On any given night in Minnesota, over 6,000 youth are without the safety of home. A disproportionate amount of these young people identify as LGBTQ+. Too often, when a youth comes out, they find themselves without safety, acceptance, and support.
The Bridge for Youth is a safe place for all LGBTQ+ youth. In 2025 alone, 27% of the youth at The Bridge self-identified as LGBTQ+. Through our presence at Pride festivals throughout the state, our long-running support group ‘So What If I Am’, specialized case management for LGBTQ+ youth, and our annual Youth Pride Celebration, The Bridge is committed to affirming and uplifting LGBTQ+ identities.
To celebrate Pride Month, we invited youth to share some reflections on their queer journey and how The Bridge has empowered them:
Cee:
“I started coming to ‘So What If I Am’ 2 years after coming out as transgender. I needed community and listening ears. ‘So What If I Am’ helped me with that and more. They’ve also provided me with my first binder and other gender affirming resources. Here I’ve found a supportive community that is always cheering me on. Thank you to The Bridge for Youth for helping me grow into the person I am today.”
Ben:
“Growing up, I never felt safe enough to say who I was. But since coming to The Bridge, the staff has helped me embrace who I am by modeling what it means to be my authentic self. For the first time, I am around people who understand what I have been through. I felt loved for who I was at a time when it felt impossible.”
Bobbi:
“Ever since coming to ‘So What If I Am’ I’ve found lifelong friends who accept me for who I am. The best part of a support group is that we can show up exactly as we are without hiding any parts of ourselves, our stories, or experiences. We get to experiment with new names and pronouns, be silly, and be there for each other. The memories I’ve made at The Bridge and the resources they’ve given me changed everything.”
If you’re a young person between the ages of 12-22 looking for safety, acceptance, and support, please consider joining us at ‘So What If I Am’. Group meets every Tuesday from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Email [email protected] or call 763-807-8103 to learn more.
