#LGBTQIA+ youth

[gwydionmisha]

CW: Suicide.

[dontmeantobepoliticalbut]

The first day of school for students enrolled in the new Queer Blended Learning Center (QBLC) is August 1st.

“Frankly, 6th, 7th and 8th grades were some of the hardest years for me. I changed schools every single school year,” said Nate Rhoton, the CEO of One-N-Ten. “Today, if I were in junior high, I would love to live my full, authentic self.”

One-N-Ten is an advocacy group for LGBTQ+ youth. Its youth center is located in Downtown Phoenix, which is where QBLC will have its classrooms for students in the 6th through 8th grades. Students do not have to identify as LGBTQ youth to enroll.

The curriculum is built by the Spark Community Schools, with LGBTQ subjects being highlighted. “Specifically, culturally responsive curriculum in Civics LGBTQ history, just making sure we’re telling stories from every perspective and point of view,” said Katrina Thurman, the President of Spark Community Schools.

She explained traditional subjects like science, math and reading will be covered. “At the end of the day, we end with project-based learning, which is something that has been proven to take what you learned in those core subjects and really make it relevant,” she said.

QBLC is a micro-school, meaning it could have a 1 to 12 teacher-student ratio. However, Thurman said there are currently eight students enrolled. There is only one teacher, but there are plans to add a second teacher and one classroom aide. Thurman also mentioned parents can tap into the state’s universal voucher program to cover tuition.

“Our tuition is what that voucher amount is. It is available to any parent. It is not above that. There should be no out-of-pocket costs to the family,” she said.

The school calendar will be August 1 and go to May 23, 2024, with traditional breaks in between. Students can enroll at any time of the school year. To learn how, click here.

[monriatitans]

ANNOUNCEMENT - 05/31/2023: JUNE’S CAUSE OF THE MONTH

With May, and Mermay, coming to an end, a new cause to raise awareness of is in order. If you missed the quotes for May, you can see them here!

June brings Pride Month. So, for June 2023 (and every June, to be frank), I will be sharing quotes pertaining to Pride Month and the LGBTQ community. In addition, I will also be bringing to everyone's attention a resource, linked above.

"We're sick of hearing people say, 'That band is so gay,' or 'Those guys are fags.' Gay is not a synonym for shitty. If you wanna say something's shitty, say it's shitty. Stop being such homophobic assholes." - Pete Wentz

These are all the updates I had for this evening.

Thank you for reading! May every decision you make in the future be in the spirit of fairness and may the rest of your day NOT go to $#!7.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MonriaTitans started The Weekend Game Show (WGS) with the mission to educate on and discuss different aspects of game development, and to show why video games can take years to make, with the goal of preventing another Cyberpunk 2077 scenario. Watch MonriaTitans on Twitch and YouTube! Please consider supporting by buying MonriaTitans & WGS a Ko-fi!

In addition, what began as a fun activity has become a mission; Artist Shout-Outs are provided with the goal of supporting human artists to combat AI compilations and their parasitic developers. To be clear, she does not have an issue with the AI themselves, only with how they are being constructed. Want to learn more about the Artist Shout-Outs? Click here! The Artists Shout-Out posts can be seen on Instagram, Tumblr, Discord, and more!

[thequeereview]

Exclusive Interview: filmmaker Jen Markowitz lets LGBTQ+ youth speak for themselves in Summer Qamp "I wanted it to be for them & about them"

Jen Markowitz’s uplifting debut feature documentary, Summer Qamp, sees the Toronto-based filmmaker spend a week at the LGBTQIA+ CAMP fYrefly in rural Alberta, Canada, refreshingly and powerfully allowing their queer and trans teenage subjects to speak for themselves unhurried and uninterrupted. For many of the campers it is the first time that they are surrounded by people like themsleves and one…

[a-gay-poptart]

Say their name.

CW AND TW: CHILD DEATH

Say.

Their.

Name.

