Rainbow Youth Alliance

04/16/2023

Come find us today at Wheaton Library from 1-4pm for

10/13/2022

Call for RYA Alum: We're looking for your feedback to improve our program for LGBTQIA+ youth. Please DM if you're interested!

07/26/2022

What are the long-term benefits of groups like RYA? How can support as an LGBTQ+ teen change your trajectory into adulthood? Jump back with us to meet some of our first participants and see where they are today and what they remember about RYA.

07/26/2022

Our next peer-to-peer teen LGBTQIA+ support meeting is Sunday, August 7, 3:45-6PM at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Rockville, in the youth room in the basement. Whether you're new to the group or re-visiting, we'd love for you to join us! All q***r and questioning teens are welcome!

03/31/2022

Today we celebrate the 13th annual Transgender Day of Visibility! GLSEN offers resources for education and information about trans and nonbinary identities for educators, students, GSA members, and advocates. An excellent way to celebrate the trans people in our lives is by educating ourselves on the issues they face and finding ways to do our part to change the world for the better. Happy TDOV everyone!

Trans Day of Visibility is an annual awareness day celebrated around the world. The day is dedicated to celebrating the accomplishments of transgender and gender nonconforming people while raising awareness of the work that still needs to be done to achieve trans justice.

03/29/2022

Ariana DeBose made history last night with her Oscar win for Best Supporting Actress as the first openly q***r Afro-Latina woman to win an Oscar. Congrats Ms. DeBose!

Wanda Sykes promised us a gay Oscars show. And we certainly got a welcome gay-as-can-be moment on the Oscars stage courtesy of winner Ariana DeBose.

03/22/2022

It's National LGBTQ Health Awareness Week! This year's theme with the National Coalition of LGBTQ Health is to LIVE OUT LOUD.

The National Coalition for LGBTQ Health is excited to announce the theme for this year’s 20th National LGBTQ Health Awareness Week— LIVE OUT LOUD for LGBTQ Health! The theme encourages everyone to speak openly about LGBTQ health, providing an umbrella under which to discuss and raise awareness o...

02/14/2022

To celebrate Black History Month and celebrate the lives of iconic and groundbreaking Black LGBTQ+ leaders, Advocate has a quick list of documentaries to check out. This list is a great place to start learning more about the history of the LGBTQ+ community and the contributions made by Black community leaders.

Black History Month 2022 is here and what better way to celebrate than to learn more about the Black q***r experience by watching documentaries about its trailblazers. From fashion icons to musicians to social justice activists whose works quite literally impact our lives for the better every day, t...

01/31/2022

Jim Obergefell, the named plaintiff in the historic Supreme Court ruling Obergefell v Hodges, is running for office in Ohio. He says his goal is to create equal opportunities for people in his district, with a focus on jobs and the Ohio Equality Act.

“I don’t mind being the underdog, and I’m not afraid to take on any issue when it’s the right thing to do,” Obergefell says in a Twitter video.

01/25/2022

In Kai's words: "I'm a bold and strong, independent little lady." You're doing important and inspiring work, Kai. We're with you!

Kai Shappley, an 11-year-old transgender girl from Texas, is in the spotlight once again after she was named a Time Kid of the Year finalist.

01/10/2022

Erin Parisi set out to climb the seven highest peaks in the world, one on each of the seven continents, after her transition. To her, it is a way to claim herself and stand with pride in who she is. Go Erin!

Erin Parisi has been climbing mountains for about 25 years, but, she said, she wasn’t a “seven summits kind of climber” — someone who wanted to climb the

12/20/2021

GMCW's youth chorus for LGBTQ+ and allied youth - GenOUT - will be accepting new members at its January 15 rehearsal. All young people ages 13-18 are welcome. No auditions are required; all that is needed are a love of singing and a desire to use your voice to promote social justice. Prospective singers may sign up at www.gmcw.org/genout. Questions? Check out the FAQ at www.gmcw.org/genout or contact the director, Paul Heins, at [email protected].

The GenOUT Youth Chorus is the Washington, DC area’s only vocal ensemble for LGBTQ+ and allied youth. An outreach ensemble of the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, DC, GenOUT operates under the two-fold mission: (1) to give young LGBTQ+ and allied youth a voice, and (2) to connect that voice to co...