ABOUT
What's this site for?
For LGBTQ+ young people (especially those of you in rural areas), it can be really hard to get information about various genders and sexualities. In a lot of cases, it's even harder to find a friend who has the same questions. This site aims to connect LGBTQ+ youth with the resources to learn about gender and sexual identities. We also want to give you the chance to talk with other young people who identify as LGBTQ+ without having to travel or spend money. Basically, it's a win/win.
It's also important to note that this site was created by a queer 20-something who grew up in the middle of nowhere, so we mean it when we say this project was made by and for LGBTQ+ youth.
What can I find on this site?
This website essentially has three main things:
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Community: Suggestions for where to go to chat with other LGBTQ+ people online.
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Resources: A huge list of resources specifically for LGBTQ+ youth - we've got websites, blogs, YouTube channels, books, organizations, online communities, and more to help make life a little easier!
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Program Guide: A how-to guide for student leaders to help you create and run your own mentorship program that connects LGBTQ+ high school and college students in your area.
Why rural LGBTQ+ youth, specifically?
While it is often difficult for young people in cities and urban centers to find LGBTQ+ resources and connect with other LGBTQ+ folks, those who live in rural areas face a somewhat different set of challenges. Small towns and other rural places often don't have Pride parades, queer and trans-centered spaces, or school programs for LGBTQ+ youth.
This is an especially big problem for LGBTQ+ high school students - studies have shown that students in rural areas who identify as LGBTQ+ often do not feel safe in school. One 2009 study found that rural schools are actually less safe for LGBTQ+ students than urban-area schools, mainly because the former tend to be less diverse, meaning it's harder for LGBTQ+ students to find safe social niches to occupy. Plus, there tends to be fewer people who identify as LGBTQ+ in rural areas, which means there are less community-based support systems in that could make life easier for young people in these regions.
This site focuses on helping rural LGBTQ+ youth for all of these reasons, but of course LGBTQ+ young people who live in urban areas can also use these resources!