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Absolutely. You don’t have to be sure of anything, nor do you have to be LGBTQIA2+ at all, and coming out is a very personal process. If you’d like some support on that journey, we can help, but you don’t have to be “out” or have a label to be a part of IOYS.
If you are looking for friends, a safe place to learn about LGBTQIA2+ health and wellness, and a place to have fun, you are welcome here.
You bet! When you come here you decide what you’d like to be called and which pronouns to use. It’s totally okay if those things change over time, too! Your peers and the staff in the space love affirming your identity.
Absolutely! We have a secure Discord server where you can chat, make friends, and participate in hybrid or virtual programs.
Due to safety and privacy, we are currently not publicizing program hours outside our secure Discord server. Please join the server (call/text 719-315-1825) and check in frequently to learn about the programs taking place at IOYS!
We will only use the name and pronouns you ask us to when talking with your parents/guardian, and will never share or discuss your identity or activities at IOYS without your consent.
If your family does not know that you attend IOYS, we will not inform them without your consent.
Emergency notice:
In an emergency situation, we may contact your parent/guardian to ensure your safety. Please ask staff to learn more about what constitutes an emergency situation.
If you’d like a quick virtual tour of the space, feel free to check out this video!
As for what to expect, IOYS is a welcoming space, supervised by LGBTQIA2+ adults and allies, where you can hang out on the couch and watch movies, play games, listen to music, read a book, socialize, or make art. Peer advisors are youth and young adult leaders in the space who will welcome you and orient you to where everything is and what goes on. One of our space rules is “be radically welcoming,” and we mean that! Someone will come up and chat with you if you want them to, but folx will also respect your space if you need solitude or a quiet room.
Absolutely. Text/call 719-315-1825 and the staff will schedule some time to help orient you to the space.
Inside Out doesn’t provide medical care, but we have a clothing closet where you can choose clothes for your comfort. Leave them here or take them with you. We also have Transformations; a weekly support group for trans and gender-nonconforming folks, ages 13-24.
IOYS also employs a licensed professional counselor for free individual, family, or group therapy. Ask staff to learn more.
Safety is a priority for everyone. And this is a space where we learn to work through difficulties together, because those are really important skills.
We operate on a restorative justice model, so any conflict or behavioral issues will be addressed with an eye on supporting everyone involved to overcome the challenge.
All IOYS staff are mandatory reporters, so we have to report all cases of suspected or confirmed abuse and/or neglect. We are here to help you access resources to support your safety.
Safety is everything to us at IOYS. All staff members and volunteers have taken training in LGBTQIA2+ support and working with youth, and undergone a national background check.
When open for drop-in and program hours, there will always be at least two facilitators on-site to ensure that conduct and behaviors of IOYS participants remain appropriate and safe for all present.
We also have a Community Center Resource Officer (employed by a private security company, not police) who is trained and committed to protect this space through situational awareness and descalation tactics.
Staff and volunteers are committed to your safety and your freedom to have fun at Inside Out, and are always available if you need to talk about anything.
Parents and guardians may not attend programs or drop-in hours with you, but you and your family are welcome to schedule a visit or make a phone call to chat with our staff. Call/text 719-315-1825 to talk.
You are welcome to schedule a tour with staff by calling or texting 719-315-1825.
Aside from scheduled Family Events, parents/guardians may not attend programs or join IOYS’ Discord server unless they are trained volunteers and have the consent of their child. This is for the safety and confidentiality of every young person in the space.
Multiple times a year, IOYS will host events for IOYS youth, young adults, and their families and friends. We will share about these events on our social media platforms and in our newsletter, so keep an eye out!
The biggest IOYS family event each year is “Pride: Inside and Out,” a family-friendly Pride celebration for all ages that takes place the first Saturday in June at Hillside Community Center. Join us for art activities, vendors, resources, live performances and more!
Parents and guardians are always welcome to join our monthly TransParenting support group, where you can meet other parents of trans and gender-diverse children of any age, share challenges and successes, and get resources. Learn more on our TransParenting page.
We also host a Facebook group called LGBTQIA2+ Family Connection. Here, we hope families of LGBTQIA2+ individuals can share resources, events, and support.
Your child does not have to be a part of IOYS for you to participate in either of the above groups.
If you need further or more specific resources, please consult our resource page or reach out to us!
