Health Justice Initiative
Raising Up the Voices of Queer Youth of Color
The Health Justice Initiative (HJI) at Youth In Focus supports youth-led action research and evaluation on health issues that youth identify in the Bay Area. The HJI seeks to carve out a space in the world for queer and questioning youth of color to define their needs and experiences and to influence the institutions, policies, and practices that affect their lives. Using popular education and participatory action research, the HJI aids lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning youth in:
• identifying and investigating issues that critically impact their lives,
• using their findings and recommendations to elevate youth voice,
• challenging multiple forms of oppression, and
• creating meaningful changes in their communities, schools, health clinics, and organizations.
The HJI works with LGBTQQ youth of color, queer and questioning young white allies, adult allies and organizations to combat the oppression formed by the intersections of racism and classism with heterosexism, homophobia, and transphobia.
Queer youth face considerable isolation, harassment, discrimination, and violence, often resulting in depression, substance abuse, poverty, and death. Little research, however, has been published about queer youth, let alone queer youth of color. Health and human service providers primarily rely on adults' needs and experiences to serve young LGBTQQ clients. LGBTQQ legislative efforts often prioritize marriage, domestic partnership, property, and insurance rights. The needs of queer and questioning youth go unmet in health clinics, schools, and governmental policies and practice.
The HJI supports queer youth of color in conducting action research on health issues broadly defined, to include issues relating to identity, mental health, community health, and access. Through this work, the HJI addresses health impacts on youth in respect to racism, poverty, violence, HIV/AIDS and STIs, relationships, sex work, drugs and alcohol, and any other issues young people identify as affecting their well being.
The HJI works in coalition with project partners, community members, and other allies to transform oppressive social conditions, build youth power within the larger LGBTQQ community, and improve the health and safety of queer youth. The HJI pursues these goals by mobilizing action, advancing local and state policy, and engaging in creative projects that inspire individuals and communities. The HJI supports queer and questioning youth to form solidarity among one another and with adult allies as they struggle against systematic oppression and vision a more just world.
The Health Justice Initiative was launched in June 2005. The HJI is honored to currently be collaborating on youth-led action research projects with:
• Dimensions Queer Youth Clinic, Youth Advisory Board
• El Cerrito High School, Community Project
• The San Francisco LGBT Center, Youth Economic Empowerment Project