Nex Benedict was a indigenous trans nonbinary teenager. Their head was beaten against the floor in a bathroom stall. Less than 24 hours later, they died, most likely from undiagnosed head trauma. Conservatives say they want to, "protect the children", where was the protection for Nex? That's the thing. There wasn't any. Nex died. And many more trans, queer, and nonbinary minors will if we don't step up and do something. What happened to Nex has and will happen to queer folk around the globe. Say their name.

Edit: I didn't expect this to get much attention, but thank you everyone. What alot of people, "forget" to mention was that Nex was two spirited, which means they were indigenous. The fact that I wouldn't have heard about this if I didn't have Tumblr is absolutely revolting. News needs to be covering this. But what are Republicans doing? Sucking their thumbs and crying about how, "trans people shouldn't be able to piss". What are Democrats doing? Twiddling their thumbs and groveling to an old geezer that somehow falls up the stairs and supports I$r3@l. It's disgusting and America needs to do better.

Edit 2: Any and all hate/saying that Nex Benedict wasn't murdered (they were) will immediately get deleted, just because you don't like trans people doesn't mean you can be an whiny little bitch. A child was murdered. This has nothing to do with politics, a child was murdered.

[annoying-terfs]

Sp@m terf tags on June 1st!

@anti-terf-posts came up with the idea to make the radfem/terf tags unusable by spamming them with whatever you want.

Shitpost, trans positivity, fandom, art, do whatever the hell you want! The goal is to make it impossible for terfs to use them without seeing unrelated posts.

WE CAN DO THIS <33333333 FUCK TERFS

(please do NOT post gore or send death threats. dont stoop to their level.)

MASSIVE FUCKING UPDATE-

THIS IS BEING CALLED OFF. DO NOT GO THROUGH WITH THIS

[itgetsbetterproject]

📚 QUEERBOOK 2024 is hereee! We made a book by and for LGBTQ+ youth! 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈

Last year, we asked LGBTQ+ youth: what's your idea of a "queer utopia?"

Not gonna lie - with more than 150 bills introduced in 35 states in 2023 that aimed to restrict student access to inclusive and diverse books and other library materials, the theme felt pretty radical.

And you DELIVERED. With the help of our Youth Voices (amazing queer youth activists from across the country), we compiled your amazing submissions of poetry, short essays and letters, visual art, photography, and more into Queerbook 2024. Like a yearbook, it captures what queer youth are feeling, going through, and hoping for - right here, right now across the U.S.

It's also no accident that it's the perfect small-ish size to stash in your locker or backpack so you can crack it open any time you're looking for some queer connection. :3

Read some more about the book and grab your own limited-run copy of Queerbook 2024 now here.

[cocaine-fueled-shark]

I am a transgender teen.

We are being harassed and murdered.

Kids don't need protection from the rainbow, we need protection from those who want to end our lives and limit our freedom.

Nex Benedict's death is a tragedy. He was harassed, assaulted, and murdered for trying to use the restroom as an Indigenous and trans teen. Nex should be alive. My heart goes out to Nex, his loved ones, and everyone else who has suffered.

Nex Benedict, the world failed you.

Edit: To prevent further confusion, close friends of Nex have professed that he preferred he/him pronouns. Here's an article that explains it further:

https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-news/vigil-friends-remember-nex-benedict-fiery-kid-rcna140440

[justkenz]

My Mom thinks anyone below the 18 shouldn’t be lgbtq+

I’m a closeted Lesbian 14 year old. My Mom asked me if I want to watch the new Timothy Chalamet movie. She said it’s called Call Me By Your Name and I replied I didn’t bother because it looked kinda boring. (please don’t hate me) she agreed “Yeah, he was with that gay guy.” I replied I actually loved that he played that movie, because I’ve heard that played immaculately and I was glad for more lgbtq+ movies. I didn’t bother watching it because it wasn’t my thing but I loved another movie and told her about it. Mom was pretty uncomfortable but I don’t care. I then made a joke about how someone who has the same hair, Fin Wolfhard also played in a lgbtq+ and maybe they needed the haircut to be the lead. I pulled up a picture. What I found was a lot of things against Fin Wolfhard for kissing a boy. My mom was disgusted! She said she would take her kids out of the movie theater if that happened. That he had no idea what he was getting into and the romance would traumatize him moving forward. THIS WOMAN GIVES 0 FUCKS IF TWO 10 HETEROS MAKE OUT BUT HOW DARE TWO YOUNG TEENS HOMOSEXUALS KISS EACH OTHER.. I was going to come out to her in this very conversation but turns out I’m straight until I turn 18.

