Important Progress for Vermont's LGBTQ+ Youth

At Outright Vermont, we've significantly expanded our advocacy efforts because we believe LGBTQ+ youth deserve a voice in the decisions that shape their lives, not occasionally, but every single day.

To help make that vision a reality, we partnered this year with Action Circles, an advocacy and public policy organization working in the Vermont State House. This partnership allows us to ensure that young people are not only informed about policy decisions, but are better able to actively engage in tracking legislation, monitoring developments, and influencing decisions that directly impact their lives.

Together, we've already seen meaningful progress this legislative session:

• H.931 passed. An act relating to miscellaneous changes in education law addressed the lack of representation on young people on the the Homelessness Prevention Advisory Council. With the passing of H.931, youth representatives from Vermont Student Anti-Racism Network (VSARN), Outright Vermont, and other youth-serving organizations will have a seat at the table (Note this was this year’s Leadership Day theme.) Our second- and third-year Youth Organizers will join the council alongside its new chair, Big Hartman of HRC, helping transform the body through lived experience and youth leadership.
• H.657 is headed to the Governor's desk. An act relating to various programming and requirements within the Department for Children and Families is an important legislation that helps ensure that benefits such as Reach Up and disability payments remain with youth rather than being garnished by the state. It also establishes accountability protocols regarding the use of restraints on minors and reduces barriers to autonomy and self-determination for unaccompanied youth.
• This November, Proposal 4 (PR-4), an Equal Rights Amendment to the Vermont Constitution, will appear on the ballot, creating an important opportunity to strengthen constitutional protections for Vermonters.

Looking ahead, next legislative session marks the beginning of a new biennium. Our Youth Organizers are preparing to engage in budget advocacy and help shape education policy as school transformation efforts continue across the state.

Beyond Vermont, we're also building regional connections. Conversations with LGBTQIA+ organizations across New England have sparked plans for a potential 2027 regional gathering that would bring together youth leaders and advocates from Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine.

We are proud of what youth leadership has already accomplished and excited about what's ahead. None of this work happens without strong partnerships, and we're grateful to Action Circles for helping create pathways for young people to engage directly in the policymaking process.

Thank you for supporting a future where youth voices are not just heard—they help lead the way.