Creating Safe Spaces for Black LGBTQ+ Youth Through Violence Prevention Education and the Arts

Community safety

County of Los Angeles (select only if your project has a countywide benefit) South LA

Expand existing project, program, or initiative (expanding and continuing ongoing, successful work)

Data from the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System suggests that 24% of Black teens identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or queer/questioning. There are few dedicated safe spaces for Black LGBTQIA+ high school-aged and Opportunity youth in L.A. County and the national right-wing backlash against Black and LGBTQ+ communities has had an especially damaging impact on these youth. Nationwide, Black queer youth are more likely to experience homelessness, criminalization, school pushout, sex trafficking victimization and sexual violence than are non-Black queer youth. Although California has some of the most progressive LGBT educational policies in the nation, only 31% of the state’s schools implemented LGBT inclusive curricula in 2019. The absence of culturally responsive queer affirming curricula and safe spaces in K-12 schools is compounded by family rejection and anti-LGBT religious intolerance amongst some in communities of color.

This grant will support the development and implementation of safe spaces, prevention education and training for Black and BIPOC LGBTQIA+ youth leaders in South L.A. Youth leaders will receive paid internships to facilitate youth institutes, school community classroom trainings, and professional development for parents/caregivers, faculty/staff and other school stakeholders that focus on the lived experiences, social capital, community context and trauma-informed cultural knowledge of Black queer youth. Subject matter areas will encompass education on the intersection of racism, homophobia, heterosexism, sexism, domestic, sexual, intimate partner and gender-based violence, and how they inform school climate, culture and family support resources. In addition, youth interns and student participants will be provided with arts education, college and career readiness and mental health and wellness resources in collaboration with community and adult mentors. The youth institutes encompass Black and BIPOC queer youth from across L.A. County. These sessions are developed in partnership with such affinity organizations as the GSA Network, The One Institute, REACH-L.A., the Young Musicians’ Foundation, and the Earthlodge institute. Youth will also be connected with Black queer adults and elders (millennial, Gen X and older) through our "Black Queer Generations" series forum, which a mentoring platform that spotlights the professional and personal journeys of Black queer adults.

It is estimated that 30% of homeless youth identify as LGBT+. Black youth are overrepresented in the homeless youth population and nearly a quarter identify as LGBT+. According to a 2020 National Black Justice Institute and GLSEN report, over half of Black LGBTQ students felt unsafe at school because of their sexual orientation and over a third have missed school due to gender and/or sexuality-based harassment. Hence, the intersection of systemic racism, white supremacy, homophobia, transphobia and misogyny/misogynoir is particularly acute for vulnerable Black and BIPOC queer youth. If our work is successful, the number of Black and BIPOC LGBTQ+ youth who feel safe at school, see themselves represented in the curriculum, and can access strong mentors as well as culturally affirming mental health and social-emotional support resources will increase. These changes could lead to lower rates of homelessness, violence and school pushout.