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The mission of the Indiana Youth Group, IYG, is to reduce high-risk behaviors of sexually diverse youth under the age of 21 by improving their self-esteem through education, support, healthy social alternatives, medical attention and therapeutic experiences.
The Steering Committe is made up of the following individuals: Sandie Brown, Coordinator and Treasurer; Rob Mate, yours truly, and Chair of the Steering Committee; and, Sandi Merritt, our Secretary. Our committee is also represented by clergy, medical and mental health professionals, heterosexuals and gays, and other people of distinction in our community.
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The Indiana Youth Group was created in December 1987 by Christopher T. Gonzalez in response to the needs of self-identified gay, lesbian, bisexual and questioning youth.
In 1987, two members of the "Gay Switchboard" (Chris Gonzalez and Pat Jordan) were speaking to the IUPUI gay student group, when they were asked what was available for gay youth in Indianapolis. Unfortunately, the answer was "nothing." It was clear that there was a need for support for gay and lesbian youth. The "Gay Switchboard" was receiving many calls from young lesbian and gay people. Out of the frustration of not being able to refer young people to any support systems in Indianapolis, Chris got togehter a small group of friends to talk about beginning a gay and lesbian youth group.
Knowing that gay and lesbian youth deserved better is what prompted a small handful of gay and lesbian adults and youth to begin what turned out to be one of the largest gay, lesbian and bisexual programs in the country, IYG. Today, there are IYG Chapters in ten other cities in Indiana: Anderson, Bloomington, Evansville, Fort Wayne, Lafayette, Lake-Shore Region, Michiana, Muncie, Richmond, and Terre Haute.
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The Lafayette Chpater of IYG was reactivated in February, 1995 under new leadership after a short period of inactivity. The resurgence of interest occurred after Sandie Brown and Rob Mate got together in response to their awareness that there weren't any support systems for lesbian, gay, and bisexual youths in the Greater Lafayette community other than the Purdue University student organizations which are geared more toward the college age student (see the LesBiGay Network home page). The Lafayette Chapter of IYG focuses in on gay, lesbian, trsans and bisexual youths under the age of 21, to provide activities and much needed support for these individuals from all around our community.
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...think again. Do you find yourself moe attracted to people of your own sex? If you're confused about some of your feelings, you're not alone -- many teenagers just like you either know that they're lesbian, gay, transgendered, or bisexual, or they aren't sure and they're looking for some answers.
Thinking that you might be gay, lesbian, transgendered or bisexual can be scary and lonely at first. But if you're having these types of feelings or thoughts, it's OK -- there's nothing wrong with you. Ten to fifteen percent of the world feels the same way.
Now there's a place where you can get some of the answers you've been searching for - the IYG-Lafayette Chapter, an educational, support and social group for teenagers who know that they're lesbian, gay, transgendered, bisexual, or who think they might be.
IYG is here to help you feel better about yourself. IYG will help teach you important things like how to love yourself, how to be proud of who you are, how to recognize that you're a good person regardless of your sexual orientation. The IYG will teach you how to protect yourself from drugs and alcohol use and from AIDS.
Through the combined efforts of IYG Indianapolis, and the Lafayette Chapter, you can have access to such wonderful activities as: group meetings, socials, dances and roller-skating parties, retreats, and a variety of educational and video material.
Do you want to know more about us? Don't hesitate to give the voice mail number listed at the top of the page a call. We will do everything to get back to you as soon as possible in a confidential manner. If you prefer, you can email me, Rob, here. I will respond as quickly as I can, and with as much discretion as email can allow. Perhaps we can set up a time to talk on the phone. If you prefer to talk with Sandie, we can arrange that too.
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Our IYG-Lafayette meetings are currently being held on the first and third Sundays of every month. The meeting time is from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., and the meeting place is kept confidential for everyone's safety. If you are interested in attending an IYG-Lafayette group meeting, please contact us through the voice mail system, or if you prefer, email us at IYG-Lafayette, and we will arrange a time when we can talk. If you are contacting us for the first time, and want to attend a meeting, we will need to talk with you first. This is only to maintain confidentiality for all.
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IYG-Indianapolis
P.O. Box 20716
Indianapolis, Indiana 46220
317.541.8726
Hotline: 1.800.347.TEEN
Web Page: http://www.gayindy.org/iyg/index.html
Email: IYG-Indy
Purdue's LesBiGay Network
Web Page: http://expert.cc.purdue.edu/~triangle
Email: triangle@expert.cc.purdue.edu
Purdue University Ally Association
Web Page: http://expert.cc.purdue.edu/~ally
Email: Ally
Association
Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG)
Lafayette contact: Sandie Brown, 765.447.3689
PFLAG-National
1012 14th Street, N.W., Suite 700
Washington, D.C. 20005
202.638.4200
Gay and Lesbian and Straight Teachers Network (GLSTN)
Kevin Jennings, Executive Director
P.O. Box 390526
Cambridge, MA 02130-0006
COOL Link to Check OUT
Youth Action Online
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Email us with your comments, questions, or suggestions: IYG-Lafayette. THANKS!
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IYG-Lafayette Chapter / P.O. Box 4826 / Lafayette, Indiana
47903
Voice Mail: 765.523.5776
This page maintained by Robert L. Mate / Send
comments to Rob Mate
9626 W. 650 S. / Colfax, IN 46035