I’m so sorry! I wish that you were able to have a safe environment where you felt comfortable to come out🤍 you are very strong, it takes a lot to not only understand who you are, but to also be able to love who you are even when people try to tell you that you’re wrong. I’m really proud of you!

I really hope that one day she is able to educated herself and maybe have a change of heart.

Take care of yourself 🤍

[your-queer-dad]

Hey you. Yes you. You have been through enough, you hear me? You. Have. Been. Through. Enough.

The world has treated you shittily, you go through enough, don't do that do yourself too. Be decent to yourself, kiddo. We've only got one of you and it's the best one we have :]

I love you, I'm proud of you, go make yourself a beverage of your choice and be a little more decent to yourself today <3

- dad x

[aubryjoi]

Let trans kids become trans adults 🩵🏳️‍⚧️🩷

[rapeculturerealities]

Kentucky governor vetoes sweeping GOP transgender measure

Kentucky’s Democratic governor issued an election-year veto Friday of a sweeping Republican bill aimed at regulating the lives of transgender youths that includes banning access to gender-affirming health care and restricting the bathrooms they can use.

The bill also bans discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity in schools and allows teachers to refuse to refer to transgender students by the pronouns they use. It easily passed the GOP-dominated legislature with veto-proof margins, and lawmakers will reconvene next week for the final two days of this year’s session, when they could vote to override the veto.

Gov. Andy Beshear said in a written veto message that the bill allows “too much government interference in personal healthcare issues and rips away the freedom of parents to make medical decisions for their children.”

In his one-page message, he warned that the bill’s repercussions would include an increase in youth suicides. The governor said, “My faith teaches me that all children are children of God and Senate Bill 150 will endanger the children of Kentucky.”

[aaa-battery-not-rechargeable]

i met a queer high schooler today, at my job

throughout the interaction i had with them, i watched them become more relaxed and open, simply seeing me as a queer adult doing my job

i sort of feel like i served as an example for that student, of a queer person existing successfully in society.

i could pick up on their habits mannerisms and fashion, and related my own experiences to that. they were visibly disabled, so i wanted to ease their mind about accessibility concerns in the building, so i mentioned my heart condition and trouble with walking up stairs. they were immediately more comfortable. we used the elevator

i complimented their nonbinary pride flag bracelet, and pushed my hair aside so they could see my name badge with my pronouns, and they smiled.

it's so freeing to be seen without the expectation for any explanation, and i know that so i wanted to give them that peace of mind. i wanted to show them that the world outside of high school is survivable. hope is not crushed, i am here, i am visibly queer, and so it is possible for them too.

[genderqueerdykes]

I Think I Might Be Transgender, a brochure for and by transgender youth

I Think I Might Be Transgender is a short 11 page brochure for trans youth, written by trans youth. it can be used as an introduction to the concept of transness, and contains some information on safe sex as well. quotes and additions made by real trans folk are included throughout.

if you think this may be of use to you, or someone else may find it here, as well as being linked in the title and body of the post:

[boob-gremlin]

Hey, so I’ve been seeing quite a few of those posts that are something along the lines of: “if I get x notes I’ll come out to my homophobic/transphobic/bigoted in some way parents/family/friends/etc”

PLEASE. DO NOT COME OUT UNLESS YOU KNOW OR ARE DECENTLY SURE YOUR FAMILY/FRIENDS/ETC ARE SUPPORTIVE AND THAT YOU WILL BE SAFE.

This is for the best. Put your safety over your wanting to be out. As someone who came out because they felt obligated to in a not-so-safe home environment, don’t do it unless you’re sure you’ll be safe and supported. I (and many other folks) want the best for you.

Stay safe out there, and good luck. I wish you the best.