The Rainbow Squad
Sacha McDermott
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Acknowledgements I’d like to thank the Academy for giving me the resources and opportunities to create this book. Freestyle truly embraces the spirit of both individuality and the togetherness of a tight knit community. This book also would not have been able to be done without the openness, Flexibility and understanding of Youth Space. Throughout the entire process they made themselves and their facility as open to us as possible . I would also like to thank the students who gave up their free time to be interviewed, Naomi Hoffman, Sasha Sobol and Dani Anufriev, you guys are great, and also those who agreed to be photographed. Finally I’d like to acknowledge my partner Peter, without him this would have been a hell of a lot harder to do. Thank you.
Table Of Contents Preface ....7 Introduction ....9 Chapter One: United We Stand, Divided We Fall ....11 Chapter Two: A Safe Place
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Chapter Three: Together We Can
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Conclusion .....27 Work Cited .....29
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Preface Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death among youth aged 10 to 24, with around 4600 deaths each year, and that number is gradually on the rise. LGBTQ+ youth are 4 times more likely than their peers to attempt suicide. We live in a very progressive community and the LGBTQ+ community makes up a good part of it. Many youth feel trapped and alone in the world, they’re trying to figure themselves out while also dealing with everyday troubles. The numbers are off the charts when it comes to LGBTQ+ youth, they feel alienated. I chose to do my documentary on LGBTQ Youth Space because I believe that places like LGBTQ Youth Space need to be discovered. Youth Space caters directly to the LGBTQ+ youth of our community. They are located in San Jose and serve youth from the ages of 13-25 years old. Youth Space offers resources, support, comfort and overall
a sense of community to anybody with an open mind, which includes allies of the LGBTQ+ community. Their services are free and constantly available on a walk-in basis. According to an intensive study done by the HRC 1/3 of LGBTQ+ youth need a trusted adult to confide in and talk to. Non-LGBTQ+ youth are twice as likely as LGBTQ+ youth to say they are happy. I chose to direct my topic on the resources that are and aren’t available to our youth in need. We have clubs like the QSA or GSA at our schools that are open to everyone, however that is an environment that perhaps all youth do not feel comfortable in. Places like youth space can be private or public, you can receive the care you need and it can be totally left up to your discretion. Youth Space benefit our community because they are an outlet and a safe place, somewhere to belong.
This book did not come without it’s challenges; while settling on a topic was easy for the most part, this project really required a lot of focus and time management. Keeping up with deadlines has proven to be slightly difficult but in the end I can proudly look back at my work and see the challenges I overcame. I did my best to gain the perspective of both youth and adult alike in the LGBTQ+ community. At the end of every hardship there is a payoff, in this case it would be bringing my topic to attention. By bringing it into the light I hope to not only raise awareness but to also give hope to anybody out there struggling to figure out who they are, you’re not alone.
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Introduction Growing up is hard to begin with, from the start you have to find yourself and your place. School is a series of cliques, drama and pressure. When you add in the struggling of discovering your sexuality, the result can be overwhelming. LGBTQ+ youth deal with this on a daily basis. They are 2x more likely than their fellow peers to be physically assaulted while on school grounds according to a study done by the HRC. Day in and day out they go through life questioning themselves, their identity and perhaps they have nowhere to turn. However, not too far from our own community of Mountain View/Los Altos there is a place where they can turn to, this place is called LGBTQ Youth Space. When you first enter the door of Youth Space you are met by a volunteer secretary where you are asked to sign in and take your name tag. Once you walk past the desk, you see a mix of decorations on
the wall and offices. Just past that is the time to bring it all into perspective. It’s welcoming and open space where you time for a change. will see youth of various ages hanging out. Here they do homework, chat with friends, watch movies, do arts and crafts and more. There are staff who make themselves available when needed. Lately we have seen a lot of LGBTQ+ related issues and successes in the media, and the progress is there in certain areas. However, certain things are overshadowed and go unnoticed in our race towards equality. These are the points I chose to stand for, the voices who are often left unspoken. While we see fantastic things like marriage equality, we tend to not focus on the smaller things, like the kid who feels like he’s trapped in the wrong body and doesn’t know where to turn to. Or the girl who sits in class completely confused about her feelings and what they may mean. These topics often go unnoticed, it’s
