Over the Rainbow social group gives gay youth space to grow

Adult and youth volunteers with Over the Rainbow, a social group for gay youth in the McLean County area, have spent the past 18 months creating the new organization.

Events range from crafts and board game nights to having a drag queen come in and do makeup demonstrations or speakers exploring LGBTQ advocacy.

But youth board member Ruby Henson-Stroud said the best part of Over the Rainbow is the social aspect: “We kind of just hang out. It’s a little bit like a group of friends,” and the planned activity takes a backseat.

“I think it’s a really cold environment. Just because you come to one meeting doesn’t mean you have to come to another meeting after that,” Henson-Stroud said.

Over the Rainbow is sponsored by non-profit organization PFLAG Bloomington/Normal And Bloomington-Normal Unitarian Universalist Church.

Terina Carter, the church’s director of religious studies, said the congregation has long been one that welcomes the LGBTQ community.

He told WGLT that co-sponsors are launching an early version of the program in summer 2023; “a place where queer youth can be themselves around kids like them and make it a safe space.”

The social club serves LGBTQ youth in sixth through 12th grades, or the homeschool equivalent. About 20 young people attend regularly.

“Being young is all about understanding who you are, and if you’re starting to realize that you’re different from a lot of people, it’s important to have that safe space to connect with other people where you know you can just be yourself,” says PFLAG-BN member and youth board member Ruby, who helped develop the structure of the new club Henson-Stroud’s mother, Max Stroud, said:

room of one’s own

Many public middle and high schools offer student Pride clubs or Gay Straight Alliance groups. These are open to LGBTQ students and their heterosexual allies.

“Over the Rainbow is different in that everyone in the group is part of the queer community and the facilitators are also part of the queer community,” said Blair Broughton, the group’s director.

Bloomington-Normal was the home of the group Friends Like Us. “That was a similar thing. But during COVID, that kind of phased out,” he added.

Max Stroud said once the pandemic ended, parents in PFLAG’s local chapter began to realize a need was going unmet.

“I felt like there was a lack of an open and affirming place in our community for gay kids to be themselves, but also receive education and mutual support,” he said.

Meanwhile, Broughton, who works in the Unitarian church office, was hearing similar questions from callers.

“I still get a lot of these questions,” Broughton said, referring to parents who want a space where their children can go that can be a positive, gay-centered experience.

Youth-led directive

Henson-Stroud and her colleagues on the Over the Rainbow Youth Advisory Board meet regularly, and their responsibilities include planning future events. They then begin to manage events.

“We do a lot of different things. We’ve had people come in and teach us a little self-defense. … We’ve had someone come in who teaches us yoga,” they said. Last week, teens got into the Halloween spirit with a Gay Ghost Gathering where they played the card game “One Night Ultimate Werewolf.”

Sometimes the activity can be more fun or planned outdoor activities like this. But Over the Rainbow sessions may also focus on current events or other educational topics.

“Politics was the idea of ​​the youth advisory board,” said Administrator Broughton, adding that it was a chance for young people to learn how they can use their voices to advocate for themselves, even if they are not old enough to vote.

At that meeting, Bloomington City Council member and mayoral candidate Cody Hendricks and his wife, McLean County Board member Eric Hansen, came and talked with them about being gay, choosing to serve in politics, and what that was like for them.

Broughton said Hendricks and Hanson also discussed gay marriage and shared their coming-out stories.

Some activities planned for November and December will focus on relieving stress.

“Because the holidays can be really hard for gay kids because a lot of times you have family members who don’t approve,” Broughton said. “So we try to do more relaxing things…yoga, meditation, things to help you stay sane during the holidays.”

First build a structure, then grow

“I think we’re at the point where we really want to grow. Now that we have that kind of established group, that will be our next big move,” Broughton said.

Terina Carter of the Unitarian Church said club leaders want to expand membership beyond the Twin Cities and McLean County line and provide such space for gay youth living in small towns and rural areas where such programs may not be available.

“We actually sent some sensors out to (public school) GSAs and things like that,” Broughton said. Prairie Pride Coalition and PFLAG also share information about the youth club on their websites and social media accounts.

Before encouraging the expansion, Over the Rainbow leaders spent the first year developing structures and rules that worked, he said.

“We have double privacy; for example, if you see someone in the group outside, you can’t identify them.” Broughton said this is important for members, especially those who haven’t yet been out with their families.

There are always two adult leaders present at each activity. These volunteers must pass a background check, receive training and maintain mandated reporter status. Nearly 10 volunteers completed the training.

Mentors wore the shoes of young people

Broughton said one benefit of mentoring queer adults is that they are there, navigating life as a queer youth.

“I guess it just comes from having walked in their shoes a little bit. It may not be the exact same experience, but it’s pretty similar. You know, coming out and the repercussions of that,” she said, as well as navigating family dynamics and other relationships.

It is not uncommon for LGBTQ youth to be bullied by other youth and adults. Broughton said it’s important to have gay adults at Over the Rainbow meetings. “So young people have someone they can talk to and say, ‘Yes, this happened, and yes, you are valid.’ “I think it’s important to see adults who approve of you, who believe in you, and who listen to you.”

LGBTQ youth face higher rates of depression than their heterosexual peers. But according to them, it helps a lot to have an accepting adult in their life. Trevor ProjectA national nonprofit organization advocating for improved mental health and suicide prevention for youth.

“LGBTQ+ youth who report living in highly accepting communities attempt suicide at less than half the rate of those who report living in highly unaccepting communities,” the nonprofit’s website states.

Broughton said she sees her purpose and other adult volunteers as people who will say: “You’re going to make it through this. You know, this all sounds really hard and it’s really hard. But at the same time, you’re going to make it through this.” ‘You will make it to the other side, and it will get easier as you progress.’

Queer community members interested in joining the group as a youth or adult volunteer can learn more by emailing [email protected].

Editor’s Note: The Trevor Project has a mental health crisis hotline where counselors are available 24/7: 1-866-488-7386.