Creating space

After coming out, 20-year-old UW student Kyle Rapinan spent the majority of his high-school years homeless. According to The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, of the estimated 1.6-million homeless American youth, between 20 and 40 percent identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT). Rapinan recognizes that queer youth are often left with few resources to turn to, and as an organizer of the recently formed Seattle Queer Youth Space (QYS), he is determined to see this change. "The queer community aligns itself a lot with 21-and-older events; there's not a lot to do if you are under 21 and queer," said Rapinan. "As a previously homeless queer youth, there is not a lot of resources to turn to, but QYS offers friendship as well as activism." QYS is a youth-led organization that has planned several events for the queer community, worked to create a dialogue about youth issues and engagement, and has recently been awarded the Neighborhood Matching Fund to fully fund a space to open on Capitol Hill. On February 20, QYS organized a community forum at Seattle Central Community College they called "The Mutiny." About 120 youth and several adults participated in a three-hour strategy session to determine what is happening in the queer youth community, what services are currently being provided, and what needs to be changed. Two pilot events aside from Mutiny have been launched since QYS started. In April, QYS kicked off with "Still Screaming," an open-mic night at Club Diamond that about 85 youth attended. In May, more than 200 youth gathered together for "Pink Prom," a free dance for queer and allied students who usually wouldn't feel welcome bringing same-sex partners to their regular school dances. According to The Pride Institute, "Studies indicate that, when compared to the mainstream population, LGBT people are more likely to use drugs, have higher rates of substance abuse, and are more likely to continue drug abuse into later life." These events bring queer youth and their allies from across the region together, helping to build an alcohol- and substance-free community. Since March, organizers such as Rapinan have met every Sunday, from 3 to 5 p.m. at Cal Anderson Park Shelter House. A group of people, most between 15 and 20 years old, worked together to write a project proposal they call "The Three Wings," outlining plans to change what it means to be queer youth on a local level. As a result of the concentrated efforts of these young people and their adult allies, on June 16, the City of Seattle granted $100,000 to QYS to open a youth-friendly space on Capitol Hill. This fall, the organization expects to see a youth-led, adult-supported cultural-arts and activism center open. QYS plans to occupy a shared space, one including an arts-and-culture gallery, a cafe and spaces for performances, classes and community organizing. "Young people don't have the option of choosing bars as community centers," Rapinan said. "We want queer people to have a place to go to on the weekends that is cool, safe and nice. Being both the only youth-led, and the only queer group that applied for the Neighborhood Matching Fund, QYS is taking a direct approach with young people, encouraging them to organize and claim their own space. "If you really want youth to be invested, get them on the board of directors," Rapinan said. "An underlying theme of QYS is taking power and moving it into the constituency." Rapinan says because of QYS, he has had leadership opportunities he could not have had with other non-profits. "Youth can really make a difference," said Wesley Parietti, a fellow organizer of QYS. "If you put them in leadership positions, they can follow through." With the University Q Center as an ally working in partnership with QYS, Rapinan calls UW "a major institution for drawing in college students" and believes that it can make an immense impact. Organizers Wesley and Rapinan say they expect two upcoming QYS events in the fall, while now, their primary focus lies in opening the space. Reach contributing writer Rebecca Gross at development@dailyuw.com.

Creating space

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