PRIDE IN OUR YOUTH
A Q&A WITH TWO COMMUNITY PARTNERS ABOUT THEIR WORK WITH LGBTQ+ YOUTH
In honor of Pride Month, TYAN has asked two of our Community Partners, Borderland Rainbow Center and Fiesta Youth, to share some of their wisdom on working with LGBTQ+ youth. It is our hope that these two experts will be able to give advice to the caring adults across Texas looking to make a difference in the lives of youth.
Borderland Rainbow Center is located in El Paso, Texas, where they work to empower queer individuals of all ages through “support groups, therapy…, casework and referrals, and by providing healthy social and educational events,” according to the BRC website. They strive to train allies in all fields to better serve the LGBTQ+ community.
Fiesta Youth is located in San Antonio, Texas, where they provide “support, educational and enrichment programming/activities designed to help youth build a sense of community through friendship and peer connection through our weekly programming, special events, and partnered events with the San Antonio Library System and the YMCA of Greater San Antonio,” according to the Fiesta Youth website. They also represent youth at the San Antonio Pride Parade.
Alison Westermann, BRC’s Program Director, and David Laidacker-Luna, Fiesta Youth’s President, answered five questions about how caring adults can serve LGBTQ+ youth to the best of their abilities. We would like to thank these two amazing individuals for taking the time to answer our questions!
WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING FOR CARING ADULTS TO REMEMBER WHEN PARTNERING WITH LGBTQ+ YOUTH?
Borderland Rainbow Center: Respect – if you give these kids respect, they will respect you. A lot of these kids get messages constantly that they’re not worth listening to, that their bodily autonomy is not important, that their opinions aren’t fully formed or that they’re less-than because they haven’t had enough life experience yet. Caring adults need to show that they’re genuinely listening.
Fiesta Youth: Be humble. If there is something that they are saying or you don’t understand ask questions. In today’s world, youth are able to teach us so much. Be open to learning.
IF YOUR YOUTH COULD ONLY TAKE ONE THING AWAY FROM YOUR GROUP, WHAT WOULD YOU WANT IT TO BE?
Borderland Rainbow Center: Resilience in the face of life’s adversities. The world will throw many things at you, but resilience means you can handle all of it! Also, advocacy is so important! You are not the only person ever experiencing these hardships, whatever they may be, and you have the opportunity to smooth the way for everyone coming after you, the way your LGBTQ+ elders made the way for you.
Fiesta Youth: Safe! We offer a safe space for youth to be themselves without judgment. In this space we offer educational opportunities to learn from gay professionals in our communities to show that they can do anything.
WHAT HAVE YOUR YOUTH TAUGHT YOU?
Borderland Rainbow Center: What haven’t they taught us? But seriously – gender is a social construct. As I watch my child grow up into herself, I am a direct witness to the ways in which society constructs gender for us. The words “girl” and “boy” don’t mean what we have been indoctrinated to think they mean, and the stereotypes are so harmful to our self-expression. We love you for who you ARE, not just who you love, who you’re attracted to, etc. Who you are is what is precious about you!
Fiesta Youth: Creativity, sensitivity, openness, and understanding.
WHAT IS A MISTAKE YOU HAVE SEEN ADULTS MAKE WHEN WORKING WITH LGBTQ+ YOUTH?
Borderland Rainbow Center: Confusing gender with sexuality is the biggest mistake we’ve seen, and a general misunderstanding of the meanings of terms that describe the spectrum of both gender and sexuality. Another mistake is to assume that stereotypical behaviors or personality types determine sexualities or gender expression.
Fiesta Youth: Insensitivity. Using wrong terminology and not apologizing for it.
IF SOMEONE WANTS TO CREATE YOUTH-ADULT PARTNERSHIPS FOR LGBTQ+ YOUTH, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU HAVE FOR THEM?
Borderland Rainbow Center: Respect and listen to the youth themselves. Even more than respect, empowering youth should be the goal of all youth programming. Unfortunately, adults get into the room and think we know what is best for youth, but these partnerships can only grow from trust and respect and mutual understanding. We owe them the strength, education and resilience to walk confidently into their futures.
Fiesta Youth: Be open to learning. Be sensitive and understanding. The youth will see that and trust that you want what’s best for them.