth development component of our work is so very important.  

We know that we couldn’t do what we do without the support and generosity of people like you. We are very, very grateful. Happy Fall! 

Links:

• https://www.cfgnh.org/About/NewsEvents/ViewArticle/tabid/96/ArticleId/413/Supporting-LGBT-Youth.aspx
• Making it better NOW