A Haven For Gay And Lesbian Teens, YouthPride Needs Help

by Jordan Meyers

Since 1995, has been dedicated to the mission of making coming out safe, shared and celebrated. Through the years, YouthPride has grown from a small group of teenagers who met in various locations around Metro Atlanta, to an organization that provides counseling to 300 youth per year, offers HIV testing, operates a 24/7 hotline that receives 1,000 calls per year and sees 5,800 youth walk through our doors annually. All of the services that YouthPride offers the GLBTQQ — Gay/Lesbian/Bisexual/Transgendered/Queer-Questioning — youth of Atlanta are completely free.

YouthPride has two full-time staff and an army of volunteers who work together to make all of this possible. We continue our mission as the only organization in metro Atlanta that exclusively protects, unites, and dignifies the lives of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning youth and young adults.

As the global economy began to slow in 2008, donations to non-profits showed a similar trend. As shown by research conducted by the Urban Institute, donations to smaller non-profits (like YouthPride) were impacted more significantly than those to larger non-profits. This trend has continued for the past three years. YouthPride is no exception, and has also realized lower donor and grant revenues during this period. In January 2010, YouthPride made operational changes to reduce our expenses and provide our services in a more cost-effective manner. As donations and grant disbursements have continued to decline (nationally and for YouthPride, specifically), we now find ourselves in a place of greater need.

YouthPride needs the metro Atlanta Pride Community to come to our aid, and ensure that our invaluable services reach all of the youth in our city. We need the financial support of the Pride Community (LGBTQQ and straight allies) to continue furthering our mission. Our current donors and grantors have kept YouthPride viable during this challenging economy, and for that we are exceedingly thankful; but, they need your help in continuing to do so. This holiday season is a juggling act for everyone, with budgets more trim than usual. YouthPride and our youth experience this on an exaggerated scale. We ask that the Atlanta Pride Community come to our aid in this time of need and help propel YouthPride through to 2012.

YouthPride is eager for the community to become involved in our vital mission. To make a donation and for information on other ways you can help out, visit www.youthpride.org or send your check to YouthPride to: YouthPride Inc., 1017 Edgewood Ave. Atlanta, GA 30307.

Mr. Myers is board president of Inman Park-based YouthPride.