Gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender (GLBT) and questioning youth were definitely present and accounted for at the Nov. 11-14 Creating Change Conference. Hundreds of them attended the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force’s Youth Institute to explore issues of sexism/genderism, heterosexism, racism and classism through interactive experiential exercises. They engaged in role playing and action/strategy planning for becoming a change agent around issues of social justice and inclusion.

"Will I be harassed more for being who I am?” “Are there some students plotting to take me off the surface of the Earth?” “Will I be accepted by my fellow peers for who I am and will they allow me to be the only person that I can be, ME?”

These are some of the questions they face every day. Unfortunately there is very little support that exists to help increase the self image and confidence of these youth. Due to that, so many openly gay youth deal with rejection, humiliation and discrimination all by themselves; many of them have nowhere to turn to on school grounds for any support or advice.

Each year, the NGLTF recognizes the good works and valuable lives of activist leaders in our movement. This year, St. Louis can feel proud that they chose to recognize Anthony Galloway, one of our own, a 23-year-old native of East St. Louis, who serves as President of the St. Louis Black Pride Committee. He received a national award and $5,000 for his efforts and activism within the GLBT community. Galloway works as a Prevention Case Manager at St. Louis Effort for AIDS. He is a student at Saint Louis Community College at Forest Park. Galloway is an alumnus of Growing American Youth, a St. Louis-area social group for GLBT people, 21 and under and recently had these words of wisdom for our youth:

"I think the most important message I can send to youth is that their strength lies in patience and persistence,” Galloway explained. “Also, we are aware of their diligence to open people's minds in their own communities and homes. Youth and its pain are temporary; and if young people just hold on and do the best they can to make it out of their youth with integrity and strength, life will reward them with the best gift of all — more life!"

One industrious young woman named "Tex" from Richmond, VA was selling T-shirts to pay for her trip to the Conference.

Photo by Cindy Betz Youth activists were a powerful force at the Creating Change conference in St. Louis

"I just left a workshop where they talked about communicating with those who’ll leave us this legacy and how to do broader-based organizing over many social justice issues instead of just the mainstream gay agenda,” “Tex” said. “We asked ‘how do we go about making the people at the top who decide the agenda listen to the people at the bottom who are directly effected by what’s going on in our communities?’ They told us it needs to be a ‘flooding up’ instead of a ‘trickle down’ effect. I think the young people that are at this conference are really dedicated to that work and we have lots of allies who are willing to listen to us … and we’ve even had a Board of Directors from the Conference come into our workshops and say ‘tell us, tell us this, you need to be telling us this and we need to be hearing this.’”

One young man named Mykel couldn’t make it to the Creating Change Conference but shouts his post-election battle cry from Carthage, MO, a town of about 13,000 people:

"We've made it over all the other bumps in the road and this one can't stop us. Stay proud and don't forget who we are … if we don't, the White House can't. One day we too will have equal rights, and that day is worth fighting for and waiting for. Nothing worth having is easy to get so don't give up, you’re not alone out there."

GLBT Youth Support

Growing American Youth (GAY)
Brings GLBT and questioning youth in the St. Louis area together in a safe zone
Thursday, 8-9:30 p.m., Trinity Episcopal Church, 600 N. Euclid
in the Central West End
www.growingamericanyouth.org

Tuesday Night Crew (TNC)
Social support group for men of color 24 and under who have same-gender lovers sponsored by Health and Education for Youth and Young Adults (HEY)
Contact Joel Jackson at jackson_j@kibs.wustl.edu or at the Project ARC office at 314-535-7275

Young Gay America (YGA)
Launching YGA Magazine
www.ygamag.com
www.younggayamerica.com