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Queer Youth Rights
One of SYPP's oldest projects is the Queer Youth Rights (QYR) initiative, a youth leadership, social support, and political action group led by and for high school age queer youth and allies. QYR is a supportive group for youth that not only works to meet various needs of the queer youth community but is also very beneficial for all the youth involved.
One of SYPP's oldest projects is the Queer Youth Rights (QYR) initiative, a youth leadership, social support, and political action group led by and for high school age queer youth and allies. QYR is a supportive group for youth that not only works to meet various needs of the queer youth community but is also very beneficial for all the youth involved.
Problem we address:
QYR creates a safe and supportive environment for queer youth. A study done by the Search Institute “The Power of Developmental Assets” demonstrates that youth are less likely to engage in risky behaviors in the areas of violence, alcohol, drug use, school absenteeism, and attempted suicide when they are supported by positive youth development programs. Queer youth have higher rates of homelessness, suicide, abuse, and depression than heterosexual youth. QYR provides a space for queer youth to develop positive developmental assets such as leadership, empowerment, and creativity.
Queer Youth Rights' 2004 goals and activities included:
Weekly Queer Youth Organizing Meetings. A weekly meeting for 10-15 youth from various schools and GLBTQ youth programs is the Seattle area. These meetings are 100% run by youth and will combine social support, leadership development, and political and community action.
Queer Youth "Call to Action". We organized a community needs assessment that brought together a large, diverse group of GLBTQ youth to discuss the current needs of the queer youth community in Seattle. Youth's needs were prioritized and action plans developed for the top one or two issues.
Leadership Training Retreats. In March of 2004, we organized a weekend retreat to teach queer youth how to take a stand on issues in their communities. These retreats create strong leaders and build strong relationships with other queer youth in the Seattle area.
Bend-it-Extravaganza. First organized in the summer 2003 this event was the brainchild of a former QYR intern. Bend-it is a weekend of arts and education to rally queer youth and their allies. This year Bend-It is now its own organization partned with Pride. For more information please visit the link below.
Bend-it Extravaganza Website
QYR is currently on hiatus, please call if you are interested in restarted this initiative
Problem we address:
QYR creates a safe and supportive environment for queer youth. A study done by the Search Institute “The Power of Developmental Assets” demonstrates that youth are less likely to engage in risky behaviors in the areas of violence, alcohol, drug use, school absenteeism, and attempted suicide when they are supported by positive youth development programs. Queer youth have higher rates of homelessness, suicide, abuse, and depression than heterosexual youth. QYR provides a space for queer youth to develop positive developmental assets such as leadership, empowerment, and creativity.
Queer Youth Rights' 2004 goals and activities included:
Weekly Queer Youth Organizing Meetings. A weekly meeting for 10-15 youth from various schools and GLBTQ youth programs is the Seattle area. These meetings are 100% run by youth and will combine social support, leadership development, and political and community action.
Queer Youth "Call to Action". We organized a community needs assessment that brought together a large, diverse group of GLBTQ youth to discuss the current needs of the queer youth community in Seattle. Youth's needs were prioritized and action plans developed for the top one or two issues.
Leadership Training Retreats. In March of 2004, we organized a weekend retreat to teach queer youth how to take a stand on issues in their communities. These retreats create strong leaders and build strong relationships with other queer youth in the Seattle area.
Bend-it-Extravaganza. First organized in the summer 2003 this event was the brainchild of a former QYR intern. Bend-it is a weekend of arts and education to rally queer youth and their allies. This year Bend-It is now its own organization partned with Pride. For more information please visit the link below.
Bend-it Extravaganza Website
QYR is currently on hiatus, please call if you are interested in restarted this initiative
WASL Haunted High Video on Youtube!