Stand With LGBTQ+ Youth: Alex's Story

Outright recognizes that LGBTQ+ youth are the experts in their own lives, with unique insights and experience to lead change wherever they are. We are thrilled to share with you a series written by Vermont youth, sharing their experiences and perspectives on issues that impact them, their peers, and their communities.

Alex Yahm-Halberg (he/they) is a second year Youth Organizer. He shared the following at the Vermont Statehouse on Leadership Day.

It is incredibly important that in this moment we acknowledge the urgency of connecting with each other and telling ourselves the truth about the resilience, strength, and power of LGBTQ+ youth.

Youth are here to call for action. No one knows better than us what we need - not just to survive, but to thrive in this world. We’re the ones walking the halls of our schools, figuring out where we feel safe and seen for who we are. We’re the ones looking for spaces in our communities where we can just be ourselves. We’re the ones navigating a healthcare system that can make it harder, not easier to get the care that we need. And, we are the ones most impacted by the deductions that elected officials make. That’s why it is paramount that folks don’t just hear our stories - but that they hear our solutions and act on them.

We have a list of priorities that will make Vermont a safer place and that will transform our systems and communities. You can see here that what we’re calling for are completely doable actions that will make this world a better place. We are calling for these solutions because the action we’ve seen lawmakers take in the past has not been enough to protect us. We are here, telling you what needs to be done to keep our communities safe.

In 2020 and 2021 during the height of the pandemic, I experienced isolation, desperation and confusion as I came to terms with my queer and trans identity, confused by the thoughts and feelings I was having. Looking back, I know how much it would’ve meant to me to have a support system, people to talk to who had gone through the same things I was experiencing, who could answer my questions. But most of all, I needed to see people like me. At age 13, I couldn’t name a single trans celebrity or character. I had no reference to help me make sense of the feelings I was feeling… it was easy to wonder if I was just crazy.

Now, as trans individuals are actively being erased by our federal government, in the age where nazis are normalized, drag queens are villainized, and self expression is deemed dangerous, LGBTQ+ kids are more and more likely to believe there's something “wrong” with their identities. We know there's nothing “wrong” with being yourself. I have to remind myself frequently, when I’m ready to give up, that the only constant in life is that there isn’t one. It will get better. We will keep fighting for a future where our rights are protected and we will succeed.

It’s important to know that you are not alone. We are all in this together.

As we work to legislatively protect LGBTQ+ youth it’s equally important to make sure resources, information and communities are available to those who need it. It’s terrifying to be queer or trans in America right now, as our federal government does their best to erase us but we cannot be erased. Just as we watch history repeat itself, we can be comforted by the reminder that they have never been able to erase us. And they have never been able to erase us because there have been queer resistors from the beginning. And we are part of that history today, as we show up to make our call to action at the State House. We are real, we have always existed and we always will. LGBTQ+ youth are loved, valued, and belong exactly as who we are. No executive order or legal document can change that truth. Come find us. We’re here for you and you belong.

Considering how many bad things keep happening in this country, it’s difficult to feel like you can actually make a difference but you can. You can contact your legislators and demand policies that protect LGBTQ+ youth and support schools and community organizations in ensuring inclusive policies. You can encourage donations and volunteer support for organizations providing direct support for LGBTQ+ youth, you can call just one representative, volunteer somewhere for an hour, donate 5 dollars, more is always better, but every little bit helps. You can find more ways to make a difference on Outright’s website. Every individual has a choice in their relationship with the youth of our country, a choice to be on the right side of history, to notice where we are suffering and to reach out in care and support or a choice to ignore us and expect us to conform to a world that is not welcoming of our identity. Every person is able to make the choice to see LGBTQ+ youth for who they are - people deserving care, connection, and the same rights afforded to all humans on the planet.

Together, we will build a world where LGBTQ+ youth have boundless possibilities for joy, and where all people know liberation.