seacoast outright

Working to ensure equal opportunity for all youth, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.

What is the purpose of Seacoast Outright?

Seacoast Outright is an educational, social service, advocacy organization that offers services to gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans, and questioning youth (21 and under) in the greater New Hampshire, southern Maine, and northern Massachusetts Seacoast region.

Seacoast Outright is a support and advocacy organization that seeks to change the social climate for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning youth in the NH Seacoast. Through support and social groups, youth empower one another to stand proud and live into their full potential and our youth-driven cultural competency trainings and speaker's bureau teach leadership skills to glbtqq youth, while educating our larger community.

Seacoast Outright's youth support group meetings provide a safe place for youth to meet, socialize and provide support for each other in an environment that is free from harassment and discrimination. The adult facilitators at the youth support group meetings provide positive adult role models.

Services Provided by Seacoast Outright

Seacoast Outright provides three primary services:

• GLBTQ Youth Support Groups            more >
• Community Education and Outreach   more >
• Youth Leadership and Development    more >

back to the top

Funding

Seacoast Outright is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. We receive no state, federal, or town funding. Our funding is entirely dependent on donations, fundraisers, and private grants.

SEACOAST OUTRIGHT NEEDS YOU!!!! (And, all the people you know too!)

Help us raise our entire annual budget by ensuring that at least 1% of the GLBTQ folk in our area give Seacoast Outright a $35 donation!

Funders include: United Way of the Greater Seacoast, Haymarket People's Fund, Women's Fund of New Hampshire, Agnes Lindsey Trust, Greater Piscataqua Community Fund, Christ Episcopal Church, Congregational Church of Exeter, South Church UU and people like you!!!

Fundraisers include our annual Art-To-Go fundraiser. The Seacoast Outright Board of Directors is composed of local professionals and youth who share a vision of empowering GLBTQ youth and positively influencing the community on their behalf.

Board of Directors

Since its beginning, Seacoast Outright has operated with a decision-making process based on consensus. Chairs from the various committees were appointed to the Board of Directors. Included were also liaisons to the community at large, and to P-FLAG.

The Board of Directors oversees finances, is involved in fund-raising, outreach/education, training, and has ultimate authority in program matters. Several youth group members also serve on the Board of Directors and speak directly to their needs and those of their peers. The Board of Directors provides direction with regard to goal setting, programming, and community networking for the purposes of education and, ultimately, coordination of existing youth services.

back to the top

Volunteer for Seacoast Outright

Interested in helping out? Seacoast Outright welcomes youth and adult volunteers! Youth who wish to volunteer should attend the Friday night support group meeting for more information. Volunteer opportunities for adults range from facilitating youth support group meetings to helping out around the office.

Contact Seacoast Outright at info@seacoastoutright.org or by calling the office at 431-1013.

OUR NEXT FACILITATOR TRAINING FOR NEW FACILITATORS:

SATURDAY, APRIL 5 from 9:15AM - 4:00PM at the Portsmouth Community Campus. Call 603-431-1013 to register.

 "What keeps me coming back is that sense of connection I get when I see how some of the youth grow and mature over the months and years, as they continue to come to outright. Some of my best memories are riding down on the bus with the youth on our way to Youth Pride in Boston;  that feeling of jubilation and camaraderie...I would say to someone considering volunteering...to enter into it with an open mind, to be full of empathy, and also to remember how they themselves felt growing up in a homophobic culture." -Jen Bassett, Facilitator for 9 years

back to the top

Seacoast Outright's History

The impetus for Seacoast Outright grew out of the Respect for All Youth conference put on by P-FLAG in March of 1993 at the University of New Hampshire. At that time, educators, health care workers, and community members who attended the conference expressed great concern about the growing evidence that gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans and questioning youth are at a significantly higher risk for suicide, substance abuse, teen pregnancy, homelessness, foster home placement, dropping out of school, and contracting STDs like HIV. Before the conference, youth service providers and school personnel had little awareness that GLBTQ youth were among their students and clientele, or that GLBTQ youth are at special risk. More importantly, at that time in New Hampshire, there were almost no services available to GLBTQ youth.

By the summer of 1993, the organization had expanded and was holding regular meetings. Working committees were formed, and plans were made to establish a financial base for the organization. Presently, we have completed six training sessions for adult volunteers involved with Seacoast Outright, including adults who facilitate youth support group meetings. Those adults and youth participating in outreach presentations to schools and other organizations are trained in ongoing workshops.

As of March 2008, Seacoast Outright had seen well over 2000 different youth from the Seacoast area and has spoken to more than 12,000 people through our speakers' bureau and cultural competency trainings!

back to the top

home • what's new • youth zone • for parents • about outright • site map

last updated: 08/09/2004
webmaster@seacoastoutright.org