Adult and teen volunteers with Over the Rainbow, a social group for queer youth in the McLean County area, have spent the past 18 months building up the new organization.
Activities range from crafts and board game nights to having a drag queen come and do make-up demonstrations, or hearing speakers explore LGBTQ advocacy.
But youth board member Ruby Henson-Stroud said the best part about Over the Rainbow is the social aspect, "We kind of just hang out. It's a bit like a friend group," where the scheduled activity is secondary.
“I think it's just a really chill environment. If you come to one meeting, that doesn't mean that you have to come to any more after that,” said Henson-Stroud.
Over the Rainbow is co-sponsored by the nonprofit PFLAG Bloomington/Normal and the Unitarian Universalist Church of Bloomington-Normal.
Terina Carter, religious exploration director at the church, said the congregation has long been a welcoming congregation to the LGBTQ community.
She told WGLT the co-sponsors launched an early version of the program in summer 2023 as “a place where queer teens can just be themselves around kids who are like them, and have it be a safe space.”
The social club serves LGBTQ youth in sixth through 12th grades, or the home-school equivalent. Nearly 20 teens regularly take part.
“Being a teenager is all about figuring out who you are, and if you are figuring out you are different from a lot of people, having that safe space to connect with other people where you know you can just be you,” is important, said Max Stroud, a member of PFLAG-BN who helped develop the new club's structure, and a mother to youth board member Ruby Henson-Stroud.
Room of one’s own
Many public junior high and high schools offer student Pride clubs or Gay Straight Alliance groups. Those are open to LGBTQ students and their straight allies.
“Over the Rainbow is different in that everyone in the group is part of the queer community, as well as the facilitators are also part of the queer community,” said Blair Broughton, the group's manager.
Bloomington-Normal used to be home to the Friends Like Us group. “That was something similar. But it kind of phased out during COVID,” she added.
Max Stroud said that as the pandemic ended, parents in the local chapter of PFLAG started to notice a need going unmet.
“It really felt like a thing that was lacking in our community was a place for queer kids that was open and affirming,” for them to be themselves and also get education, and mutual support, she said.
Meanwhile, Broughton, who also works in the Unitarian church office, was hearing similar inquiries from callers.
“I still encounter a lot of those questions,” said Broughton, referring to parents who want a space for their kid to go that can be a positive and queer-centered experience.
Youth-led directive
Henson-Stroud and their peers with Over the Rainbow Youth Advisory Board meet regularly, and responsibilities include planning upcoming activities. Then, they get to lead the events.
“We do a lot of different stuff. We've had people come and teach us some self defense. ... We've had a person come and teach us some yoga,” they said. Last week, the teens got in the Halloween spirit with a Gay Ghost Gathering, where they played the card game "One Night Ultimate Werewolf."
Sometimes the activity is more recreational like that one, or planned outdoor activities. But Over the Rainbow sessions also can focus on current events, or other educational topics.
“The politics one was the youth advisory board’s idea,” said manager Broughton, adding it was a chance for the teens to learn how they can use their voice to advocate for themselves, even if they aren’t old enough to vote.
At that meeting, Bloomington City Council member and mayoral candidate Cody Hendricks and his husband, McLean County Board member Eric Hansen, came and talked to them about being queer and choosing to serve in politics, and what that's been like for them.
Hendricks and Hanson also discussed gay marriage and shared their coming out stories, said Broughton.
Some activities planned in November and December will focus on de-stressing.
"Because the holidays can actually be really hard for queer kids because a lot of times you have non-affirming family members," said Broughton. "So, we try to do things that are more relaxing ... yoga, meditation, things to help you stay sane during the holidays."
Building a structure first, then growing
“We're at the point, I think, where we really want to grow. That's going to be our next big push, now that we've got this kind of established group,” said Broughton.
Terina Carter, from the Unitarian Church, said club leaders want to expand membership beyond the Twin Cities, and the McLean County line — to provide this kind of space to queer teens living in small towns and rural areas where such programs might not be available.
“We actually just put out some feelers to [public school] GSAs, and things like that,” said Broughton. Prairie Pride Coalition and PFLAG also are sharing information about the teen club on their websites and social media accounts.
Before promoting expansion, Over the Rainbow leaders spent the first year developing structure and rules that worked, she said.
“We have double confidentiality, like, you don't identify somebody in the group, if you see them out and about.” That was important for the members, especially people who weren't out with with their families quite yet, said Broughton.
At each activity, two adult leaders are always present. Those volunteers must pass a background check, be trained and maintain mandated reporter status. Nearly 10 volunteers have completed the training.
Mentors have walked in teens' shoes
Broughton said one benefit of having queer adults mentoring is they've been there — that is, navigating life as a queer teen.
“I think it's just having walked a little bit in their shoes. It might not be exactly the same experience, but it's pretty similar. You know, coming out and the repercussions of that,” along with navigating family dynamics and other relationships, she said.
It's not unusual for LGBTQ youth to encounter bullying — by other teens and adults. So, having queer adults at Over the Rainbow meetings is important, said Broughton. “So the teens have somebody that they can talk to that says, ‘Yeah, that happened — and, yes, you're valid.’ I think it's important to see adults that are validating and believe you and listen to you.”
LGBTQ teens face a higher rate of depression than their straight peers. But having an accepting adult in their life helps a lot, according to The Trevor Project, a national nonprofit that advocates for improved mental health, and suicide prevention for teens.
"LGBTQ+ young people who reported living in very accepting communities attempted suicide at less than half the rate of those who reported living in very unaccepting communities," the nonprofit's website reports.
Broughton said she sees her purpose and fellow adult volunteers as being the people to say, "You're going to make it through. You know, all of this feels really hard, and it is really hard. But at the same time, you're going to make it through to the other side. And it'll get easier as you go."
For members of the queer community who would like to join the group as a teen, or adult volunteer, learn more by emailing overtherainbow@pflagbn.com.
Editor's Note: The Trevor Project has a mental health crisis hotline, where counselors can be reached 24/7, at 1-866-488-7386.