There's A Light.
In light of the deadliest mass shooting in US History, directed towards the LGBT community, it would seem logical that today's LGBT youth are now cowering in fear in the corner, sucking their thumbs and not stepping out of their homes. It only makes logical sense because history has proven it over and over. During the civil rights movement, many people of color shut their doors and drew the blinds shut. During the American Revolution, many colonists did the same. It would seem that in the wake of an attack, the group of people that have been targeted hide.
This was not the case for the LGBT community. For a group that has been forged together by tragedy, this was a chance to pour out support and show strength in numbers. Millions took to the streets and social media to not only express strength and hope, but also outrage. Something that you would not perhaps expect from a community like this. The days following the massacre, the community rose up and spoke out in one voice, "We will not be silenced"; and that voice haunts many in remembrance of the 1980s AIDS crisis. So it only seems habitual that the LGBT community fights back with kindness and love.
I was able to see it in action myself as I was invited to a LGBT Youth Center called Out Youth located in Austin, Texas. The day that I headed over to the center was nerve racking. I only realized how dangerous this may actually be.
The center was surprisingly homey. It was indeed, an actual house painted a cool blue. If there was no sign indicating it was a center for LGBT youth, I would have mistaken it for a common residence. There was a front yard, a porch and even a mailbox.
Image Credit: Google Earth
As I walked in to the center I was stunned to see such diversity that was present. There were different shapes, sizes, colors, ethnicities, and styles of LGBT youth there. I was greeted by Kathryn Gonzales, who has an MBA which she uses to work full time at the center as a director. She instructed us to fill out a name tag and instructed a youth to give us a small tour of the facility.
The house was very small. As I exited the reception room, a small kitchen welcomed us which was laden with food for the upcoming event that was to begin in just a few moments, and was joined by a hallway which led to a meeting room and a stairwell. But moving forward, we entered a common room of sorts and it felt as if it was a living room. Complete with a small library dedicated in memorial of Jerry Strickland, along with couches and a TV, the place was an area to mingle and hold group discussions. As the Out Youth! website says: "The Drop-In Center is actually an old two-story blue house with a big front porch. It makes for a very homey and comfortable space. We believe that anyone who visits Out Youth should feel at home, and you should consider yourself a part of the Out Youth family. It is that feeling of warmth that makes the Drop-In Center so special. One youth said that she drove past the house several times before she got the courage to stop and come in, but once she arrived, it felt like coming home after being away for a very long time. Another youth would come over and sit on the porch, even when he knew we were not open, because he felt safe here"
I was inclined to then believe at that moment that this facility was not a facility at all. It was a home to many. Although operated with the finesse of a business, complete with a board of directors and a full staff, the establishment had not only a homey feel but an appropriate amount of professionalism that created a safe feel. I had the chance to sit down with a few of the youth and many expressed not only intelligence but also an uncanny ability to see the unseen in a social situation.
We all then sat down to let the event commence. It was our duty to make crafts and such for the victims of the Orlando massacre and the LGBT center in Orlando, as well as stock a few for Out Youth as well. Within minutes, glitter went flying and the room became abuzz with chatter and activity as youth and adults alike took to Ruth Bader Ginsburg themed coloring pages and their own sentimental creations, encouraging the youth at home and in Orlando to remain brave and strong.
The youth I spoke to kept on referring to the gay community as their brothers and sisters. This shocked me on so many levels. Just a few weeks back I wrote an article titled, "Why I Hate Gay People" on my personal blog. I was trying to root the theory that gays had become nothing but a load of pretentious self-righteous gossips that had lost their way. But upon arriving and speaking to these youth, my hope was rekindled. My mistake was assuming that the 18 and younger crowd were all in the closet and that the older gays had become what I assumed they were. And I was correct. Many LGBT people have strayed away from the path of love and acceptance. But perhaps the LGBT youth of today are smarter and braver. They do not come from privilege and they despise the concept. They have managed to remain strong, loving, and caring about everyone. And this shook me to the core.
The cliques that you see at gay bars were non existent. No one was talking about Givenchy rompers or petty celebrity gossip. To experiment, I brought up Kim Kardashian, and they all scoffed and just continued talking about how they can better the piece of art they were collaborating on. In short, I was stunned. They defied every stereotype that the world had given them and were doing very well at it. At gay bars, all I heard was gossip, judgement, mean spirited jokes, and petty arguments. There were cliques and all I could see were drunk people stumbling around and throwing cash at strippers. It didn't feel like a safe space or home. It did not feel like Out Youth. I assumed that it was due to the fact that a gay club was not set up like Out Youth. Wrong again.
I slowly realized that it wasn't the establishment itself that made it. It was the people that inhabited it. And in that moment I said a silent prayer, to help adult LGBT people become as open minded and accepting as the youth.
After craft time had gone underway, I was able to catch Kathryn Gonzales, a key staff member at Out Youth. She led me into a conference room of sorts. It was plainly set up with a desk and laptop. She sat in a rolling chair and the light from outside provided ample illumination. Dust swirled in the air and I turned on my recorder to ask her a few questions. In reaction to the Orlando shooting she told me it "was very telling" that she had heard it from a major news network (MSNBC) and that it was only being reported as a nightclub shooting. She expressed that it felt as an "added insult" to rob the victims of their identities. She also added in relation to the Islamic connection to the attack that the youth at this organization "Are the smartest youth I have ever known". Which she's not wrong about. She and I both believe that these people have the ability to discern a lone wolf from an entire religion.
On the role of Out Youth, she stated, "It is our job to give them [LGBT YOUTH] unconditional love and support". We then moved on to gun control and the safety of the LGBT community. Mrs. Gonzales expressed deep empathy with the situation but assured that these youth will always be protected, that it wasn't her place to call for abolition and that the staff have been trained to deal with terrorist situations. We then discussed a series of topics such as gun control and politics. We even talked about the 2016 nominee Donald Trump.
But what struck me is the closing statement Mrs. Gonzalez gave me: "That we’ve been here for 26 years and we will be here 26 more and will always be a safe space. No matter what comes, our youth deserve a space to be safe and loved. And as long I’m around, that’s not changing". I thanked her and made my way outside to check out what all the people were doing.
Many had made their way outside to continue working on their projects and such. I was still in awe of how this facility had stood the test of time, even though in 2005 it was shut down temporarily. It was a living testament to the strength of the community that had been so exemplified in Mrs. Gonzales. The gay community was a family and this was one of their many homes. I left with the satisfaction of knowing that I, a gay man, was part of something bigger than just worthless gossip and stereotypes.
In Conclusion...
OutYouth is just one of the many LGBT centers that help thousands of youth every day discover they are loved, accepted and not just tolerated. These places stand as castles and fortresses. They serve as a reminder that we will never be silent. People like Kathryn Gonzales are living testaments of strength and resilience. They are pillars and cornerstones of a young community that is growing fast. That even in the face of a mass murder, we can and will be strong.
LINKS and FURTHER INFO
OutYouth official website: http://outyouth.org, Phone Number: 512-419-1233
Official Transcript For Interview With Mrs. Gonzale
