Equality Crew
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Mission Statement
The Equality Crew exists to create inclusive spaces for LGBTQ+ youth to gather and have fun being their true selves. We dream of communities across Arkansas where ALL LGBTQ+ youth are loved, appreciated and welcomed in ALL spaces.
About This Cause
LGBTQ+ Youth in Arkansas LGBTQ+ youth in Arkansas do not have access to safe spaces where they can grow and flourish like their peers who do not identify as LGBTQ+. In a 2019 survey, GLSEN found that the vast majority (87%) of LGBTQ+ students in Arkansas regularly heard anti-LGBTQ+ remarks and experienced bias-based victimization at school. Nearly three-quarters of students reported experiencing at least one form of anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination and at least 90% of LGBTQ+ students in Arkansas did not have access to in-school resources and supports. The 2021 legislative session in Arkansas brought a widespread and overwhelming discriminatory crusade against LGBTQ+ youth in the state. The Trevor Project’s National Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health 2021 found that 94% of LGBTQ youth reported that recent politics negatively impacted their mental health. In response to these vast inequities, The Equality Crew was founded in April 2021 by a 14-year-old transgender Arkansan. Phoenix recognized the need for young LGBTQ+ Northwest Arkansans to have a strong and supportive community. He recalls, “I realized there are tons of organizations that support LGBTQ+ adults but very few focused on kids. Instead of waiting for it to happen, I decided to take it into my own hands because I believe that everyone deserves to live in a world that is equal.” Phoenix rallied the support of community leaders to create an LGBTQ+ led board and officially launched The Equality Crew at Siloam Springs Pride in June 2021, and then welcomed over 75 LGBTQ+ youth and allies for its first event in July. The Equality Crew established the state’s first and only Affirming Teacher and School Staff Database ahead of the 2021-22 school year so LGBTQ+ students could identify and connect with affirming teachers in their school building, with over 200 teachers and staff joining the database within the first quarter of the school year. The Equality Crew provides and/or identifies resources and referrals for LGBTQ+ youth, from PreK through high school, and their allies, including parents/caregivers, near peers, LGBTQ+ adults, teachers, and community members in Northwest Arkansas. While our main area of programming centers around social and community outreach events, The Equality Crew has continued building online connections and resources throughout the COVID-19 pandemic when it was unsafe for the younger members of our community to gather in-person prior to eligibility for vaccination. Our online resource library consistently has over 150 unique visitors each month, with over 1,300 social media followers. We are hosting online gaming and community building activities for spring semester 2022, with several youth currently signed up within the first month. We are most excited to be hosting our first annual Queer Prom in April 2022. Queer Prom provides a positive and memorable experience in a safe and inclusive environment. Through this event, we aim to provide the opportunity for queer youth to experience the feeling of community and acceptance - both for who they are as individuals and as a queer youth community. Each June, The Equality Crew is active in Siloam Pride and NWA Pride events. For the 2022 NWA Pride, we will be hosting a Teen Zone at Starr Theatre in Walton Arts Center as well as informational booths and an appearance in the state's largest Pride parade. In August, we will host a Back to School Festival with a daytime portion dedicated to sharing community resources and a community meal, and the nighttime portion transforming into a dance party. We are excited to partner with you to bring these events to Northwest Arkansas and our amazing LGBTQ+ youth!