Specialties
Outright Vermont is building a Vermont where all LGBTQ+ youth have hope, equity, and power.
Outright provides community, support, and leadership opportunities for young people, including two summer camps, as well as support and resources for families, schools, and other people and institutions that have relationships with youth.
History
Established in 1989.
Outright Vermont is Vermont's only queer youth service organization, and one of the oldest queer youth organizations in the United States.
In 1989, following the release of a 1988 national youth risk survey showing that gay and lesbian youth in particular had very high rates of depression and suicide, a group of community activists gathered to form Outright Vermont. The organization began as a "once a week" support group, Friday Night Group, which has now been providing a safe, supportive, and joyful space for LGBTQ+ youth every single Friday for nearly 40 years.
Outright's services have expanded to include gatherings in communities across the state, a statewide GSA network, two summer camps, support programs for families, education and training for school-based and other youth-serving professionals, and much more.
Meet the Manager: Shel P.
As Outright's Comunications Manager, I manage the organization’s online and offline visibility, amplify youth voices and stories, and work behind the scenes to bring clarity to all Outright's messaging. My work is to uplift a narrative of LGBTQ+ youth pride, joy, power, and belonging across Vermont and beyond.
I'm also a former Outright youth, so my history with this organization spans nearly 20 years!