I started this organization because I know what it feels like to be afraid in the place you call home, and I never want another young person in our county to face that alone.
I grew up in a small, conservative, rural town in Connecticut. Going from middle school into high school, I was targeted by hate crimes because of who I am. My life was threatened more than once. What started as harassment became serious enough that it led to a Title IX investigation, an FBI investigation, and court-ordered restraining orders.
Those legal protections mattered, but they did not make the fear disappear. For a long time I lived with it — in the hallways, on the way home, and in the quiet moments when I was supposed to feel safe. I know how isolating that is, especially when you are young and it feels like nobody around you understands.
Eventually I made a promise to myself: I would not let what happened to me be the end of the story. I decided to do everything in my power to make a difference for LGBTQ+ youth in my county, so that they would have what I needed and did not have — a safe place, people who understand, and adults and peers who are on their side.
In 2025 I founded the Fairfield County LGBTQ+ Youth Alliance. Our work is built on a simple belief: every young person deserves to feel safe, seen, and celebrated, no matter which town they live in.
"Every young person deserves to feel safe, seen & celebrated."
The Alliance is youth-led, and that is intentional — the people best able to understand what young people need are young people themselves. We are working with schools, families, and community partners to build spaces, programs, and resources across Fairfield County, and every program we offer is free for youth.
If you are a young person looking for support, a parent trying to learn how to help, or someone who wants to be part of this work, I would be glad to hear from you. You do not have to face this alone.