LET’S
CELEBRATE
LGBTQ+
YOUTH
OF FAITH
5th Annual Queer Youth of Faith Day ✧ 06.30.2024
Join us in celebrating the beauty, courage, and faith of LGBTQ+ youth.
1 in 5 LGBTQ youth say their faith is important to them.
Too many youth in churches, synagogues, mosques, and temples are told they must choose their faith or their queer identities. On Queer Youth of Faith Day, we celebrate LGBTQ+ youth who refuse to accept the tyranny of “or” – and we join them in proclaiming the power of “and.”
2024 “The profound impact of my faith shaped who I am, influencing my lifestyle, and shaping my worldview. I have learned that the intricate integration of my faith and spirituality with my queer identity reveals a harmonious coexistence that enriches my sense of self…”
Laila • California
2024“My faith will forever affect the way I speak, act, and feel. The loving and embracing nature of Unitarian-Universalism is something so very special, and it has given me a chance to connect with the things I adore further and understand the sense of beauty that is within all of us, but especially within myself…”
Dylan • North Carolina
2024 “When I was little, I would look in the mirror and tell myself, “I’m not a girl, I’m Tzedek,” before I even knew what gender was. I knew I was Justice and Jewish but did not identify as a girl…”
Tzedek • California
2023“I choose to be Muslim. I choose the culture that I love, and I am both queer and Muslim. No matter how hard anyone tries, that will not change. I am all of the above…”
sarrah • Texas
2023 “… acts of kindness became a leading figure in my life. Completing service for others was a core idea that I learned through Sikhism and wanted to apply it anywhere I could.”
Ria • Connecticut
2020 “… I looked up to the sky, and on my knees, brought God back into my life. Since that night, I have fallen in love with my queerness, and I have grown so much in my faith. I have never felt more joyful and confident.”
Kelsie • Illinois
What is #QYFDAY?Queer Youth of Faith Day (June 30) is a national day celebrating LGBTQIA+ youth across religious and spiritual traditions.
The day also marks a call to action for allies to support and advocate for queer youth in their religious communities.
Hosted by Beloved Arise, Queer Youth of Faith Day has been celebrated since 2020.
Why this mattersReligious LGBTQ youth are suffering.
Religiosity has been associated with significantly higher rates of suicide attempts among gay, lesbian, and questioning youth.
They are pressured to change who they are.
Most states still allow LGBTQ+ minors to be subjected to harmful “conversion therapy.” 27% of LGBT+ youth who attempted suicide in 2020 had been sent to conversion therapy.
They are shamed in school and homes.
70% report being bullied at school for their sexual orientation; 67% report hearing families make negative comments about LGBTQ people.
How to participate
Find ways to celebrate queer youth in your faith community. Check out this list for ideas.
Follow us on social media and help us spread the word. Check out our media kit for content starters.
Gather your faith community to pray for the safety, well-being, and flourishing of queer youth. Check out our prayer guide.
Tune in to Beloved Arise Instagram on June 30, as our youth lead us in a celebration for Queer Youth of Faith Day
Queer Youth of Faith Day Youth Leadership Team
Beloved Arise Youth
Ambassador ✧ Christianqyf Essay winner ✧ christian
qyf Essay winner
✧ christianqyf Essay winner ✧ jewish 
qyf Essay winner ✧ jewish qyf Essay winner ✧ taoist 
Beloved Arise Youth Ambassador ✧ JewishBeloved Arise Youth
Ambassador ✧ Muslim