Volunteers needed - Transgender Chat Moderator for Youth Services

San Francisco CA

Description

We could use your help in providing a safe space for youth trans and nonbinary youth to find support and community. We're seeking at least two new volunteers (must be 18+ and identify as trans or nonbinary) to become moderators for our Thursday evening (4-7 pm pacific) online chat rooms. Volunteer positions are remote, so you can work from anywhere as long as you have internet access. For the past 5 years the LGBT National Help Center has run a weekly-moderated chat room for transgender, non-binary, gender expansive and gender fluid youth up to the age of 19. For many of our trans youth they do not have an outlet to make friends or find support, being limited in where they can go or who they can talk to in their every day lives. Our weekly chat room gives them the ability to find a new circle of support. The Chat Rooms allows them to be in a safe space where they can be open with their feelings, talk about fears or doubts, victories and challenges. They can find support and acceptance and learn how to offer those same things to others in need. It can also be a place to just be themselves and vent over a hard day at school. Sometimes the room is very serious and the conversation is about coming out, discrimination or bullying and sometimes it’s about everyone’s favorite bands or the latest show they binged on Netflix. The role of the Moderators is to create a Safe Space where youth can feel they can be open with their emotions and express themselves freely. This can be accomplished by kind and affirming words, giving each youth the respect they deserve and protecting the chat room from pranks or verbal attacks. Sometimes the Moderator will lead a discussion, ask open-ended questions or answer questions about the LGBTQ community. We ask for Moderator volunteers to be able to commit to at least a year of volunteering after training. If interested please contact us today or go to www.LGBThotline.org/volunteer to fill out an application Thank you!