With the mass shooting at an LGBTQ night club in Orlando still fresh in our minds it is important to ask how this tragedy works in the psyche. Fear and doubt about safety are first and foremost reactions. They sink in and cast a dark shadow over any feelings of confidence in the world for those of us in the queer community. But the impact is even greater for young queer people.
Violence directed at LGBTQ+ people is all too common. Added to that are headlines in the news, that seem to come every day, about allowing anyone to discriminate against queer people or even what bathroom can be used by whom. This climate of violence, both physical and psychological takes a toll and becomes embedded in the psyche. As a young person growing up in this environment it becomes natural to doubt your worth, even your existence. A queer adolescent who is asking the fundamental question 'Who am I' can feel detached and alone. It's no wonder that suicide, addiction and depression are more common in the LGBTQ+ community.
To help address the need for healing within the queer community, the School of Lost Borders created the Queer Quest in 2012. The profound healing and re-connection to both self and nature for participants has been a joy to witness. Thanks to the positive response in the queer community we have been able to offer this program every year since, and it has become an integral part of our annual vision fast schedule. In 2017, for the first time, the School will also be offering a Youth Queer Quest for young people, ages 16-19, to provide a safe space for young queer people to do the important work of stepping fully into who they are and bringing their unique gifts to the world.
We are planning to hold the adult Queer Quest directly before the Youth Queer Quest next year, so that adult participants will have an opportunity to welcome the young people to the land and ceremony. This is a great chance to come together as a community across generations to witness and support each other in profound ways. This level of deep witnessing and connection is not easily found in the queer community today. It will be extremely empowering and healing for queer young people, adults, elders, and the community as a whole.
In our culture where violence is so common, this work is essential to our very survival. The world greatly needs the gifts from all of us at this time. Providing a space for queer people of all ages to do deep and needed healing is one step, along with standing side by side with all people to stand up to the violence, in whatever form it takes, to bring more wholeness, acceptance and balance back into the world.