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Chapter One
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igh school is a difficult transition from the start, you are thrown into a sea of people are struggling to find their identities and place. Often, your first year of high school can make or break you, it sets the stage for the rest of your high school career. Now imagine having to deal with all of that, and also struggling to figure out your sexual orientation and even where you fall in the gender categories. Many schools lack the necessary resources and support need for LGBTQ+ teenagers. LGBTQ+ stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer etc. Under this acronym fall countless other identifications such as Pansexual, Asexual, Questioning and many more. Anyone who falls under
these categories or might think they fall under these categories, are thrown into yet another new experience. In high school we already tend to feel different and isolated at times, for some people social status comes easy. For others, it takes a lot of courage and build up to reach a point of comfort. When adding in the fact that they are unsure of who they are and what it means, it can be a world of confusion. The Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network did an intense, varied study that showed that ‘65% of LGBTQ+ students heard homophobic remarks’ and ‘85% were verbally harassed in the past year’ on school grounds. High schoolers have become ignorant to the effect of their words on other people, they often speak without think-
ing and do not realize that they could be indirectly offending someone around them. This generation has turned the word ‘gay’ into a negative thing, a word than once meant ‘happy’ is now used as an insult. It has gotten to the point where some students miss a day or more of school because they feel unsafe and or uncomfortable in that environment. Another study done by the QSA showed that only 50% of high schools have Gay-Straight Alliances (GSA) and only 19% of students were ‘taught positive representation of LGBT people, history, or events.’
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When members of the LGBTQ+ community are victimized, it not only affects their mental health but also their education. Experiencing high levels of victimization can result in a lower GPA, lower self esteem and make them less likely to wish to attend college. This is a problem that needs to be addressed, without the proper resources and guidance LGBTQ+ youth may feel lost, lonely and like they don’t belong. Simply by making small steps toward change, like offering programs or making the services known, at least they will feel like they have a safe place to turn to. Schools preach about being a safe haven constantly, it is time we make it truly happen.
Eighty Five Percent of LGBTQ students were verbally harrassed at school in the past year.
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Chapter Two
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outh Space was established in 2007, the idea behind it being to serve the LGBTQ+ community, but to also give them a sense of community and a place where they could belong. Youth Space is open from 3-5 Monday through Friday with certain exceptions, it’s tucked away in the heart of downtown San Jose. As I mentioned earlier, Youth Space has numerous resources that they make available to people in need. The staff is made up of a number of different ethnicities and sexual orientations, and their services are available in three different languages. One of the major things they offer is counseling, and it is free of charge. They offer drop-in counseling, individual counseling, case management and psychiatry. This is key because it gives youth an opportunity to speak their mind in a safe, confidential space where they will not be judged. On top of the Mental Health Services they
offer, Youth Space offers safe sex supplies, internet access, snacks, support groups, and monthly health van visits. The health van stops by every month and is free to whoever needs it. In a study done by the WIlliams Institute in 2012, 40% of homeless youth identify as LGBTQ+. Numerous studies have been done on homeless youth and they consistently come back with shocking results. LGBTQ+ youth leave home or are forced to leave home for numerous reasons, the number one reason being an unsupportive family. They do not have a safe place at home or at school, they may feel trapped and like they have no other choice. Often when coming out to an unsupportive family, a common reaction can be being kicked out. LGBTQ+ youth become displaced and confused. A study of homeless youth in Canada showed than homeless youth who identified as LGBTQ+ were 3x as more likely to participate in what is
known as ‘survival sex’ than their heterosexual peers. Survival sex is just as it sounds, to survive sex is exchanged for necessities like food, money, a place to stay, clothes, drugs etc. More times than not this sex is unsafe and can lead to STD’s. LGBTQ+ homeless youth are vulnerable and looking for a way to survive, this may unfortunately be one of them.
