Today we’d like to introduce you to Zoey Schwartz.
Hi Zoey, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
IUY (www.iuysafespace.com) was started as a universal and accessible queer safe space for LGBTQIA+ youth. While I began creating the website in October of 2020, the story does not necessarily begin there. After attending religious school and facing blatant and direct homophobia, I was scared to come out. However, I finally began to live fully in my identity during my freshman year of high school. After coming out to close friends and family, I still faced a lot of homophobia and had no one to turn to and felt alone. While there were online LGBTQIA+ resources, many of these were emergency hotlines which was not what I personally needed. I felt isolated because I did not have positive queer role models or representation in my own life Thus, I began crafting the idea of IUY.
Because I am very interested in the STEM field, I taught myself to code and started creating the different components of IUY. The website began as the idea of having a platform where people were free to read and submit their own coming-out stories. While this still exists, I also added the component in which queer youth could ask other queer youth questions over email. Further, I later developed an in-person buddy program to try and give LGBTQIA+ youth more access to role models and friends. More recently, I developed a Queer Newsletter where I release in-depth teen-created articles about various topics like historical representation of masc lesbians, rainbow capitalism, disappearing lesbian bars in the United States, and the influence of dating apps on queer youth.
While I still believe that the spread of information and stories is extremely important for queer youth, I wanted to do more to make a difference in this community. Last year, I partnered with gc2b, a trans-owned company that sells comfortable and safe binders, to assist in distributing binders. To date, IUY has donated over 200 binders in eight countries nationwide. Additionally, we have donated more than 50 binders to Trans Wellness Center and have held card-making events to send positive messages along with the donations. IUY also hosts poetry and essay contests to provide binder scholarships.
Though IUY has diverged into various forms of activism, stories still remain the main focus of the website. Additionally, on the IUY website stories from those from 13 to 70+ are visible to all and hopefully, give readers support and a feeling of belonging to a strong and thriving community.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Though I can now say that IUY has had great success, I had to go through some challenges to get to this point. The major struggle has been encouraging people to feel like their voices and stories matter enough to share. I have heard from many readers who do not have the confidence to submit a story or are nervous about how it will be received. I do my best to respond personally to each person and encourage them to share either their coming out story or any story about the LGBTQIA+ experience. However, IUY stories can be about any experience an LGBTQIA+ person has had, not just coming out.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about IUY (I Understand You)?
IUY is created by queer teens and for young members of the LGBTQIA+ community. This is one of the only organizations completely run by youth which allows it to connect to more young queer teens. Additionally, any LGBTQIA+ activists are encouraged to reach out for partnerships and all are welcome to write and volunteer. Email [email protected] for more information.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
The IUY volunteer team all are determined and passionate individuals who are constantly striving for change. They are constantly reaching out to others and searching for new ideas for social media campaigns and in-person events. As the founder of IUY, I believe my passion for advocating for the LGBTQIA+ community has been able to help me get through the challenges that arise with creating a website and getting others to be involved and thus has led to my success.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.iuysafespace.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/iuy.safespace?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
