We are Emely Martinez, Damaria Coleman, Elizabeth Pineda, and India Plummer. We are the 11th grade students of Catalyst Maria High School.

As relatives of and/or members of the LGBTQIA+ community, this topic is very important to us and our community.

We are passionate about this topic because we and others we know have been affected by this issue. We have been made aware of how harshly people part of our community have been treated and how it can affect them mentally and physically.

THE PROBLEM

People part of the LGBTQ+ community are not being accepted for who they are and what they like 

“ hate crimes against LGBTQ individuals are still shockingly prevalent”-Globalcitizen.org
Some individuals end up on the streets because there guardian kicks them out 
This evidence shows that people who are a part of the LGBTQ+ community are not accepted for being themselves and loving who they want to. they don’t have a community they can call home.  when LGBTQ+ youth are not supported by the members of their household ,it can affect their mental health. 

THE SOLUTION

Because of the problems we have discussed,we want to take action.We ask the city to create an afterschool community group that provides food and a space to hang out for Lgbtq+ youth in abusive/bad households.

We demand:

• Establish a community group for lgbtq+ youth, along with a website (for contacting the group,info of the group,an chat)
• Provide a building as well as food(food can be donated)
• Create a nonprofit donation page that will go towards the club for activities.
  The reason of these demands is simple.A individual is greatly affected by what they experience during their youth.Lgbtq+ youth are more susceptible to traumatic experience/childhoods,an according to the trevor project“lgbtq+ youth are almost five times as likely to have attempted suicide compared to heterosexual youth”.Our goal is to create a safe space for lgbtq+ youth,and have a community to help make the world a more accepting place.

BY creating this community group we are giving Lgbtq+ youth a place they can call home if they don't have one,an prevent them from being isolated by giving them a chance to grow up surrounded by people who understand them and support them.

HOW CAN YOU HELP?

We are very passionate about making this change in our community.Our community needs a safe space for the LBTQ+ people to feel safe and feel free to speak out for themselves and more.

This will help the community by stopping the  many murders of LGBTQ+ and this will benefit the community by making others more comfortable in their own body and help others learn more about  the LBGTQ people and others to become alliances

Sign this petition to demand a safe space for LBGTQ+ community
Share and spread awareness for LBGTQ+
People could reach out to others and tell others about the petition and get them to sign it.
We want to create some kind of after school program for LGBTQ+ youth to provide them resources and a place to get away from their toxic households.

Ultimately, we can be a positive force for change in our community. In the name of LGBTQ+ Youth in our community.