Queer Peer Mentors (And, Mentees!) Needed For Seattle LGBTQ Center Program

The Seattle LGBTQ+ Center has a terrific program to help young queer people with guidance and support…it’s the QUEER PEER MENTORSHIP PROGRAM and it’s designed for LGBTQ+ people ages 12 through 24. They are currently seeking both mentors and mentees for the next 8 week cohort. Apply by April 30th! More info below and at https://www.gaycity.org/Youth/

Also: the Center offers Queer Youth Drop-In Hours:

Wednesday – Friday: 1:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Saturday: 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

At the Seattle LGBTQ+ Center, 400 E. Pine Street (corner of Pine and Bellevue)

Summer can feel lighter when you have someone in your corner.⁠
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The Center’s free Queer Peer Mentorship Program is for young people ages 12–24 across Washington State. Apply as a mentor or mentee and get matched with a near-age QTBIPOC young person for support, conversation, and resource connections. Participants meet online or in-person every 1–2 weeks during the 8-week cohort, and everyone who participates receives a stipend.⁠
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Apply by April 30 for the summer cohort.⁠
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This peer-mentor program was created to address oppressions that target youth who identify as people of color and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer. Racism, ageism, classisim, homophobia, transphobia, and other forms of oppression put QTBIPOC youth at greater risk of harmful substance use, homelessness, suicide, and other negative health outcomes. These forms of oppression also make it harder for QTBIPOC youth to find safe role models who understand and identify with their experiences.

Seattle’s LGBTQ+ Center seeks to change that by connecting QTBIPOC youth with peer mentors to add to the safety net of people they can rely on to affirm their identities, give advice, and guide them through challenges they may be facing as a result of intersecting oppressions. Mentors will be assigned to 3 mentees in Washington State and will meet with them in-person or virtually once a week for at least one hour.

As adultism negates the value of youth labor and often coerces youth into working for free, we are dedicated to funding all members of the program, both mentors and mentees. Providing stipends for the youth not only acknowledges the amount of labor and effort that they are contributing, it is another way to extend our value for them, since without the youth this program would not be possible.

Mentor Stipends

Mentors will receive $1200 total for serving 3 mentees ($400 per mentee).

Mentee Stipend

Mentees will receive a $400 stipend.

We can also support with tech needs! Let us know what you need in order to fully participate in the program and we can supply you with a tablet and internet stipend.