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For some youth there is home, Frank Pena spoke about his coming out experience. During his interview he stated that “When I came out as trans my parents, they didn’t believe me. I had long hair and when I cut it all off, my mom kicked me out. She was like ‘I told you not to cut your hair. I told you I didn’t want this in the household, she kicked me out. And then like after a month or so or just kinda couch surfing, she like called me and was like ‘come home so we can talk’. So I went home and I gave her the benefit of the doubt and she talked and said I could move back in, and I did. And from that point on she said things would get better and she was gonna try and understand. I’m over five years in my transition and still things haven’t changed. So it’s always like that threat and it’s something that ya know I kinda just suck it up. I got to school and I work and living in silicon valley by yourself is nearly impossible.” While Frank is still able to live at home, he had to put a major part of his transition at home. Because he is living at home he cannot get the surgeries he may want, and has to hide the fact that he’s on hormones. He knows that
without a doubt his mom would kick him out again if he broke any of her rules. Some may say Frank is lucky, he has a roof over his head, but still has to hide significant parts of his identity. For some youth, they never get a chance to explain themselves or work things out with their families, and often they have no place to go. Youth Space is open to them, they offer clothing, protection and they help them find meal plans and health vans. Places like Youth Space do not exist everywhere, but they should. Even putting aside the mental and physical health benefits they offer, they give LGBTQ+ youth and their allies a safe place.
She spoke passionately about how a program at the Billy DeFrank Center, also located in San Jose, helped her connect with people, something she couldn’t do at her high school. She also stated that ‘as a high school student I didn’t know where to go when I wanted to date people.” While this may seem trivial in the overall scheme of things, it is a valid point. High schoolers are exposed day to day to relationships, both boyfriend/girlfriend and also friendships. It is only normal to want to have that connection with someone. Being of the LGBTQ+ community, this tends to be more difficult and different due to a combination of people ‘still in the closet’ and also not When asked about what caused her to knowing where to start. apply for the position at Youth Space, Places like Youth Space bring so much Adrienne Keel said “I was right out to the community, it’s impossible not of college and was looking for work. to see the benefit. Whether you’re just But mainly because i benefitted greatly looking for a hangout spot, in need of from a program like this when I was in advice/help, or a combination of each, high school. Youth Space is the place to go. It was an awesome place to meet other folks who were like me. If the opportunity came up for me to kinda bring that full circle and provide those same resources and opportunities for young folks, I jumped at the chance.”
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Chapter Three “I think the progress in the LGBTQ+ is pretty cool to see, because I’m liking the acceptance of identities is becoming more widespread, but I still feel that it could use a lot of work,because you know in the media, and in real life, and everything I feel like the main focus is focused on white gay guys, and butch lesbians, and it’s really, ya know, it’s not the whole picture. I’m glad that a lot of people are more accepting of it, but I feel like there’s a need for a lot more acceptance of a more wide variety of people,” Naomi said. One of the most important factors in the success of my documentary was to get the perspective of youth. Numerous surveys taken by youth about their life, school etc. The reason for this is simple, the youth are the future of tomorrow and the years to come, their perspective is valuable. However,
I felt that it was key to speak to my fellow peers to get a closer to home perspective. While conducting a series of interviews with a sophomore, junior and senior at Los Altos high school, I was relieved to find out that for the most part they felt safe at our school. Dani, who identifies are a transgender female, spoke about being called the proper pronouns. She said “all my teachers and people I’ve told about my gender identification, try their best to refer to me with the right pronouns.” However, when asked about being out to her family, the situation was a little different. Dani stated that she is “out to her parents” but they “choose to ignore the fact that she’s a female.” She is not out to her extended family because she is very aware that they would not be supportive. At school, she is able to be herself and receive the respect she deserves and is even able to use a gender neutral bathroom put on campus this year. Another student, Naomi spoke
about being out as bisexual. Naomi stated that coming out was awkward and that her parents already knew that she was bisexual, this was nothing new to them. All of the students interviewed agreed that Los altos is a great community and for the most part is accepting. Sasha stated that they believed that a lot of the time people aren’t as accepting simply because they didn’t know enough about the community.
