Mission:
OUTstanding Amarillo promotes empowerment and acceptance of the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender population of the Texas Panhandle by initiating dialogue, providing education, and creating support systems with the ultimate goal of social change.
NALGBTCC Member
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who can attend?
OUTstanding Amarillo's programs are open to any GLBTQ individuals from Amarillo and the surrounding area, their friends, families, and allies. We are an all-inclusive group and while we have programs specifically for certain age/gender/ethnic groups, our programs are open to all GLBTQ youth and adults and their families!!
Where are we located?
OUTstanding Amarillo operates out of the OUTstanding Amarillo Community Center at 616 S. Harrison. We are the only business front located on Harrison street between 6th and 7th streets. We're easy to spot with rainbow colored windows.
What about my parents - they want to come?
OUTstanding Amarillo offers programs for youth and we encourage any parent to come with their youth and visit the center before group. We also encourage parents to sit-in on one of the groups or events to see what it's all about!!
Parents are encouraged to get involved with OUTstanding as volunteers, future board members and of course, donors!!!
OUTstanding Amarillo also works with P-FLAG which is a support organization for Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays. Click here to find out more about the national chapter (www.pflag.org).
What about the adults involved?
All of the adults who volunteer with OUTstanding Amarillo are required to complete our "WORKING WITH YOUTH: General Volunteer Training Class (8 hours). OUTstanding also performs reference checks on volunteers prior to allowing the adults to have individual interaction with the youth of our program.
Are any of the groups a therapy group?
Some of the groups are led by professionals, others are facilitated by volunteers.
The Thursday night LifeRap group is led by a professional therapist. Sometimes the discussion takes a therapeutic turn, but often it is simply a discussion about life's common issues. This group is open to all ages, but more often attended by adults.
The Thursday night TeenChat is for young people to interact with other youth and talk about what they want to talk about! Sometimes there are specific topics, sometimes it's an open discussion, and sometimes we break down into smaller groups so everyone has a chance to talk!!! This group is facilitated by adult volunteers and we occasionally have guest speakers from the community.
Is it therapeutic at times --- SURE!! But the youth group is not run by or facilitated by a licensed therapist!
If you feel you would like to talk with a Therapist, OUTstanding Amarillo offers that service free of change - Call the office (337-1OUT) for more information!
Why would I want to come - I don't have any problems!
OUTstanding Amarillo (and specifically the Thursday night groups) is for everyone - with or without problems!!!
There are programs for youth and adults with specific needs and we want to help all GLBTQ individuals - but for other's looking for just interaction with their peers and making new friends - then OUTstanding is for you too!!!
Is it all free?
Most all of the services provided by OUTstanding are free of charge and many of our social functions and parties are free also!!!
Donations (Mostly private and some through grants and community sponsors) make this all possible. To help support all of the programs OUTstanding Amarillo - Click here.
There are camping trips, out of town educational trips and other MAJOR events that do cost - so the youth fund raise - through car washes, garage sales and special events to raise the funds to attend these exciting events!!!
Also - there are ways that you can earn Credits to turn into dollars to help pay for your trips --- what to know more??? Just ask us how!!!
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