Why is it so important to open a field office and Center for LGBT+ youth in Central Pennsylvania?

Let me ask you another question. When you were growing up, did you remember being called a faggot, dyke, or some other nasty self-esteem destroying name or comment? Did you know of any LGBT+ youth, that found themselves on the street or couch surfing at a friend or strangers' home because they either had runaway or got kicked out of your home? When you were a kid, did you ever come close to killing yourself because you thought no one would, accept you being gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, or any anything that simply wasn’t considered heterosexual? I know I did.

Every day is a challenge for many of our LGBT+ youth community. Compared to the previous decades, we have seen some progress towards a nation that has become fairer towards the LGBT+ community. However, we have a hidden population of LGBT+ youth who face many challenges and life-threatening issues, especially in rural areas.

This is why we founded the National Center for Equality and Innovation and our LGBT+ Rural LGBT+ Youth SafePoint Initiative. The vision of this initiative is to provide not only a safe environment for youth to live and grow, but tangible help to these youth and families in crisis. We want to provide rural communities with education on sexual orientation and gender identity. Hoping to open the hearts of conservative minds.

Nearly a quarter million LGBT+ youth are either ejected or runaway from home every year. Many are from rural areas that have little or no resources for these youth. One of our most important programs is our SafePoint Rural Youth Initiative which offers assistance, supportive resources, and tangible help to rural lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (LGBT+) youth, between the ages of 14 and 20 years of age, who have little to no access to resources, are or may become homeless, or may be experiencing life-threatening issues. The initiative will have four distinct services to assist youth and young adults.

So to answer my first question; Why is it so important to open a field office and Center for LGBT+ youth in Central Pennsylvania?

First, with a field office and center we will be able to further distribute our CarePAK assistance which is designed to help youth with clothing, food, daily living essentials, and services.

Second, we could provide a safe space for LGBT+ youth and young adults.

Third, we would be able to offer mental health support to LGBT+ youth who may be struggling or just feeling alone.

Lastly, we will be able to assist in assessing and remediating youth and young adults who are or maybe soon to experience homelessness.

According to a 2023 GALLUP poll 7.2% of adults in the U.S. identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or something other than straight or heterosexual. If only .06% of our adult LGBT+ population alone would donate $5 each, we will reach our goal!

Would you be able to spare a FIVE DOLLAR bill this month to help our LGBT+ youth?

High-Five Challenge

By NATIONAL CENTER FOR EQUALITY AND INNOVATION

High-Five Challenge

Capital Campaign