LGBTQ+ Rights

I have been a part of the One Circle community since 2003, facilitating Circles in secure and non-secure residential facilities and within my community. Over the past 21 years, I have had the opportunity to witness increased support and acceptance of our LGBTQ+ community. However, most recently, there has been a significant decline in the supports and services for LGBTQ+ youth.

After years of fighting for rights for the LGBTQ+ community, I believed the fight was over, as we had achieved what we had fought for. However, during One Circle Foundation trainings, I have been reminded that our battle is far from over, and the future of LGBTQ+ youth depends on all of us speaking up, showing up, and supporting all youth! 

I was born in 1961, a time when there were no rights for the LGBTQ+ community.  I grew up during a time when people didn’t talk about loving someone of the same sex, feeling they were a different gender than their birth gender, girls couldn’t wear pants, boys couldn’t wear make-up, if any of these were discussed or the many other feelings or experiences of the LGBTQ+ community there was fear of losing their job, family, church, home, being attacked, bullied, abused, accused of mental health issues or murdered.

When I came out as a lesbian in 1989, I could not be married, serve openly in the military, be openly gay at my place of employment, or adopt a child, and homosexuality was still listed in the DSM as a mental disorder.  As a person who was proud of who I was, I joined the fight to have the same rights as the heterosexual community.  I attended Pride Marches, joined advocate groups, protested at the Capital, wrote letters to the political community, volunteered at organizations to educate the community about the LGBTQ+ community, and was proud to fly the Pride Flag at my home. Because of the work, risks, and fight of so many amazing individuals, the LGBTQ+ community began being afforded some of the rights everyone should have.

As a resident of Connecticut, I was able to legally marry my wife on November 12, 2008. On June 26, 2015, the Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage in all 50 States.

September 20, 2011, all LGBTQ+ individuals could serve openly in the military.

In 2013, homosexuality was removed entirely from the DSM.

In 2017, same-sex couples were legally able to adopt a child in all 50 States.

Since beginning the fight for these rights in 1989, there has never been a time when I thought they were at risk of being taken away.

As a One Circle Foundation trainer, I have the privilege of training supportive adults who provide services to youth across the country and globally. Over the last few years, many of our participants have shared during training the challenges they are having in their communities in being able to openly provide support to LGBTQ+ youth.

In some communities:

• Facilitators are fearful of being open about their identity.
• Agency policies prohibit staff from addressing youth by their identified pronouns.
• Support Groups for LGBTQ+ are prohibited.
• Specific LGBTQ+ topics are not allowed to be discussed.

The fear of discrimination that I thought was over is returning for youth, and they need us more than ever. As adults in positions where we can make a change, IT IS TIME to speak up, show up, and be there to support youth.

One Circle Foundation models are easily adaptable to many sectors. The PRIDE Activity Guide provides a safe and supportive environment for all youth with expansive gender identities and sexual orientations and their allies. It actively counters isolation, internalized self-rejection, and other adverse health and mental health effects on LGBTQ+ youth due to marginalization. With respect for individual safety, control, and preference, and with no requirement for self-disclosure, the Circle promotes belonging, inherent value, and community resilience. (PRIDE Activity Guide, p.2)

Thank you to all the facilitators who remind me that the fight is not over. Thank you for speaking up and showing up for the youth you serve and the risks you take every day supporting youth! May the PRIDE circle offer you one of many places where you can be free to be yourself with friends and allies who love you for who you are. (PRIDE Activity Guide, p.i)