What 12 Summers with LGBTQ+ Youth Have Taught Me About Hope

As I pack my bags and get ready for another summer at camp, I can't help but reflect on the journey that brought me here.

It feels like it’s been a lifetime since 2015 when I received a follow on Instagram from a brand-new summer camp with a mission to build the next generation of lgbtq+ leaders. I signed up to volunteer that summer as a cabin counselor with one simple hope in mind: to be the person I wish I had when I was younger.

I had no idea that one summer would turn into twelve.

Over the last twelve years, I've had the privilege of watching Brave Trails grow from an idea into a community that has welcomed more than 2,000 LGBTQ+ young people from all over the country. I've watched campers arrive nervous and unsure of what to expect, only to leave with new friendships, a deeper sense of self, and the knowledge that there are people in this world who understand them exactly as they are.

One of the greatest gifts of this work has been getting a front-row seat to something that many never get to experience, intergenerational lgbtq+ community. I've seen LGBTQ+ teens from every kind of background come together in a space where they don't have to spend energy wondering if they're safe. For some, it is the first time they've been surrounded by peers who share similar experiences and interests. For others, it is the first time they've met openly queer adults and been able to imagine a future for themselves.

What has surprised me most is how much this work has shaped me in return. Growing up, I didn't have queer role models or openly queer friends. Through Brave Trails, I've been able to see what becomes possible when young people are given the support, affirmation, and community they deserve.

This Pride Month, I find myself thinking a lot about the world our young people are growing up in.

Many queer adults are carrying fear and uncertainty right now as we witness political attacks and harmful rhetoric directed toward LGBTQ+ communities, especially trans young people. It hurts my heart to think that some LGBTQ+ students may be experiencing a more challenging school environment today than many of us did years ago. There are moments when it can feel overwhelming to look at the headlines and wonder what comes next.

And yet every summer, I find myself filled with hope.

Every year I leave camp deeply moved by our campers. Their compassion, creativity, and vision for the future challenge me to think bigger. There is something powerful about watching a teenager trade screen time for pony beads, laughter, and the kind of connection that can only happen when people share space in the outdoors together. They remind me that progress is built by people who refuse to stop imagining something better.

Creating that future requires all of us. Allyship for LGBTQ+ youth means continuing to invest in spaces where young people can belong, grow, and lead. It means supporting the programs and organizations that help make those experiences possible.

I am proud of the community we have built together. And I am proud to be part of a movement that believes a brighter future is worth fighting for.