About Mountain Meadow: The need for us
The LGBT Assessment produced by PHMC estimated that 29% of all LGBT-headed households in Philadelphia had children in them. This equates to thousands of children in the Greater Philadelphia area and millions of youth throughout America , and those numbers are growing exponentially considering the rise in gay marriages, adoptions, surrogacy and alternative insemination. Yet still today, only a handful of agencies like Mountain Meadow - who work specifically with youth from the non-nuclear family - exist in all of North America . We are one small organization right here in Philadelphia trying to change this reality, one child and one family at a time.
A recent email to Mountain Meadow says it all:
I am the aunt of a niece who is 16 and struggling with self-esteem and is socially isolating in part because she is does not know how to talk to her peers about her lesbian parents. I am interested in your camp - costs, applications, deadlines, scholarship opportunities etc. I would also like for her to participate in your leadership training program as I think it will support her to blossom.
Mountain Meadow receives many calls and emails just like this one, from all over the nation, throughout the year. The common denominator is the search for programming that recognizes youth from LGBTQ families, brings them together and empowers them from childhood, through adolescence and into young adulthood.
Needs of youth and families
But aside from the need for programs, what do children and teens from alternative families need? What problems or challenges do they face at school and in their daily lives?
The need to know that "different" is "OK" - Many of the young people we work with struggle with the basic fact that their family is "different."
The need to understand why they are not always accepted - These children live in a confusing and hurtful world where their loving families are often condemned or unacknowledged. Homophobia unfortunately still exists, and transphobia is emerging in our society. Each have drastic affects on these young people: confusion, shame, fear and anger are among a multitude of emotions that are often manifested in low self-esteem, behavioral problems, depression, or other negative expressions.
The need to talk about it - To avoid taunting or physical reprisal, many of the children who participate in Mountain Meadow's programs have never before told anyone about their family structure.
The need to know that they are not alone - These youth often feel alone and tend to withdraw or become isolated, which can put them at risk of unhealthy behaviors, habits or associations, and can impede their overall development and ability to learn and grow in healthy ways.
The need to feel safe, at school and in the neighborhood - Those brave enough to be open about their families face the risk every day of being harassed, bullied, and even physically beaten because of their parents' sexual orientation or gender identity - not their own.