Orlando Youth Alliance

Orlando Youth Alliance (OYA) provides a safe space for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth in Central Florida. Its heart is a weekly peer-to-peer support group where members ages 13 to 23 talk through the issues that matter in their lives, make friends and find positive role models. The main group meets in Orlando, and affiliated groups serve Seminole, Osceola and Lakeland. There is no cost to join.

The group is peer based: background-checked adult facilitators attend every meeting and event, but the agenda belongs to the youth. Monthly social, educational and recreational activities build friendships outside meetings, from movie nights, bowling and theme park trips to marching in Pride and walking in AIDS Walk Orlando. OYA also offers LGBT History & Culture classes, career exploration, continuing education scholarships and a vetted mental health referral list of licensed counselors who reject reparative therapy. School GSAs in Orange, Seminole, Osceola, Lake, Brevard and Polk counties can apply for grants.

Any LGBTQ+ youth 23 or under who is facing trouble at home or harassment at school can email or call the alliance, and can stay anonymous. Adults 25 and older can volunteer as group facilitators, event organizers, fundraisers or board members, and parents are invited to chaperone events and support the program.