Founded in 1991, Stonewall Youth is a youth-led organization that empowers LGBTQ2S+ youth to speak for themselves, support each other, educate our communities, and work for social justice.
Most of our programming is for youth age 21 and under. We periodically host drop-ins and other activities for youth ages 18-24. We serve three primarily counties in southwestern Washington: Thurston, Mason, and Lewis.Stonewall Youth is youth-led and adult-supported. We are operated by a staff collective of eight Co-Directors. Youth staff, Board members, and participants are involved in all areas of work and decision-making. The majority of people in our collective and on our Board are people of color; all identify somewhere in the LGBTQIA2S+ spectrum. Along with providing youth staff opportunities, we provide internship opportunities to youth college students and paid Fellowships to low-income youth.Four goals are interwoven throughout all our work:SUPPORTING LGBTQ+ YOUTH TO SURVIVE AND THRIVE. Support groups, skill-building workshops, mentorships, referrals, advocacy, and other programs assist youth to obtain safety, food security, housing, education, employment, healthy relationships, health care, social services, and a full spectrum of choices regarding their bodies, self-expression, relationships, and legal rights. Youth lead and participate in a wide range of workshops, and leadership and activism trainings/activities/opportunities.
EDUCATION AND EMPOWERMENT. Through participatory workshops and other programs, we learn together about many things: LGBTQ+ issues, experiences, and history; life-skills; legal rights; diverse social justice movements, strategies and tactics; intersectional oppression, and collective liberation. We educate our communities through workshops and events. Youth and people of color lead our organization and are at the center of decision-making. We provide work experiences for youth to build skills and confidence, work for social justice, and increase access to college and future employment.PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT for youth through co-director positions, fellowships, internships, and Board membership. Youth lead Stonewall Youth, develop and implement programs within the organization, and lead advocacy and community organizing efforts in our communities. Youth build skills and confidence and increase access to college and future employment.SOCIAL AND SYSTEMIC CHANGE We build the capacity for youth organizing and leadership by providing the training, resources, and support necessary for youth to develop and USE their leadership and power within Stonewall and to be effective advocates for social justice.

SOCIAL JUSTICESocial Justice is a process, not an outcome, which:
✪ Seeks fair (re)distribution of resources, opportunities, and responsibilities
✪ Challenges the roots of oppression and injustice
✪ Empowers all people to exercise self-determination and realize their full potential
✪ Builds social solidarity and community capacity for collaborative actionCREATE A CULTURE OF CARE
✪ Self care and community care are inextricably linked, one is required for the other.HARM REDUCTION
✪ Our staff works to provide various resources to youth that can minimize harm in their lives. From gender affirming items & rent support to Naloxone & a clean needle exchange, among many other things.CONFIDENTIALITY
✪ "Outing” is not always intentional but it is always harmful. Staff and participants are expected to honor this. Feel free to inquire more with a staff member about how we maintain confidentiality!BUILDING COLLECTIVE POWER
✪ Continuously realizing our inherent individual and together power, we strive to create a space where youth can educate themselves and their peers, while receiving the support & resources they need to organize!POSITIVE YOUTH DEVELOMPENT
✪ We are continuously educating ourselves on how to best uplift youth. We believe in highlighting youth’s strengths & taking a step back, giving them the opportunity to lead their peers rather than simply follow adult instruction.COMMUNITY BUILDING
✪ Community love & joy is as essential as any other resource we provide. With weekly drop-ins, regular support groups & a growing variety of free events, we aim to cultivate a welcoming community for LGBTQIA2S+ youth.

• Learn About Our Collective Model Here!

Use this handy form or any of the info below to contact collective members at Stonewall Youth!Mailing Address: PO Box 7383, Olympia WA 98507Street Address: 112 State Ave NE, Olympia WA 98501If you’re an LGBTQ+ youth who wants to participate in our programs and Support Group: email [email protected]

Peer Support: During Drop-Ins and Peer Support Group, youth are welcome to have conversations about what they are going through: questions about gender identity, struggles with substance abuse or homelessness; relationship issues: how to find a job or get financial aid for college; family issues; school issues; experiences with abuse, hate, neglect, or violence; how to ask someone on a date — basically, whatever you need to talk about! This is a time to get whatever kind of support you want: an attentive listener, feedback, assistance, suggestions, referrals to other resources, and so much more.Free stuff: We do our best to make free necessities available to low-income queer and trans youth, including food, bus passes, gender-affirming items (such as cosmetics, wigs, and binders), clothes, school and creative items (such as notebooks and art supplies), and more. Here’s a request form for youth to use for essential items. Questions? Contact us.During drop-ins, youth can use computers and music equipment, attend workshops, play music equipment, play board games and online games, make art with our supplies, and peruse our library.

• Essential Item Request Form

• Doctors
• Therapists
• Local & State for LGBTQ+ Youth
• Hotlines & Helplines
• Trans & Nonbinary
• For Parents & Guardians
• For Queer People of Color
• Know Your Rights!
• Resources for Indigenous Youth

You can be a part of sustaining a safe and supportive space for LGBTQ+ youth to lead, learn, talk about their experiences, make friends, build leadership and professional skills, learn about and fight for social justice, make art and music, build community, gain the support, referrals, advocacy skills, mentorship and confidence needs to successfully navigate the struggles they face.

Support youth to survive, thrive, and build sustainable lives. Support Groups and related activities foster resiliency, pride, self-advocacy, and self-care. Youth work with peers and adult mentors to address the obstacles they face. Art, music, writing and other programs engage youth in healing trauma through creative expression.Sustain youth leadership and professional development through staff positions, Fellowships, internships, leadership programs, and Board membership. Stonewall Youth is youth-led and is committed to empowering youth to lead by providing the training, resources, and support necessary for youth to maximize their leadership within Stonewall Youth and in their communities.Encourage life-long learning: We build a community of growth, mentorship and learning. Youth gain support for their educational goals. We learn together about many critical topics, from street survival to college financial aid and dismantling oppression. We educate schools, agencies, and our communities through trainings and other events.Work for positive social change. Along with educating youth and our communities about social justice, Stonewall Youth collaborate with local and statewide organizations to make crucial changes in state, local, and school policies that discriminate against or otherwise harm LGBTQ+ people and intersecting communities.

Make a tax-deductible donation online. Every dollar counts. Mash on that cute pink button above to donate through Bloomerang/Kindful, or choose what’s the best for you:

• GiveCloud
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We still love checks! Send them to Stonewall Youth, PO Box 7383, Olympia WA 98507 :-)Combined Fund Drive: Current or retired Washington State public employees can support Stonewall Youth through the Washington State Combined Fund Drive. (Our code is 0316285).To make a tax-deductible donation of stock to our brokerage account or to set up a bequest or paycheck deduction contact us at [email protected]