Not all young people who attend IOYS are “out” to their families, so we only use the name and pronouns they ask us to when speaking to their families, and we will never disclose a child’s identity without their consent. If an IOYS participant chooses not to tell their parents they attend IOYS at all, we will not betray that confidence.
NOTE: If there is ever an emergency situation or an issue of safety, emergency contacts will be notified immediately, as your child’s safety is our top priority.
Inside Out does not provide medical care, but we have a clothing closet where your child can choose clothes for their comfort for free.
We also have Transformations; a weekly support group for trans and gender-nonconforming young folks, ages 13-24.
IOYS also employs a licensed professional counselor for free individual, family, or group therapy. Ask staff to learn more.
Safety is a priority for everyone. And this is a space where we learn to work through difficulties together, because those are really important skills.
We operate on a restorative justice model, so any conflict or behavioral issues will be addressed with an eye on supporting everyone involved to overcome the challenge.
And we’d love to have you! Due to safety and security, we are currently only accepting volunteers on a referral basis, so if your child is a part of IOYS, please reach out to us if you’d like to volunteer!
Note: Parents/guardians may only volunteer with the consent of their child, and typically not during programs or drop-in hours, to maintain the confidentiality and privacy of the space.
We would love to see you at our monthly Safe at Schools Coalition, where we support students, parents, educators, and administrators in creating safer school environments for LGBTQIA2+ students! Please visit the PPSASC webpage to learn more and share your interest in joining!
We also welcome and greatly appreciate donations and sponsors in support of our work. If you’d like to help us continue our 33-year legacy of LGBTQIA2+ youth empowerment, learn about all the ways you can support us here.
educational things here
trainings stuff
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Not all young people who attend IOYS are “out” to their families, so we only use the name and pronouns they ask us to when speaking to their families, and we will never disclose a child’s identity without their consent. If an IOYS participant chooses not to tell their parents they attend IOYS at all, we will not betray that confidence.
NOTE: If there is ever an emergency situation or an issue of safety, emergency contacts will be notified immediately, as your child’s safety is our top priority.
Inside Out does not provide medical care, but we have a clothing closet where you can choose clothes for your comfort. Leave them here or take them with you.
We also have Transformations; a weekly support group for trans and gender-nonconforming folks, ages 13-24.
IOYS also employs a licensed professional counselor for free individual, family, or group therapy. Ask staff to learn more.
Safety is a priority for everyone. And this is a space where we learn to work through difficulties together, because those are really important skills.
We operate on a restorative justice model, so any conflict or behavioral issues will be addressed with an eye on supporting everyone involved to overcome the challenge.
And we’d love to have you! Due to safety and security, we are currently only accepting volunteers on a referral basis, so if your child is a part of IOYS, please reach out to us if you’d like to volunteer!
Note: Parents/guardians may only volunteer with the consent of their child, and typically not during programs or drop-in hours, to maintain the confidentiality and privacy of the space.
We would love to see you at our monthly Safe at Schools Coalition, where we support students, parents, educators, and administrators in creating safer school environments for LGBTQIA2+ students! Please visit the PPSASC webpage to learn more and share your interest in joining!
We also welcome and greatly appreciate donations and sponsors in support of our work. If you’d like to help us continue our 33-year legacy of LGBTQIA2+ youth empowerment, learn about all the ways you can support us here.
As a nonprofit, we may not recommend any school or school district over another. We encourage you to seek out the opinion of other parents of LGBTQIA2+ students in our LGBTQIA2+ Family Connection Facebook group, or through other networks.
At Inside Out Youth Services, we are dedicated to providing quality programs and services to LGBTQIA2+ youth in Colorado Springs and the surrounding counties. Our wide range of offerings includes support groups, mentoring opportunities, educational workshops, and social activities, designed to meet the unique needs of LGBTQIA2+ youth and young adults at all stages of their journey.
At Inside Out Youth Services, we are dedicated to providing quality programs and services to LGBTQIA2+ youth in Colorado Springs and the surrounding counties. Our wide range of offerings includes support groups, mentoring opportunities, educational workshops, and social activities, designed to meet the unique needs of LGBTQIA2+ youth and young adults at all stages of their journey.
719-328-1056
223 N Wahsatch Ave, Suite 101
Colorado Springs, CO 80903
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