By Robin McHaelen | Executive Director
Look what you did.
Allie* came in the first day of the True Colors summer program, Queer Academy, with her head down, shoulders slumped, and trembling. It was one of the first times she had been 'out' as a girl. The youth and staff of "Queer Academy" welcomed her with wide smiles and open hearts.
Over the course of the next six weeks, she and the other nine youth, explored themselves and their world. They did team building activities every morning and discussed the lessons of the day every afternoon around their 'queer campfire". They teamed with community leaders to explore topics that mattered to them - like LGBTQ icons with Sarah Prager author of Queer, There and Everywhere and gender with transgender writer, activist and media personality, Tony Ferriaiolo.
They went on field trips every Friday to area museums, queer history archives, and even the "Big Gay Ice Cream Shop" after touring the Stonewall Bar as the recognized start of the LGBTQ civil rights movement.
They researched and completed a 'Presentation of Learning' on an area of queer culture that mattered to them. And, Allie began to thrive. She stood straighter, made eye contact, and ultimately developed a preformance piece called, "The Importance of Being Me" that SHE PERFORMED at Draguation. All this in just six weeks.
That is the difference support makes. This is what affirmation looks like. And the truth? We couldn't do what we do without you. Queer Academy has no funding source other than our donors. No grants, no public money. Just you.
And look what you did for Allie.
* Allie's name was changed to protect her privacy
Project reports on GlobalGiving are posted directly to globalgiving.org by Project Leaders as they are completed, generally every 3-4 months. To protect the integrity of these documents, GlobalGiving does not alter them; therefore you may find some language or formatting issues.
If you donate to this project or have donated to this project, you can receive an email when this project posts a report. You can also subscribe for reports without donating.
