February 1994 T PAGE 17 Q-Noles Gay youth groups promote positive attitude by Brent L. Pack Q-Notes Staff In the junior and senior high school's latest movement to celebrate and accept the diversity of its youth, the existence of one minority has been totally ignored. In like manner, as the gay rights movement has sped forward like a steam locomotive toward its destination of liberation, one segment of the community has had to wait in the depot for its own train to pull into the station. However, that group, the young members of the gay, lesbian, and bisexual community, have fired their own engines to produce the steam and energy necessary to make their own mark. In the formation of gay, lesbian and bisexual youth groups, these individuals have laid the groundwork to not only cover alarge amount of distance in the short run, but also to pace themselves so as to meet their long-term goals of acceptance within both the hetero sexual and homosexual populations. These gay, lesbian and bisexual youth groups, though relatively new in organiza tion, have grown rapidly across North Caro lina and the United States. Darryl Williams, on of the founders of the first gay youth group in North Carolina, OutRight!, explains the rapid growth of these groups. "Everyone realized the need for the youth groups, but no one wanted to be the first to attempt one. Once the waters were tested by the first gay youth group, the formation of other groups rapidly followed." The primary hesitancy in the develop ment of youth groups centers on the legal ramifications since the majority of the par ticipants are considered minors under the law. Although age requirements differ from group to group, the primary age of partici pants ranges from 13 through 23. In order to protect the facilitators and the board of direc tors from legal complications, stringent guide lines and practices have been developed. Guidelines include the use of two trained facilitators at each meeting, one male and one female, with no facilitator spending time with any participant on a one-on-one basis in any type of social setting. In addition, no transportation is provided for participants, either to or from meetings, while strict con tracts outlining the conduct of each volun teer are signed by the volunteers and the organization. Although the age requirements and rules for each group vary, the objective seems to be identical. As Tonda Taylor of Charlotte's youth group Time Out describes, "The youth groups exist to offer support for those who experience a tremendous sense of isolation and low self esteem because they have self- identified as gay, lesbian or bisexual." Of course, providing support for these gay, les bian and bisexual self-identified youths takes many forms. The primary purpose is to provide a pos itive and affirming support group to help the youth "face a hostile environment, charac terized by social and emotional isolation, verbal and physical abuse, and rejection from families, peers and churches." To help them understand more about the gay, lesbian and bisexual lifestyle, the groups engage in discussions concerning topics such as "com ing out," dating, family problems or rejec tion by friends and peers. Williams explains, "In a support group meeting, we do not try to decide for the individual what their sexual orientation is; rather, we simply present the reality of a gay, lesbian or bisexual lifestyle. The individui then decides what his or her orientation is." Because heterosexual society attempts to portray the homosexual population as "per verts who are destroying America," gay youth groups attempt to present role models for gay, lesbian and bisexual youth that provide a more positive and a more accurate portray al of the homosexual lifestyle. Time Out has hosted Career Days that spotlight such pos itive role models as doctors, lawyers, senior vice presidents^ and bankers who openly admit their homosexuality or bisexuality. The examples provided by these profession als demonstrates that there are homosexuals and bisexuals who are productively working to disprove the stereotypes promoted by mainstream society. A second purpose of the groups is to provide educational and referral services for young gays, lesbians and bisexuals. These services take the form of books, pamphlets and literature which discusses such topics as "coming out" and living as a homosexual within society. This resource library is avail able to not only the group participants, but also to members of the community interested in learning more about the gay, lesbian and bisexual communities. The third purpose of the groups is to expand the knowledge of society concerning gay, lesbian and bisexual youth. Through literature, seminars and panel discussions. Continued on page 21 W) pmy Saturday, February 12th • Charlotte fill donations received uuill go to benefit clients of The Brothers Foundation living uiith HIV. Southern Productions Presents tMidy NFS NPS March 27,1994 Illusion's Myrtle Beach, S.C. Pageant Begins 11pm Categories • Interview •Creative Costume •TaIent •EvENiNq Gown Registration — 4pm Hostess & Emcee: Angel Austin with Aaron James and Special Guest Miss Gay National "To Be Crowned March 20th " For Information Call Southern Productions at (704) 556-1352 or Angel at (803) 626-7961 Only ^1250 Down And A tittle "Home Work" Buys You A New Kluttt'Home Total Payments As low As 548 A New Standard... In Standard Features Finally someone has put buying a home williin your reach I Our new Sweat Equity program lets you put the final touches on your Klutls Home and cut your down payment by more tlian half on ceitain liomes. iQ Klutts Homes north Charlotte South Charlotte East Charlotte West Charlotte Building The American Dream 704-533-2255 Michael D. Williams 704-841-1417

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