Meet the Peer Educators!

Do you feel a bit turned inside out sometimes when it comes to questions you have about your sexual orientation, gender identity, or sexual health? Maybe it would help to share your concerns with someone who has been in the same situation as you... our peer educators can give you the inside view on being out.

YouthResource peer educators are young people aged 13-24 from diverse backgrounds. They are located in all parts of the United States. All of them are trained to point you to great resources to help you out with your concerns about being lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or questioning, and your concerns around sexual health.

Look through the bios of our peer educators and please feel free to write them with your concerns and questions. Also, check out our frequently asked questions!

Our peer educators may not be able to respond to all e-mails, and it may take them up to two weeks to respond to e-mails: this venue is for educational purposes only. Your e-mail will also be read by the peer education supervisor. If you have immediate health or mental health concerns, please contact your physician or check out our resources for referral information. 

Ariel
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Thinking back to my experience coming out to family and friends, I cannot help but think of the sheer fear and loneliness that I felt during those times. Perhaps it was the helplessness or isolation that I felt during those first few months, the questions or the intrigue I had about all those feelings and emotions inside of me. Whatever it was, I think back at those moments and I cannot help but be extremely interested and highly motivated in helping others overcome those feelings and those moments in life.

For many years of my life, helping youth realize that they are not alone in their life endeavors; helping youth understand their rights and their power within their everyday lives; empowering youth to take charge of their identity; empowering them to become who they are; and empowering youth to ask questions and challenge group mentality and majority opinions, has been my life work.

It has been that personal drive and interest that has lead to where I stand today in life. Currently, I am a senior , finishing my Bachelors of Arts studies in Political Science and Communication Studies. In my professional life, I work as a Social Recreation Coordinator at Portland’s largest non-profit youth development organization. Our mission is to provide guidance to youth ages 6-18 and instill within each of them a sense of belonging and power and influence over their lives. We work to enable all our members to reach their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens and we instill these potentials in every program and activity we do.

Born in Panama, I was raised in Portland, Oregon where I continue to make my home today. It is here where I continue to advocate for the rights and responsibilities of youth of all ages. My advocacy work, at various governmental, non-governmental, community and advocacy entities has revolved around issues primarily related to youth including but not limited to underage drinking, obesity, and adolescent risky behaviors such as alcohol, tobacco and drug use. Character development, cultural awareness, and fostering and nurturing leadership have also been passions of mine for some years now.

It is my personal belief and my conviction that every child, every young person, if given the right tools in life, can achieve anything they dare to achieve. Empowering youth to reach their full potential, to do what is hard and achieve what is great is my passion.

Daniel
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I have always wanted to help little brothers and sisters that went through many of the same struggles that I have experienced when I was coming out. I think we all have testimonials that the next generation might be able to use. I hope I will continue to provide a light on the complexity of what it means to be an educated, black, gay man here in the United States of America.

For so long we have seen and heard all of the biased remarks made about our community, that gay black men "party, have random sex partners and are shunned by their family members." It is time to end these judgmental remarks and show that we are more than "gay" brothers, sons, fathers, cousins; but valuable people that need love like the next person.

People my age and younger play the pivotal role and should demand change when it comes to sexual and reproductive health movement. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention has reported that young people are acquiring STD/STI, and HIV/AIDS at younger and younger ages. The only way we will combat these disproportionate numbers is education: starting from grade school, to college and beyond.

Read Daniel's blog

Ernesto

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Hi, My name is Ernesto and I am a 21 yr old queer youth of color. Currently I live in Portland Oregon and work in retail and for a non-profit that works on various equality issues in the state of Oregon. Read E's blog

Growing up in Salt Lake City, Utah I have worked tirelessly for the past 7 years as an advocate to Queer, Homeless, and other at risk youth, volunteering for 12 local and national youth serving organizations to create a youth empowerment model of programming. I believe that only when youth are given accurate and complete information can they truly make informed decisions about their lives.

Coming out at the age of 14, I found it increasingly difficult to find a community I could FULLY identify with. As a queer person of color (QPOC) I found myself lacking adult role-models who I could one day aspire to be like. I couldn’t relate to my peers because none of them were Gay or Latino or both. I found myself being forced to choose a single identity. Realizing my full identity has been a process I’ve had to go through, all the while trying to navigate just trying to grow up as a cis-gendered boy.

I am passionate about many social justice issues including, immigration, LGBT rights, Youth/Adult Partnerships, women's rights and youth rights. Most recently I have been working on marriage equality as well as providing comprehensive sex education in all schools. My passions drive my work and my work allows me to make a difference in the life of my peers.

I am here to answer any questions you might have about being a queer youth of color, an activist or an immigrant. Tambien hablo espanol si tienes preguntas que no puedes traducir. I am always happy to answer any question and will do my best to provide you the best answer possible. 

Lindsay
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Hey there, My name is Lindsay and I am a 21 year old queer youth. Currently I am living in New Jersey, but am originally from Connecticut. I am working for a non-profit teaching sex education to different community at risk groups in the area.

As a recent graduate from Wheaton College (MA), I have continuously been working for/with the LGBTQIA community. Passionate about gender and sexuality both in my studies and in my other involvements, I feel strongly about activism and education as a mode of change in communities. I have seen first hand youth’s role in these changes and understand that we are powerful and effective method to create the change we want to see in the world.

On a more personal level, I have struggled with finding a community that I feel fully comfortable with. Uneasy with terminology and struggling with my feminist politics I understand why individuals queer and straight alike have trouble navigating the LGBT ‘scene’. However, I have not shied away, I feel that there is room to make communities better and you just have to have the strength in yourself to help make that change.

All and all, I am passionate about the community, social justice, feminism, the right to comprehensive sex education, LGBTIQ equality and youth rights. I am here to answer any questions you might have about being young and queer. I am also open to general discussions about identity, queer theory and even religion. I will do my best to get you the information you need when you need it.
 

Nicole
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Going through life is what inspired my activism the most. I have seen a lot of my friends go unknowing of what is going on in in the world around them. I wanted to be the one to inform them instead of watching them waste their lives. I want to to inform and help others while also gaining more information for myself. I want to help someone go through less than I had to.

I think young people can be the spokespersons  for the youth reproductive and sexual health movement because we as young adults tend to listen to each other more than others.  I am ready to take on the world!

Read Nicole's Blog

Rikki
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I want people to see that the LGBT community is part of the larger community.  There are a lot of misconceptions regarding sexual health issues and homophobia issues that need to be cleared up. I want to gain as much experience as I can so I can take it and help more people around me. I believe Advocates for Youth can provide me with the training and experience I need to offer resources to those at my school and those around me who need information on sexual health or other LGBT issues. 

We need to make sure we are able to get people talking about sex so we can clear up misconceptions. We need to teach that yes abstinence is one choice, but also that exploring sexuality is okay  - and we need to provide correct information that will allow us to be safe while we explore.

Young people are instrumental to our movement and need to step forward.  By educating ourselves and those around us we have a better chance of stopping the spreading of STI's and HIV.  

I truly believe that if I can make one person smile than my day was not a waste, and a friendly face can change the world.

Read Rikki's Blog