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Group For LGBTQ Teens Ramps Up In Roaring Fork Valley

Creative Commons/Flickr/Philippa Willitts

An Aspen charity focused on reducing the number of suicides in our region is expanding its reach. The Aspen Hope Center is holding a support group for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered and questioning teenagers. According to its organizers, the group, called I am Me is the first of its kind in the Valley. Aspen Public Radio’s Marci Krivonen reports.

Hope Center Executive Director Michelle Muething realized LGBTQ teenagers needed support after several came to the organization for help.

"Over the years we’ve had several teenagers and young adults come in and, in the crisis narrative they give us, one of the things they talk about is confusion as to who they are. That could be role confusion, gender confusion, sexual confusion as to where they fit," she says.

She says there’s a lack of therapists in the Valley who specialize in things like cultural sensitivity and gender identity. And, kids are turning to the internet for answers.

"One of them was posing as a 24-year-old, the other as a 19-year-old," says Muething. "And, they’re striking up conversations with people who are appearing to want a “friend.” And when they tell us what they’re saying and what the interactions are on the internet, it’s frightening."

Reaching these teens is crucial. According to The Trevor Project, lesbian, gay and bisexual youth are four times more likely to attempt suicide than their straight peers.

"I have worked with several teens who have been actively suicidal due to the struggle of trying to navigate coming out and their sexuality," says Janet Gordon.

Gordon is a counselor based in Carbondale. She also facilitates the I am Me group, which targets 14 to 18 year olds. She says the kids come with a variety of concerns.

"We talk about bullying, we talk about self esteem, and acceptance of self. We talk about the difficulties of being a teenager, in general and fear. A lot of kids have fear that the people who are important to them won’t accept them if they come out."

The rural nature of the Valley doesn’t make it any easier. Gordon says typically there’s more acceptance in larger cities.

"The truth is, our Valley is pretty conservative in a lot of ways. And that exposure to the LGBTQ community is more there in urban areas, but it isn’t there in some of our smaller, rural communities."

The group’s first meeting was in October, when one teen and their parent showed up. Since then, the group has grown. It’s funded by a grant from Aspen Out, the non profit that holds Aspen Gay Ski Week. Kevin McManamon is president of the board.

"The money goes to LGBTQ causes, and at this time, mental health and suicide prevention amongst the teenage population is a battle that we’re all fighting," he says.

Aspen Out also supports Gay Straight Alliances at local high schools. Last year, I am Me received $5000. It’s expected to receive a similar amount this year. The group meets the second and fourth Wednesday of the month at the Carbondale Library.

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