About the Group

 

Welcome to our group for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning youth between the ages of 10 & 14! This group is focused on being together, having fun, and making friends. Having a group of age-mates, especially during this developmental period, is crucial to positive identity and moral development - key “tasks” of adolescents in preparing for adulthood.

This is not a drop-in group. Youth must enroll for the 10-week cohort and cannot drop-in on individual sessions.

The group is facilitated by three adults, two at a time on a rotating basis, who will facilitate activities based on the interests of group members. Examples of activities have included cookie baking, show & tell, Netflix Party, and arts & crafts. These adults have completed a rigorous application, interview, screening, background checking, and training program, and are supervised by Lambert House staff. The group will meet virtually by video on Zoom and in-person; this does require group members to have compatible hardware (laptop, desktop computer, tablet, or phone with a camera and microphone) and high speed internet to participate in the Zoom sessions. Some activities may require parent/guardian/family support to set up such as acquiring materials, or setting up the technology if the group participant is not able to do that on their own.

There is a $200-100 sliding scale fee for this group. This fee does not cover our full cost to offer this group. We also do not want this to be a barrier for participation, and we offer need-based scholarships. Email onlinegroups@lamberthouse.org for more information and to request a short scholarship application.

Fall 2024 Cohort Dates (5 on Zoom, 5 in-person at Lambert House Drop-In Center), 3-4:30pm:

  • 9/14 - Zoom

  • 9/21 - Lambert House In-Person

  • 9/28 - Zoom

  • 10/5 - Lambert House In-Person

  • 10/12 - Zoom

  • 10/19 - Lambert House In-Person

  • 10/26 - Zoom

  • 11/2 - Lambert House In-Person

  • 11/9 - Zoom

  • 11/16 - Lambert House In-Person

Winter 2025 Cohort Dates (5 on Zoom, 5 in-person at Lambert House Drop-In Center), 3-4:30pm:

  • 1/4/25 - Zoom

  • 1/11/25 - In-Person

  • 1/18/25 - No Group (Martin Luther King, Jr. Weekend)

  • 1/25/25 - Zoom

  • 2/1/25 - In-Person

  • 2/8/25 - Zoom

  • 2/15/25 - In-Person

  • 2/22/25 - No Group (Washington’s Birthday Weekend)

  • 3/1/25 - Zoom

  • 3/8/25 - In-Person

“Peer support groups are often the only place where lesbian and gay teens can be open, be themselves, and talk freely… Support is only one function of such groups. Peer interactions should be encouraged and fostered. ‘I didn’t want a support group,’ claims Vic... ‘I wanted friends.’ Indeed, friends, especially those in lesbian and gay support groups, are a primary source of advice and guidance.”

(Owens Jr., Robert E. “Addressing the Needs of Queer Kids.” Queer Kids: The Challenges and Promise for Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Youth, Harrington Park Press, 1998, pgs. 155-156).

Registration for Winter 2025 Open

To register for our Winter 2025 cohort, or to be notified with registration for our Spring 2025 cohort opens, please email onlinegroups@lamberthouse.org. Information about our other online programs is available here: https://www.lamberthouse.org/youth-programs/

Parent/Guardian Permission Form Required For Youth Under 13 Years Old

Lambert House requires completion of a permission form by a parent or legal guardian of any youth aged 12 and younger prior to the youth’s participation in any of our groups or events. You may fill out the permission form online: https://forms.gle/CeBEAeWYAifm2N2Q6