The First Congregational Church of Long Beach and The LGBTQ Center are hosting a free youth outreach event on Saturday, July 17 from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Rainbow Reconnection will take place at the church with the goal of providing a safe and affirming space for LGBTQ youth to gather.
Teens in the LGBTQ community saw their places of connection severed through the pandemic, LGBTQ Center’s Youth and Family Services Manager Joel Gemino said.
Often they may not be “out” to their parents, fostering isolation. The event aims to bring peer support.
“We understand that there are young people who have been inside for a year and a half, not had the ability to connect with their peers, especially their peers in the LGBTQ community,” Gemino said.
Saturday’s event will have food donated by Lola’s Mexican Cuisine, music, various resources for the youth and a gender-affirming clothing station.
The free clothing station will give transgender and gender non-conforming youth access to clothes that will help to affirm them in their identity, Gemino said.
First Congregational Church organizers set up donation drives on July 4 and July 11 in order to acquire the clothes.
“They were really essential in making sure that there were opportunities for the community to come out and donate clothes that would be helpful for trans youth on their journey,” Gemino said.
The LGBTQ Center will have its youth and family groups at the event. Free Mom Hugs, an organization that advocates for the equality of the LGBTQ community, will also be present.
After over a year of virtual gatherings, Gemino believes that the ability to connect over food and music will be invaluable for youth who may be struggling in some of their environments.
First Congregational Church Associate Minister Rev. Tom Emanuel noted that the church has an almost 30-year history of being affirming of LGBTQ folks.
“This was a way for us to live out our commitment to that, live our values,” Emanuel said. “[…] For me, it’s personally meaningful. This is how we show God’s love to all of our neighbors.”
The church’s commitment to inclusion is one of the reasons The LGBTQ Center has partnered with them, Gemino said.
“We want to make sure that there are young people that know that you can still have faith,” he said. “There are places for you to be accepted or even if you don’t have faith, you still have a place to be accepted at a church.”
All youth, middle school to high school ages are welcomed to the event.
“This is a good example of community members coming together to create something for our young people,” Gemino said.
For more information about the Rainbow Reconnection event, follow them on Instagram @rainbowrecconection. The event will be located at 333 W 3rd St., in Long Beach.
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