Statement on November 21, 2022

LUK’s heart goes out to the Colorado Springs community after the horrific shooting at the Club Q venue. There are few places and spaces where the LGBTQIA+ community can gather and feel they can be their authentic selves without judgment. The shooting, which happened on the eve of Transgender Day of Remembrance, is a chilling reminder of the violence targeted toward members of our community. LUK partners to create communities where all people are safe, healthy, and resilient. We cannot meet this vision if we are silent when atrocities and injustices happen in our world. We ask our community to advocate for LGBTQIA+ rights and support those who search daily for a safe space to be their genuine selves.  LUK is part of the National Child Traumatic Stress Network, which offers fact sheets for coping after tragedies and information on how to support LGBTQIA+ young people.   The first step in advocacy is building awareness. Please work this Holiday season towards learning how to be an affirming partner to LGBTQIA+ youth. 

• https://www.nctsn.org/resources/coping-after-mass-violence
• https://www.nctsn.org/what-is-child-trauma/populations-at-risk/lgbtq-youth/nctsn-resources
• https://www.nctsn.org/what-child-trauma-populations-risk-lgbtq-youth/external-resources

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