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Boston Gay & Lesbian Adolescent Social Services (GLASS) provides counseling, advocacy and referrals for health care services and housing to Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgendered and Questioning (GLBTQ) teens and young adults, many of whom are of color. Boston GLASS operates a community center that gives the teens it serves a safe place to hang out, do schoolwork, use a computer, watch TV, eat, and talk to peers. Boston GLASS also provides free HIV counseling and testing and makes referrals, when needed, to JRI Health’s Sidney Borum, Jr., Health Center.
The health advocates at Boston GLASS meet with youth individually to address any concerns they have that are related to physical, mental, or emotional health. Boston GLASS also conducts an extensive outreach program that provides safer sex materials and education to GLBTQ teens and young adults in the community including condoms, information about HIV testing and a list of testing sites.
Because many GLBTQ teens drop out of school when forced to leave home, Boston GLASS provides assistance to teens and young adults in finding housing, employment and in completing education. Boston GLASS operates a GED support program that provides instruction and online tools as well as its Housing and Employment Linkages Program (HELP), which helps teens on the path to self- sufficiency by linking them with jobs and housing. The staff at Boston GLASS also provides supported referrals to other providers in the community.
Boston GLASS also operates youth empowerment programs. The Shades of Color program is a peer education and leadership development program. Youth members participating in Shades conduct educational outreach to peers on the issues of HIV/AIDS, Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs), pregnancy, safer sex, homophobia, transphobia, racism, safety and decision-making, coming out and self-love. Members of this program and staff provide workshops on the aforementioned issues at high schools, colleges, and organizations. Boston GLASS’ Stepping Out in order to Love Ourselves (SOLO) project is a program that focuses on educating GLBTQ youth of color on issues including racism and homophobia. SOLO allows for individuals to learn about and discuss these issues, as well as have the opportunity to speak with GLBTQ people of color in the community who may serve as role models and mentors.
If teens are not ready to engage in these supportive services, they can still drop in to the community center and socialize with friends in a safe environment, and most importantly, feel free to be themselves.
Contact Information
Justin Brown, Program Director
Boston GLASS
93 Massachusetts Avenue, 3rd Floor
Boston, MA 02115
617.266.3349
jtbrown@jri.org
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