Statement of Purpose:

The Fresno Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual Youth Alliance was created to offer Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgendered, and Questioning Youth a safe and substance free environment where they can be themselves, express their concerns and discuss issues of importance that effect their lives.

Who’s involved:

The Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual community is a vast rainbow of diversity. The Fresno Youth Alliance welcomes and celebrates that diversity. Our members are teens and young adults of all colors, differently challenged, from various religious faiths and backgrounds, and have a wide variety of interests. We encourage and invite any and all interested youth to come to our meetings.

Where & When:

We meet every Friday Evening at 7 - 8:30pm (new time as of July 2008!) at the Fresno Center for Non-Violence at 1584 N. Van Ness, on the corner of McKinley Ave. See map. (the link opens an outside window) Look for the Peace symbol in the window!

Support/Rap:

The group offers a comfortable space, almost like a living-room, and time to focus on family, relationships, friends, school, work, and to share concerns and achievements.

Peer Counseling:

The group provides an opportunity for one-on-one discussions with other young people who share your sexual and affectional orientation who can help you work through difficult times by listening and sharing their own experiences.

Educational Programs:

The group has access to trained professionals for workshops, lectures, and discussions. Some of our members participate in Community Link’s Speaking Out program, a Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and their Parents Speaker’s Bureau.

Advocacy:

The group allows you an opportunity to advocate and lobby other local, state, and national governmental bodies and community organizations regarding issues which effect and affect younger Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgendered and Questioning individuals.

Networking & Interacting:

The group networks with other Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual youth groups in the state, along with student groups on the college and high school campuses. It allows for interaction with the larger Gay and Lesbian community through participation with other groups’ events and community activities.

Social Activities:

After each Friday meeting the group has some form of social get together, sometimes it’s coffee, a late dinner or snack, or just hanging out together. The Youth Alliance also organizes parties, trips, movies nights, and dances especially for younger people like ourselves.

Our Original Events:

Each year the group sponsors the Lavender Prom,  the Double Prince and Princess Pageant, our annual Youth Group Reunion, annual Halloween and Christmas party, Beach Blanket Beauties, and the Pink Flamingos Fundraiser.

Directed by:

The Youth Alliance is under the direction of, and is facilitated by Jeff Robinson, who has a Masters of Arts in Counseling Psychology and works with adolescents and young adults at a local group home.

Community Resources for Youth

All phone numbers are in 559 are code unless otherwise noted

Community Link, Inc.
266-5465
PFLAG -Parents, Family, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays. A support group for our loved ones.
434-6540

HOTLINES: Gay and Lesbian Youth Hotlines
LYRIC - Lavender talk line 800 236-PRIDE
TTD 415 431 8812
outside of CA 415 863 3636
lyricinfo@tlg.net      talkline@lyric.org

1-800-42-BAGLY- 24 hour hotline
1-800-347-TEEN Thurs-Sun, 5-9:45pm
1-800-96-YOUTH - Daily, 3:30 -7:30pm

TEMPORARY HOUSING:
The Sanctuary Youth Shelter for males and females 11 to 17 years of age who are homeless, runaways, or have been kicked out of their homes.
498-8543 or 1-800-820-4968
YWCA’s Marjaree Manson Center for women of all ages who have experienced family violence.
233-4357

HIV/AIDS:
The Living Room
485-3667
Planned Parenthood - HIV anonymous testing site
488-4900

OTHER YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS:
GSA - Gay-Straight Alliance Network
442-4777
United Student Pride at CSUF
278-4435