Oasis O.P.E.N.

Nationally, experts have found that 40% of homeless youth identify as LGBTQ, and that they often experience homelessness in large part because of family rejection. We also know that homeless youth are at much higher risk for sexual violence, including abuse and trafficking.

In 2007, Oasis Youth Center created and implemented O.P.E.N. (Oasis Peer Education Network), an LGBTQ youth peer education training program to encourage healthy relationships and prevent sexual violence. Now in our sixth year, O.P.E.N. continues to help create a healthy LGBTQ community because peers teach other youth how to identify and have healthier relationships, and how to intervene on unhealthy or violent situations safely, early, and effectively.

Weekly O.P.E.N. activities and programming empowers youth to become the leaders and teachers in their community outside of Oasis as well. O.P.E.N. provides the tools with which we can all take action and the space for youth to use their personal assets to prevent sexual assault in the LGBTQ community and beyond.

Help create more stories like this one!