2023
Annual Report
We believe every young life deserves unconditional love.
One in five LGBTQ+ youth say their religion or spirituality is important to them
And research shows that LGBTQ+ youth with a flourishing faith experience better mental health.
(The International Journal for the Psychology of Religion, 2023).
Unfortunately, too many faith communities don’t make room for these young believers to belong and thrive. Instead of the unconditional love that all queer youth deserve, they face rejection in these non-affirming churches, synagogues, mosques, temples and other places of worship.
Since 2020, Beloved Arise has been on a mission to celebrate and empower queer youth of faith. We imagine a world where no one is forced to choose between who they are or who they love and what they believe. That’s why we help youth embrace both their faith and their queer identity.
We’ve created a movement to fight for the lives of queer youth of faith through affirmation and support. Partnering with a multi-faith community of organizations, we uplift and empower young people from all faith traditions and all identities and expressions.
For every LGBTQ+ youth who has been condemned or cast out, we say: “You are beloved!”
We celebrate and empower queer youth of faith.
LGBTQ+ youth who experience family rejection during adolescence are:
8.4x
more likely to report having attempted suicide.
5.9x
more likely to report high levels of depression.
3.4x
more likely to use illegal drugs.
LGBTQ+ youth who experienced high acceptance from family and peers had up to 40% lower odds of suicide attempts.
“In times of trail and in the face of reaction, LGBTQ+ people of faith have held on to our beliefs and traditions and at times have formed new ones. We belong in every faith tradition across the world.”
Human Rights Campaign
We uplift queer youth of faith so they can belong, believe, and be loved
For the past four years, Beloved Arise has encouraged queer youth to nurture their faith and seek affirming communities where they can belong, believe, and be loved—just as they are.
This past year, we have grown our community to include all faith traditions and we’ve continued to offer theologically backed resources to thousands of young people through virtual and in-person groups.
By celebrating, affirming, and supporting queer youth of faith, we are saving lives. Our programs, community groups, and resources help vulnerable young people see that they can be loved boldly BECAUSE of their queerness—not in spite of it—so they can flourish.
Impact
In 2023, we raised awareness for queer youth of faith through national media coverage, generating more than 410M media impressions.
NASDAQ
On June 30th, during Beloved Arise’s fourth annual Queer Youth of Faith Day (QYFDAY), NASDAQ and GLAAD celebrated with a digital billboard display in Times Square. Queer youth of faith even joined Beloved Arise to ring the opening bell to kick off Queer Youth of Faith Day.
Jun 30, 2023 • Mashable
What it's like being young, queer, and religious
May 18, 2023 • Sojourners
Why this Trans Christian teen worships from home
May 23, 2023 • Bay Area Reporter
LGBTQ agenda: new LGBTQ alliance to hold day of prayer for queer youth to end pride month
Jun 13, 2023 • Advocate
Meet 10 queer high schoolers who are proud of their faith
Jun 28, 2023 • Yahoo Lifestyle
Religion is used as a weapon against LGBTQ youth—but some are devoutly faithful. Here's how they thrive in both worlds
February 23, 2023 • Jewish Telegraphic Agency
‘Where do I stand?’ queer modern orthodox teens navigate a changing world
We launched The Beloved Arise Youth Alliance Program!
Launched in April 2023, The Youth Alliance Program is a youth-led network committed to making the world a safer, more loving place for LGBTQ+ youth of faith and is open to both youth and young adults (ages 14-24).
Since its launch, the Youth Alliance Program gained 90+ members and provided two mini-grants to members that support their projects aimed to uplift and empower queer youth of faith.
A message from one of our donors
“Hi, my name is Priscilla Cheng, pronouns are they/them. I’m the founder and therapist at Pride and Grace Counseling. We donate monthly to Beloved Arise because we believe in supporting organizations that help the safety and wellness of the queer community. If you can, please also support them in their life-changing work.”
Financials
| 2023 Revenue | ||
|---|---|---|
| Individual donations | $91,646 | |
| In-kind donations | $86,174 | |
| Miscellaneous income | $597 | |
| 2023 Expenses | ||
|---|---|---|
| Youth programs | $168,130 | |
| Fundraising | $39,138 | |
| Administration | $13,923 | |
Thank you to our 2023 Community Sponsors
Are you a place of worship or organization ready to invest in queer youth of faith on a national level? Find more information about our Community Sponsor program here and email Kaitlyn (kaitlyn@belovedarise.org) with any questions.
Looking forward
Beloved Arise is on a mission to reach LGBTQ+ youth of faith and invite them into a loving community where they can build friendships, find hope and healing, and grow their faith—not abandon it.
New Mentorship Program for queer youth of faith
With a mission to celebrate and empower LGBTQ+ youth of faith, Beloved Arise is launching a new mentorship program to connect queer youth of faith with queer adults of faith.
Mentors will be a source of encouragement and guidance, a caring companion to youth who are navigating the journey of being queer in religious communities. This experience will cultivate intergenerational queer learning and community, providing enriching opportunities for religious, ethical, and spiritual reflection for both mentors and mentees.
We are piloting the new mentorship program in March 2024, with a full launch scheduled for Summer 2024.
Ways to support
Will you stand with LGBTQ+ youth of faith? Join us and make a direct impact on the lives of queer youth across the country and around the world!
Join us in spreading MORE LOVE!
We have a thriving network of $100+/month donors as part of More Love 100. Donors in More Love 100 help us spread MORE LOVE to queer youth of faith by committing to a monthly donation of $100 or more.
If you have a heart for LGBTQ+ youth of faith, please consider joining this vital community of donors—and invite others!
Want to give monthly at a different amount? Every single gift matters – join our community of monthly donors!
Do you have gifts to share with queer youth of faith and our community? Learn more about our volunteer opportunities below, or email kaitlyn@belovedarise.org to start volunteering with us today!