It is important to bring things like the LGBTQ+ community into the spotlight both in school and out. Tolerance can and should be taught without being overbearing. In 1968 we save LGBTQ+ members of the community begin to protest and demand the rights they deserved. Les-
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sons like this can be introduced into classrooms and help spread the word about the LGBTQ+ community. While the media has portrayed a lot of gay and lesbian characters, we cannot let them overshadow the other members of the community. Most people do not realize that the community is not just made up of gay and lesbian people, the identities are endless and should be equally respected. A lot of these things are not common knowledge, but they can be. As a society we need to readjust our perspectives and priorities so that the minority can feel accepted by the majority.
“I’m liking the acceptance of identities is becoming more widespread, but I still feel that it could use a lot of work,because you know in the media, and in real life, and everything I feel like the main focus is focused on white gay guys, and butch lesbians, and it’s really, ya know, it’s not the whole picture. I’m glad that a lot of people are more accepting of it, but I feel like there’s a need for a lot more acceptance of a more wide variety of people.”
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Conclusion Simply put, Equality is a right, not a privilege. We, as human beings, deserve the right to be happy and by limiting the rights of someone based on sex, religion, sexual orientation or anything related to their identity, is simply unjust. We stand on a core value of togetherness, America is supposed to be the land of the free, yet we are constantly oppressing a group of people simply because we cannot accept the new. While tremendous progress has been made, we are far from where we should be. We cannot call ourselves the land of the free until we stop with the hatred, and start with the love. I believe that there will be a day, hopefully soon, where the LGBTQ+ community gets the proper recognition and respect it deserves. Until then members of the community and allies alike will
continue to fight for this right and I will stand by them. As Malala Yousafzai once said “I speak not for myself but for those without voice... those who have fought for their rights... their right to live in peace, their right to be treated with dignity, their right to equality of opportunity, their right to be educated.�
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Work Cited “Growing Up LGBT in America: View Statistics.” Human Rights Campaign. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 May 2015. Mastoon, Adam. The Shared Heart: Portraits and Stories Celebrating Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Young People. New York: William Morrow, 1997. Print. Ray, Nicholas. “Homelessness Is a Serious Problem for LGBT Youth.” Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Youth: An Epidemic of Homelessness. Washington, DC: National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, 2006. 1-7. Rpt. in Homelessness. Ed. Tamara Thompson. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2012. Opposing Viewpoints. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 18 May 2015. Ray, Nicholas. “Gay and Transgender Teens Are at Increased Risk of Becoming Street Teens.” Street Teens. Ed. Dedria Bryfonski. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2012. Opposing Viewpoints. Rpt. from “Executive Summary.” Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Youth: An Epidemic of Homelessness. New York, NY: National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Policy Institute and the National Coalition for the Homeless, 2006. 1-7. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 18 May 2015. Knickerbocker, Brad. “Many LGBT homeless youth sell sex to survive on the streets, report says.” Christian Science Monitor 25 Feb. 2015. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 18 May 2015. Adelson, Stewart, and Kyle Knight. “The right therapy for LGBT youth.” Washington Post 1 May 2015.Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 18 May 2015. Clinton, Hillary Rodham. “The United States Is a Leader in the Promotion of LGBT Human Rights.” Human Rights. Ed. David M. Haugen and Susan Musser. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2013. Opposing Viewpoints. Rpt. from “Remarks in Recognition of International Human Rights Day, Geneva Switzerland.”www.state.gov. 2011. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 18 May 2015. Pena, Frank. Personal interview. Mar. 2015. Keel, Adrienne. Personal interview. Mar. 2015. Hoffman, Naomi. Personal interview. Apr. 2015 Anufriev, Dani. Personal interview. April. 2015 Sobol, Sacha. Personal interview. April 2015
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Sacha is a junior attending Los Altos High School and Freestyle Academy. She lives with her mom, dad and younger brother. Sacha loves to read, write, watch Netflix and spend time with her friends. She is a passionate student, writer and film director/producer. She loves volunteering and involving herself in the community. In the future Sacha would like to return to New York to attend the Tisch School of the Arts. 30