I am an LGBTQ student interested in local organizing. Can I work with QueerNC? Do you have resources to help me start a local project?

We're so glad that you're interested in getting involved! Here are a few ways that you can work with QueerNC:

  1. Join the Youth Programs Leadership Team. Applications are open every spring and the team is a one year commitment from May to June. Team members can do a variety of jobs, including running social media outreach, planning the annual ASPYRE camp, organizing social events, working on the website, and starting regional programs. Please email [email protected] for more information.
  2. Apply to start your own regional chapter. Any team of youth in North Carolina outside of the Triangle may apply to start their own programming chapter with support from the LGBT Center of Raleigh. You must be able to identify a local nonprofit (this can be a PFLAG chapter, community center, or church) that can serve as your regional sponsor. Contact [email protected] for more information.
  3. Volunteer to help out with a single event or campaign.
  4. Work with your school or GSA to host a QueerNC workshop for students or faculty.
  5. Contact us with your ideas for events, programming, or other ways that you would like to get involved. We'll work with you to find the best way for you to volunteer.
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How can I contribute to the QueerNC website?

We welcome both LGBTQ youth and community members of all ages to contribute to the QueerNC website. QueerNC is currently looking for folks interested in sharing their experiences as an LGBTQ person in the south through writing, art, or other digital media for publication on our blog. Check out our submission interest form for more information.

Youth members ages 13 through 18 can apply to volunteer as website moderators. Moderators help us to spark group dialogue, reach out to new members, and oversee content submissions. If you would like to sign up, please contact [email protected].

If you have experience in web design, digital media, or outreach and are interesting in donating your time to help maintain our website, please contact [email protected]. You can also make financial contributions to the LGBT Center of Raleigh in the name of Youth Programs to directly support our regular website costs and programming.

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I live outside of the Triangle region of NC. Can I still get involved?

QueerNC works to support students all across North Carolina. Though most of our programs are based in the Triangle region of NC through the LGBT Center of Raleigh, we offer options for youth in other areas to get involved through working on our website and social media outreach, submitting blog posts, starting their own regional chapters, joining our digital team, and hosting local events. Check out our Get Involved page for more information.
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I am outside of the 13 through 18 age range, but I still want to help. How can I get involved?

Though QueerNC works directly to support LGBTQ youth ages 13 through 18, we rely on the support of our broader community to provide resources. We encourage LGBTQ folks to share their experiences with younger students through blog posts, stories, and art on our site through our digital submission process.

Adults can support our work through donating to the LGBT Center of Raleigh via Youth Programs, signing up to volunteer through the Center, connecting local LGBTQ teens to resources, and organizing allyship trainings in your work, school, church, or community center through the Center or local PFLAG Chapter. Feel free to email [email protected] for more ideas on how to get involved. You can also see our Resources page for more local programs.

The LGBT Center of Raleigh also offers a variety of programs for LGBTQ adults and allies on their website. Programs for families and friends of LGBTQ students include SoFFA, the Raleigh Allies Initiative, Family Story Time, and the S.E.A.R.C.H. Kids' Playgroup.

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I am a parent of an LGBTQ student. Where can I find more information and resources? How can I help?

We love when parents practice active allyship for their children. Though most of our events are only open to youth, we hold several events for families and friends throughout the year, including an annual End of Year celebration.

The LGBT Center of Raleigh offers several programs for parents of LGBTQ children and youth. The S.E.A.R.C.H. Kids' Playgroup provides a space for parents and kids from kindergarten through 5th grade to meet up in a judgment-free space and build community. If you are interested in volunteering, donating, or otherwise supporting QueerNC, check out our Get Involved page.

We offer a directory of a variety of resources on our site. For parents, we recommend exploring My Kid is Gay, an online platform directly aimed at supporting and engaging the parents of LGBTQ and gender-nonconforming children. North Carolina also has 16 regional PFLAG chapters for families and friends of LGBTQ people. The NC list is accessible here.

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How can NC educators, counselors, and other school staff better support LGBTQ youth?

Educators and other faculty members in primary education are uniquely positioned to change North Carolina's climate for LGBTQ youth. Here are some simple steps that you can take to make NC schools a safer and more supportive space:

  • Be inclusive. Work to include LGBTQ topics and representation in the classroom. The Safe Schools Coalition offers a collection of lesson plans to introduce students to LGBTQ issues.
  • Speak out. Address microaggressions that you hear in the classroom, hallways, and online (from both students and adults). Be a role model for inclusive, empathetic behavior.
  • Participate. Attend an allyship training by the LGBT Center of Raleigh or local PFLAG chapter. Attend the annual Safe Schools NC conference for youth and educators. If your school has a Gay-Straight Alliance or Diversity Club, come to some of their meetings.
  • Educate yourself. Make your classroom a safe space. Read these quick tips on improving classroom climate from Safe Schools NC. GLSEN, a national organization focused on LGBTQ issues in K-12 education, offers a free downloadable Safe Space guide and classroom materials for educators. Safe Schools NC also provides a comprehensive resource guide.
  • Build community. Encourage other faculty members to get involved. Reach out to local LGBTQ organizations to ask how you can connect. Invite an LGBTQ speaker to come to your school.
  • Reach out. Ask your students how you can help. Sometimes LGBTQ students have nowhere to go for support. You, as a faculty member, might be the only person who asks how they're doing. 
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