1o — OUT IN THE MOUNTAINS + AUGUST 1999 Outright Vermont elebrates Ten Years of Service to Youth All photos accompanying this article were provided from_the scrapbooks and archives of Outright Vermont BY CAROLYN ASHBY ou remember the type, or perhaps —! he sits next to you in math every day: tall, handsome, plays sports, wears his varsity jacket everywhere, picks on you mercilessly. At a school presenta- tion by Outright VT, an organization that works with gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender youth, he shamelessly heckles every speaker. For many, this confirms his position as top jock and ultimate straight guy. What those many don’t know is that he a newsletter to communicate with and sup- port its members, and provides monthly mailings to school-based Gay/Straight Alliances across the state. In coming years, she hopes to “be involved at a younger school-age level and to increase participa- tion in rural areas.” Ten years ago, this active education program ——- and accompanying develop- ments in direct services for youth — was little more than the dream of a “group of dedicated people who saw a need.” Josie Juhasz, a member of that group and first Executive Director of Outright, says she ride Day 1998 walked up to the panel facilitator after- wards to say, “I’m sorry I had to do that, but I couldn’t let them know it was me you were talking about.” It’s a true story, one of Education/ Outreach Coordinator Heather Geoffrey’s most vivid memories of her work at Outright Vermont. Hired in October 1998, bringing Outright’s full-time staff to a “huge” total of three, Heather has expanded the Speaker’s Bureau’s capacity — during 1998, it gave 69 presentations to almost 2000 people statewide. She also publishes “didn’t know it could go so far. Where Outright is now has surpassed my wildest dreams.” In 1988, conversations about the needs of GLB youth had been happening for some time. Then news of a national report on youth suicide trickled out. Statistics deeming gay youth three times more like- ly to attempt suicide —— and more likely to succeed —— than their heterosexual peers “jolted folks into action.” Josie, Bill Lippert, Howdy Russell, Naomi Tannen, Keith Goslant, and many others began to consider starting a non-profit organization (Locatadin thesamcspaceasicrime theflorist) The ]eweler's Bench Patricia Paluntbo Custom‘ Designer ~ jeweler Jewelry Repmrmg Fine Handcrafted Jewelry 260 North Mainstreet. Barre. VT 05641 ~ 802-479-1496 vt toll free: 877-557-7236 ~ email: ppalumboflsovennet Thomas, Francis Hill, and Rick Neville.. to tackle the problem. Isolated conversations became after- hours meetings at the Counseling Service of Addison County, which became regular dinners at various homes. Within a year, the group had chosen an organizational direction, pooled and budgeted their own money, applied for and received a grant, rented space from Vermont CARES (then on Elmwood Avenue in Burlington), hired a part-time director, and headed a group of youth in Vermont’s first Pride parade. Core programs such as a hotline, support groups, and a speaker’s bureau were in place; the mission was, as it is now, to pro- vide safe spaces and support to gay and questioning youth and education to the community in order to create a welcoming . environment for all youth. The early years were punctuated by “the usual growing pains of young, small non-profits,” unexpected allies in school and community librarians, a tremendous “outpouring from the community” of library donations, and an “explosion of presentations to service providers” and other groups. Dot Brauer, director from 1991-92, recalls a statewide survey of high school educators and administrators show- ing that most were aware of difficulties facing gay youth and cared deeply, but felt ignorant and helpless to do anything. Dot relished opportunities to “shake them a lit- tle -— to open their eyes and their minds, and interest them in this issue.” Brauer also recalls hard phone calls and letters, harassment and threats following heart- breaking news of a suicide in the Northeast Kingdom. 'For youth “who had enough courage to ‘take the risk and explore,” who found Outright in their search for connection and normalcy, results were oflen spectacular. Juhasz says, “You could literally see [the 1993 arch n Washington -- (lefi to right) Peter Thomas, Joe Beauchemin, Kim I depression that brought them in] lift overnight.” Eileen McCaffrey, one of those early youth, now on Outright’s board, recalls that it was “so affirming that there were other gay people out there who liked who they were and that having that community made it all okay. I can’t even quantify its effect.” Heather Geoffrey sees the same effect in today’s Speaker’s Bureau youth. “The opportunity to be heard, to hear other peo- ple’s stories, and to see they’re not alone,” she says, is incredibly empowering, as is attending presentations where youth discuss the effects of homophobia in their lives. In 1992, Outright moved to its current office space on College Street. The next year, Karin Eade became director, after , having been a student intern and then assistant director. Over the next several years, momentum and connections were built that led to the Building Bridges to Equity Conference. Co-sponsored by the Vermont departments of education and health. the 1996 confer- ence drew 250 mental health, youth ser- vice, government, and school profession- als, parents and youth for a day of presen- tations and workshops devoted to gay, les- bian, and bisexual youth and their fami- lies. With an inspiring keynote by Catriona McHardy, director of education for Planned Parenthood of Northern New England, this powerful conference had rip- ple effects Iong afterward. Many of the young people who attended at ages 12 or 13 “came out with a bang shortly there- after. One joined Outright’s Speakers Bureau,” notes current director Tami Eldridge. That year also saw the direct services coordinator position become full time as Tage Lilja celebrated his first anniversary working with Outright. 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