Our Mission
To ensure safe and supportive communities for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and questioning (GLBTQ) youth. The GLBT Youth Support Project provides training and on-going support for educators and health and human service providers to assist them in implementing welcoming and appropriate programs, policies, and services for these young people and their families.
History of Suicide and Violence Prevention Work for GLBTQ Youth in Massachusetts
1989: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services published The Report of the Secretary's Task Force on Youth Suicide. One of the most startling findings of the study was that up to 30% of all teen suicide attempts were among gay and lesbian youth.
1992: Massachusetts responded to this data by creating the Governor’s Commission on Gay and Lesbian Youth. The Governor’s Commission held hearings around the state and invited young people, teachers, and families to speak about the issue of suicide among gay and lesbian youth.
As a result of what they learned in the hearings, the Governor’s Commission made two sets of recommendations: one regarding creating safety in schools, and one regarding creating safety in communities.
1993: The Safe Schools Program for Gay and Lesbian Students was established at the Massachusetts Department of Education. This program supported Gay/Straight Alliances in high schools and provided training on gay and lesbian youth issues for teachers, faculty, and administrators in schools.
1996: The Gay and Lesbian Youth Support Project was created to train health and human service providers to provide culturally appropriate care for GLBTQ youth. Since 1996, more than 145 agencies have been trained by the GLBT Youth Support Project.
2002: The Gay and Lesbian Youth Support Project changed our name to the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Youth Support Project to more accurately represent our priorities.
That same year, Governor Mitt Romney slashed funding for services for GLBT youth; Community-based programs for GLBT youth lost significant funding, and the Safe Schools Program for Gay and Lesbian Students was entirely de-funded.
2005: Funding is partially restored for GLBT youth programs, including the Safe Schools Program.
2006: Governor Mitt Romney disbanded the Governor’s Commission on Gay and Lesbian Youth. Allies of GLBT youth in the legislature work to establish a new legislative commission, known as The Massachusetts Commission on GLBT Youth.
