LGBTQ Youth Programs

Location & Hours

Community Center

5750 Cedar Springs Rd, Dallas, TX 75235, USA
Headquarters, Administrative Staff, Community Center, Behavioral Health Services, Grupo Orgullo Hispano (GOH), THRIVE, Women with Pride, Youth First
View Hours Ph: 214-521-5124 more
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> LGBTQ Youth Programs

LGBTQ Youth Services

Youth First is one of the only LGBTQ-focused programs in North Texas that addresses the challenges LGBTQ teens face at home, school and in the community.

Youth First serves LGBTQ and allied youth, ages 12-18 and equips them with the tools and resources they need to live an authentic life through year-round, free programming that decreases high-risk behaviors, reduces social isolation, and increases self-esteem. 

Support Groups and Education Reduce High-Risk Behaviors

  • Gender Identity Night
  • Healthy Relationships Group
  • STAY Suicide Prevention Support Group
  • Queer Youth of Color Nights
  • Q Chat Space Online Groups
  • Homework help and job readiness 
  • HIV and STI prevention and testing

Social Programming Decreases Social Isolation

  • Friday Family Dinners
  • Game Nights
  • Movie Nights
  • Fieldtrips (Musicals/Shows, Dallas Zoo, Six Flags, etc.)
  • Pride Ball Prom
  • Holiday Parties

Creative Self-Expression and Community Involvement Builds Self-Esteem

  • Art and Writing Club
  • Creative Works Summer Program
  • Dance Workshops
  • University of Drag
  • Community Involvement (Feeding those in need, volunteering at Humane Society, etc.)

Behavioral Health Services Strengthen Coping Skills

  • LGBTQ focused mental health and substance abuse for youth.
  • Behavioral Health counseling services are available for teens in either individual, group or family settings.
    • Click here for behavioral health services.

More Program and Activities

Gender Identity Night is a support group for transgender and gender-diverse youth, ages 12-18, facilitated by Youth First staff and transgender adult mentors on Tuesdays at 7 p.m. Youth are empowered to share their feelings, seek advice, and make connections with peers who have shared experiences. Some group topics include: coming out, healthy boundaries and relationships, family, school, communication, self-love, and more

During the school year, many students find themselves needing extra help editing a paper, studying for exams, or completing assignments. Our homework help program provides youth with assistance and resources to succeed in school. The computer lab is equipped with Wi-Fi, Microsoft Office, Photoshop, and printing capabilities.

STAY (Saving Teens and Youth) is a suicide prevention support group that empowers LGBTQ and allied youth, ages 12-18, to break the stigma of talking about mental health, and creates a safe and supportive environment to discuss anxiety, depression, self-harm, and more. STAY gives youth the tools they need to talk to their peers about mental health and teaches them how to get help for a friend who might be feeling suicidal. Check Youth First calendar for upcoming dates.

The first Wednesday of each month Youth First has QYOC (Queer Youth of Color) Night – a support/discussion group for LGBTQ youth of color, ages 12-18. It is a peer to peer support group that is facilitated by community volunteers that serve as mentors for the youth. Some topics that are discussed include: embracing your identities, representation, visibility, self-worth, healthy relationships, etc.

On Wednesdays, drop in hours begin at 4 p.m., QYOC group starts at 7 p.m., and Youth First closes at 9 p.m.

Friday Family Dinner is a weekly social activity for LGBTQ and allied youth, ages 12-18, and their family members and guests on Fridays at 7 p.m. Youth and their guests share a family-style meal together where friendships are formed, family ties are strengthened, and youth are supported. Youth First is open until 10 p.m. on Fridays so youth and their guests can play games, socialize, and spend quality time together after dinner. If you are interested in donating food for Friday Family Dinner, click here to contact us. 

The Pride Ball Prom is a unique “come as you are” prom for LGBTQ and allied youth 12-18 to celebrate who you are! Our 2019 Pride Ball Prom was an awesome success with 250 youth attendees!

Art and writing can be a powerful form of self-expression, coping and sharing your unique voice with the world. Once a month, youth get instruction and support to explore new ways to express themselves through art and writing. All materials are provided. An annual summer Art Camp and Art Exhibit open to the Dallas Community are some additional art programming youth can participate in! 

Creative Works Summer Program, funded by Dallas Office of Cultural Affairs, brings opportunities to learn new ways of expressing yourself throughout the summer! Opportunities include art workshops, spoken word classes, field trips and more! All of the workshops and classes are drop-in basis, so you do not have to pre-register. If you are interested in any of the fieldtrips, please email us so we can get you on the list! Interested in performance art? Contact us to learn how you can get involved with our showcase at the end of the summer. 

Have transportation barriers or live too far away to make it to our in-person programming? Not to fear! Youth First, in partnership with CenterLink will soon be offering weekly online discussion groups for LGBTQ youth at QCHATSPACE.ORG. It is a live chat-based group where everyone is chatting during a pre-scheduled time. The first Monday night online discussion group facilitated by Youth First staff will be June 17th, 8:30 p.m. – 10 p.m. Want to join a chat before then? Visit QCHATSPACE.ORG to check out the current discussion groups facilitated by LGBTQ youth centers around the country that you can join weekly! 

U Drag is a program that brings together drag performers, makeup artists and other experts in the field to facilitiate workshops about the history and culture of drag, makeup theory and application, hair and costume design, building a drag persona, stage presence, and more! U Drag makes the art of drag an accessible form of positive self-expression for LGBTQ and allied youth. This program culminates in a U Drag showcase where participants can show off what they learned and educate the Dallas community about the art of drag being a positive form of self-expression for youth! University of Drag 2020 will be at the end of August 2020!

How do I get involved with Youth First?
Youth First is a drop-in center and all programs and activities are FREE to LGBTQ and allied youth. You do not need to pre-register or let us know you are coming; you can simply show up to any of our weekly programs that are listed on our monthly calendar. 

What if my parents won’t drive me to Youth First?
Youth First can provide youth with free DART passes to assist with transportation barriers. The Community Center is located a block away from Inwood/LoveField DART train station. 

What if I’m not out to my parents?
Because Youth First is a drop-in center, we don’t require parent/gaurdian permission for youth to participate in our programming – we just need an emergency contact. The only exception to this is for fieldtrips and overnight lock-ins, we do need parent/gaurdian permission.