It’s 2010 and LGBTQ teens across the United States are attempting suicide at an alarming rate because of isolation, bullying, and harrassment due to their sexuality.
Sharon Herrera, a lesbian who attempted to take her life as a young teen, knew she had to do something to stop this disturbing trend. LGBTQ SAVES was born from her desire to create a community where all youth is safe.
Eleven years later, and this dream continues to grow. LGBTQ SAVES is a registered 5013c nonprofit that serves LGBTQ youth ages 12-24. While headquarters are in Fort Worth, we work with youth all over Tarrant County and beyond. We have grown from one youth meeting a month to meeting every Thursday and are able to engage with even more youth due to our virtual presence.
We are a social support group that organizes a variety of activities and programs for our members throughout the year. We provide the opportunities for youth to meet others who are similar to them in a safe space, while also providing resources for personal growth, social awareness, and leadership building.
In 2020, we took our first steps in becoming a more accessible organization by establishing a virtual presence that allowed us to connect with youth from all over the country.
It’s 2021 and we are looking forward to eleven more years of helping LGBTQ+ youth. We hope to announce our plans to return to face to face activities soon as concerns over COVID-19 lessen. In the meantime, we are planning to continue to host virtual meetings and events for our members to stay connected during this time.
Continue to watch this blog space as we share stories from our organization and stories of LGBTQ+ people in America.
Bertinand Gardner
LGBTQ SAVES Community Coordinator
To stay up to date on LGBTQ SAVES, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. You can also sign up for our monthly newsletter here.
To help us continue our mission, donate here. If you shop via Amazon, consider making us your Amazon Smile recipient! Learn more here.
To hear messages of hope from our members, volunteers, and community partners, check out our Youtube.
To learn more about our programs, the membership process, or how to volunteer with us, please email bertinand.gardner@lgbtqsaves.org.