About us
This website, originally created in response to the November 2015 changes in the LDS Handbook 1, has three primary goals:
1) To reach youth with connections to both religious communities and the LGBTQIAP+ community.
2) To let the voices of the youth be heard publicly through our YouTube channel and blog.
3) To provide support and encouragement to the youth by sharing the stories and advice of others, as well as resources for those struggling with depression and suicidal thoughts.
OUR VISION
OUR MISSION
Our goal is to provide a safe way for the stories of LGBTQIAP+ youth and allies with religious backgrounds to be heard, as well as provide a sense of community for those who may be struggling to balance their sexual/romantic and gender identities with spirituality/religion.
HOW Y.A.Y. GOT STARTED
The LDS church has recently been making steps to build bridges between the leadership of the church and its gay members. The church pleased many allies for the LBTQIAP+ community with the introduction of the mormonsandgays.org [1] website aimed at decreasing the stigma surrounding issues of gender and sexuality. The church went even further by supporting legislation to provide housing and job protections for people who are LGBT [2], as well as making a donation to the Utah Pride Center [3], an LGBT+ organization based in Salt Lake City. It is easy to see, then, why the November 2015 policy change seems to have been a step backward in the church's evolution in attitude toward LGBTQIAP+ people and relationships. The policy change affects the treatment of gay couples and their children in the church, defining them as apostate and requiring a disciplinary council to be convened [4]. Not even those who attempt murder, rape, or abuse are required to have a disciplinary council [5].
This website was inspired by these policy changes as a way for youth to express themselves and find community. Feel free to head over to our Community page, where youth and allies are writing messages of support and hope.
Meet the Team
MAX BLANCHARD
Max is 15 and lives in California. He works in a coffee shop and loves to explore the outdoors. Look for his videos on the fourth Sunday of each month!
ALINA
Alina is 16 and lives in California. They are passionate about music and hate getting up early. Their videos will be shared on the third Thursday of each month.
JUSTIN MARKS
Justin is 18 years old and lives in North Idaho (basically Canada). He lives and breathes music, and loves to talk, admittedly a little too much. Justin will be uploading videos on the second Wednesday of each month.
LOTTIE
Lottie is 18 and lives in southern Idaho. She enjoys listening to and playing all kinds of music, and studying biology. She will be posting on the second Monday of each month.
ALEX AUTRY
Alex is 15 years old and lives in Missouri. He is passionate about music and helping other youth. Alex will be sharing videos on the first Tuesday of every month.
Sources:
[1]: http://mormonsandgays.org/
[2]: http://time.com/3684257/mormon-lds-church-lgbt/
[4]: https://www.scribd.com/doc/288685756/Changes-to-LDS-Handbook-1-Document-2-Revised-11-3-15-28003-29 (Page 1)
[5]: https://www.scribd.com/doc/288685756/Changes-to-LDS-Handbook-1-Document-2-Revised-11-3-15-28003-29 (Page 2)