There are a plethora of things that made me the woman I am today. Growing up, I didn’t have the comfort & the environment that gave me the tools to express my identity as Black queer woman living with HIV in the south.

Not only do feel I defied social norms, but I put in play that I am more than just Black, queer, HIV positive, but I am an equal if not equivalent of a queen.

Lisa, She/Her/Hers

Memphis, TN

To continue its mission of championing ALL young people’s sexual and reproductive health and rights, Advocates for Youth is launching ECHO (Engaging Communities around HIV Organizing), a first-of-its kind council of youth activists living with HIV who are actively organizing online and in their communities.

Council members are participating in in-person and digital actions across the country this week to raise awareness and mobilize people to support youth living with HIV. Each day, the campaign will highlight a different theme and integral issue.

For tips and information on how you can help to end HIV stigma, text YouthHIV to 877877

Levi, California

he/him

Transgender Awareness Week brings visibility to the transgender community and the issues our community faces. For me, it’s important to let everyone know that we exist. I recently came out to my family in June and most of them had no idea what I was talking about. Hispanic families, like mine, sometimes appear more conservative and religious due to cultural traditions and values and that’s scary. Like mine, I am sure that most Hispanic families don’t know that Trans Awareness Week exists. On the bright side, it’s an opportunity to be seen and heard by people and that’s really what I care about. Representation for people of color, especially in media is very scarce. I feel like I haven’t seen a story about a Hispanic trans dude anywhere. People find comfort in seeing people who feel and look just like them, doing things that they didn’t think was possible for them to do. Growing up, I never had that sort of comfort which I feel discouraged me from being true to myself sooner.

Happy Trans Awareness Week, a week dedicated to help raise the visibility of transgender and gender non-conforming people, and address the issues the community faces.

gaywrites:

“When adults who care for children make the choice to dismantle gender and sex normativity in their own lives, they make room for children to embody gender, race and sex on their own terms. They empower children to see people as people. Queer parenting is not a fad. It isn’t something people do for a pat on the back. There are a lot of us non-heterosexual or gender-nonconforming parents who engage differently with gender. The fact is: Queer parenting is a deliberate choice to raise children as free as possible from the limitations that labels, stereotypes and gendered norms place on marginalized people in the United States. While these decisions have garnered sneered noses and scowls from more traditional parents, those people who believe “children should be children” rather than politicized actors, I am keenly aware that my black children will be politicized whether I like it or not.”

— Why Mothering As a Queer Black Woman is Inherently Political | Jenn M. Jackson for the Washington Post

YouthResource member Tyunique is featured in the @cosmopolitan “LGBTQ Youth Aren’t Getting the Sex Ed They Deserve” video. Check out the full video here: https://youtube.com/watch?v=dmWA_XoLJ8Q