Nonprofit offers support to LGBTQIA youth
ALSO Youth’s executive director, Donna Hanley, has announced that she will be leaving her position effective April 14, the nonprofit has announced.
“Hanley, a tireless and committed advocate for youth, has led the LGBTQIA youth support organization for the past three years and will be pursuing other human service opportunities in the local community,” a news release says. “She remains committed to the continued success of ALSO Youth and will be 100% involved in the transition of a new director,” the release adds.
“I am passionate about the youth that ALSO supports and the LGBTQ advocacy that the organization provides to the community,” Hanley said in the release. “It has been an honor to lead an organization that believes all youth should have the opportunity to develop and grow into adulthood with as few obstacles as possible in their path.”
“On behalf of the board, youth, staff and volunteers of ALSO Youth, I want to thank Donna for her compassion, vision and dedication in creating safe places for youth,” board President Cindy Kalligher added in the release. “Donna has reconnected the organization to the community and has raised awareness of the issues concerning LGBTQ youth and their allies,” Kalligher pointed out.
Anyone interested in being a candidate to replace Hanley may email executive.director@alsoyouth.org, the release notes.
Federal policy changes following the inauguration of President Donald Trump have prompted a number of news releases from ALSO Youth over the past weeks. For example, on Feb. 23 — shortly before the announcement of Hanley’s departure — ALSO Youth announced, “The current administration has rescinded the guidance issued to school districts by the U.S. Department of Education and U.S. Department of Justice on accommodating transgender and gender nonconforming students under Title IX.”
The release continued, “Although the withdrawal of the guidance will not change the law, it is sending a negative message to LGBTQ youth that the federal government is not willing to enforce federal civil rights for all students.”
“The good news,” the release emphasized, is that “[w]ithdrawing the guidance does not change the law. Title IX prohibits discrimination against transgender people. Schools nationwide are increasingly supporting and affirming transgender students, and most will continue to do so with or without guidance from the administration.”
The organization encouraged people to call or write Trump, Education Secretary Betsy DeVos and Attorney General Jeff Sessions “to tell them why taking away this guidance is so harmful.”
The release also advised readers, “If you’re a parent or a trans student, check out the National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE) website and Facebook to to learn more about what this development means and how you can help us fight back!”