Public Hearing on LGBTQ+ Youth Community Spaces

Thank you to everyone who attended, testified, and participated in today’s hearing on Boston’s LGBTQ+ youth community spaces. These spaces are crucial in addressing the mental health challenges faced by LGBTQ+ youth due continual and growing exposure to social and political hostility, discrimination and bullying.

The hearing featured three impactful panels:
- The first panel included youth—Eylon, Oliver, and Levi—who shared their personal experiences with GSAs and LGBTQIA+ spaces, emphasizing their importance and advocating for their expansion.

- The second panel consisted of representatives from community organizations, who stressed the urgency of creating safe spaces for LGBTQIA+ youth and discussed how existing spaces can be leveraged for this purpose.

- The final panel featured members of the Administration, who outlined current programs for LGBTQIA+ youth and highlighted the need for collaborative, multifaceted solutions, including promoting existing resources and engaging with community partners to meet youth where they are.

We appreciate the support from our fellow co-sponsors Councilor Fernandes Anderson and Weber as well as the Councilors who were able to join us for today’s hearing.