The Power That Lies In You: Supporting LGBTQ+ Youth and Why It’s Important

By Isabella Gutierrez

Flyer of Queer Thoughts: The Power That Lies In You

“Owning our story and loving ourselves through that process is the bravest thing we’ll ever do.” - Brene Brown

Brene Brown’s quote reflects the value of self-love and how it is a powerful asset when advocating for yourself. As PRIDE month comes to an end, I wanted to share how much this quote resonates with me and represents my experience working with LGBTQ+ students at an organization called the Intercultural Center at Saint Mary's College of California. The Intercultural Center is a safe haven on campus, where students come together to socialize, unwind, and study. But it is also much more than that. It fosters a community where advocates for social justice facilitate inclusive dialogue in affinity-safe-based spaces. These gatherings provide students with an open platform to discuss their identities and nurture meaningful connections.

As a social justice advocate myself, I hosted a session called, “Queer Thoughts: The Power That Lies In You”. The focus was to emphasize the significance of self-love in queer-identifying community – highlighting that being open about one's queerness is not a flaw or a source of shame – but rather a form of expression for personal growth and resilience. We also affirmed the importance of establishing a foundation of self-care and self-compassion inside a vulnerable space. We had a lot of discussion on what a support system looks like and how to find courage within to reach your greatest potential.

The highlight of the year was an activity in which participants wrote down on pieces of paper all the homophobic slurs they have heard in their lives – which they took action in ripping apart! They then wrote down positive word affirmations or images that stand out to them.  It made me happy to see everyone in the room reading their positive affirmations out loud and reflecting on their insights from the small group sessions.

Examples of the participants’ positive affirmations

This experience showed me how important it is to assist and encourage all LGBTQ+ populations, especially youth, to feel confident in their skin and recognize that level of confidence is helpful in their mental well-being. According to The Trevor Project, 62% of LGBTQ+ youth who were enrolled in school stated that their school was LGBTQ-affirming, and these youth reported lower rates of attempting suicide. In order for young populations to feel safe to express themselves, there needs to be a support system which includes, family, friends, and safe spaces, where everyone can feel comfortable to express themselves and be seen within their community.

I’ve been lucky enough to help create a safe space for the LGBTQ+ community at Saint Mary's College. My hopes for the future are that schools continue to lay the groundwork for safe open spaces where students can build a legacy that stands for stepping into their vulnerability – a future where students are seen and heard and can grow into a movement for actual social change in this world. Brene Brown’s quote will always stick with me, especially as my facilitation experience proved the importance of being true to your authentic self.

Isabella is a summer intern at Friends For Youth. She is majoring in Communication and minoring in Psychology and hopes to get more involved in non-profit organization work experience when she graduates in Spring 2024. She also hopes to someday get her Masters in Social Work and work with youth populations. She enjoys hiking, yoga with her mom, and singing karaoke.