FORT WORTH — A sun-soaked summer picnic in Trinity Park is common enough, but the rainbow-colored clothes among the more than 200 youths and volunteers who gathered Saturday were a sign of their event’s special significance: the largest gathering ever organized by LGBTQ Saves.
The Fort Worth-based group has worked for more than a decade to provide a safe, welcoming community for LGBTQ youths ranging from 12 to 24 years old. Before the coronavirus pandemic, the nonprofit typically helped about 25 people a month, but the isolation suffered by many during COVID-19 saw that number grow to nearly 100.
That expansion came as social distancing led the group to move from in-person meetings to virtual events, including a new “lifeline chat” that connects members with mentors.
The online chat has helped extend the group’s reach — not only locally but nationally, said Sharon Herrera, group founder and executive director. Young people from other states — including Florida, Connecticut and Washington — have counted on the online chat for support.
“Somebody recently reached out from Australia, so it’s just incredible what is happening,” Herrera said. “Despite COVID, our numbers are increasing.”
Herrera, 57, started the nonprofit in fall 2010, after the suicides of several young LGBTQ people made national headlines. The acronym “Saves” stands for students, allies, volunteers, educators and support.
She’d considered suicide herself when she was a teenager. The tragedies compelled her to find a way to prevent more young people from taking their own lives.
Besides meetings to support LGBTQ youths directly, the nonprofit provides resources to assist parents and educators, as well as scholarships and gender-affirming support, such as haircuts, for young people who are transitioning.
A sense of belonging
With pandemic restrictions easing, Saturday’s gathering was the group’s largest since early 2020.
Among the people who attended to show their support during Pride Month were James Austin and his family, who came from Weatherford.
His 11-year-old daughter, Alex, is transitioning. Although Alex said her experience had been positive so far, the picnic provided a feeling of community and affirmation.
It was also Austin’s first step into a community where he and his wife felt comfortable and supported, too, as they learn more about the process their daughter is going through.
LGBTQ Saves’ support includes striving to guard the identity of the children it serves to prevent mistreatment they might face in school or even their own homes.
Carmen, 12, said the group — and the weekend’s event — provided a sense of shared values that’s empowering. Carmen had attended another LGBTQ event recently, but it was designed more for adults. Saturday’s picnic was for young people to express themselves.
“It feels like we can do this,” Carmen said.
Eighteen-year-old Villi turned to LGBTQ Saves in high school when she was looking for a more accepting group than she could find on campus.
“I had a bleak outlook on life before, but realizing there are people like me has helped,” Villi said.
Besides gaining that sense of belonging, she’s also the recipient of one of the scholarships the group provides each fall and spring.
Villi engaged with group members through their online chat and the video game Minecraft. She modified the game’s settings to show a player’s pronouns next to their names, so their identity could be better represented.
Expanding support
As more turned to LGBTQ Saves during the pandemic, the nonprofit saw a sharp increase in interest among Latinos — notably from Spanish-speaking mothers.
After an 11-year-old who identified as transgender reached out for a way to help their Spanish-speaking mother understand what they were going through, Herrera was able to connect the family with help from a trans program leader.
“Because of COVID, a lot of our youth were struggling, and … [the 11-year-old] shared their truth with their mother,” she said. “Fortunately, the mother was accepting and able to reach out to us.”
The group has since added a resource-rich “español” link to the website.
Bertinand Gardner, the group’s community and communications manager, said its success is a reflection of the need it fills. With only three employees, the group has relied on volunteer and donor support to remain operative and make its online expansion possible.
The online services have been so successful that the group plans to continue most of its meetings that way. Still, supporters are looking forward to resuming quarterly dinners.
Herrera said that as an extrovert, it had been difficult for her not to be able to offer support in person. She’s concerned that the isolation of the pandemic has kept children more confined in homophobic or unaccepting households.
She’s grateful LGBTQ Saves has found ways for her to continue her mission despite the global health crisis.
“In my lifetime, the world’s not going to change,” she said. “But I’m not going to stop doing what I do, because I think each of us has a responsibility to make this world a better place, especially for our children.”
To learn more
The organization’s website, lgbtqsaves.org, details its programs and resources and offers more information about the people it serves.
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