A Place to Belong
Finding Support and community for LGBTQIA2+ youth in Colorado Springs
By Victoria Birchfield, staff writer
On a quiet afternoon in Colorado Springs, the door at Inside Out Youth Services opens and a group of teenagers step inside, leaving the uncertainty of the outside world behind. Inside, laughter carries through the building. Someone calls out a greeting. For a moment, the tension many of them carry begins to fade.
For LGBTQIA2+ youth in the Pikes Peak region, this space offers something they do not always find elsewhere, a sense of safety, belonging, and understanding. At a time when many young people are facing increased mental health challenges and uncertainty, spaces like this can make a lasting difference in how supported and safe they feel in their everyday lives.
Inside Out Youth Services, a nonprofit serving young people ages 13 to 24, has become an important source of support in the Colorado Springs community. While national conversations about LGBTQIA+ youth often focus on politics and policy, this story focuses on something closer to home, the everyday work of a local organization making a real difference in young people’s lives.
On any given afternoon, the doors at Inside Out open to youth looking for a place where they can feel safe, supported, and understood. Inside, conversations pick up quickly and the atmosphere shifts, making what feels overwhelming outside seem a little more manageable.
Inside Out works with young people between the ages of 13 and 24, offering programs, mentorship, and advocacy across the Colorado Springs community. For many LGBTQIA2+ youth in the region, the organization becomes more than just a community center. It becomes a place to connect, access resources, and feel accepted in a time when support is not always guaranteed.
That sense of purpose is at the core of the organization’s mission. According to Communications Director Keeley Griego Gonzales, Inside Out focuses on building access, equity, and power while also working to make the larger community safer for young people.
“Inside Out Youth Services’ mission is to build access, equity, and power with LGBTQIA2+ young people in our community by offering a safe and affirming place to make friends, access resources, and connect with trusted adults,” Griego Gonzales said.
But the work does not stop at providing a physical space. For many young people, the support they need goes beyond what happens inside the building. The organization also offers training, advocacy, and a wide range of resources that support youth both inside and outside the center.
These resources can look like helping a young person find mental health support, connecting them to safe housing, or guiding them toward gender affirming care and other community services that might otherwise feel out of reach. For many youth, it is not just about access to resources, but having someone who can help them figure out where to start and what to do next. This kind of guidance can make a difference, especially for youth who may not have support systems elsewhere.
That broader support has become increasingly important in recent years. As social and political conversations about LGBTQIA2+ rights have grown nationwide, staff members say those conversations often affect the youth they serve directly.
Advocacy Director Ollie Glessner explained that public debates and legislation can create uncertainty and fear for young people and their families. In response, the organization focuses on both direct support and community education to help reduce that fear.
“We use what we call Brave Space Agreements,” Glessner said. “They help set expectations for respect, inclusion, and how people support one another in the space.”
This approach allows young people to take an active role in shaping programs and activities, rather than simply participating in them.
Support at Inside Out also extends beyond emotional connection. The organization provides a wide range of services designed to meet young people where they are.
Director of Strategic Initiatives Alie Eherensaft said programs include mentoring, leadership development, creative activities, and wellness education. For youth facing challenges such as housing instability, transportation issues, or limited access to health care, the organization also offers case management and help connecting to resources.
Eherensaft said the organization consistently asks youth what they need and builds programs around those responses. That feedback loop helps ensure that young people remain at the center of the support they receive.
That sense of community also shows up in the events the organization hosts throughout the year. On April 23, Inside Out is organizing an Earth Day cleanup, giving youth a chance to connect with each other while giving back to their community. Looking ahead to May, events like Youth Pride and Youth Prom offer opportunities for celebration, expression, and
simply having fun in a space where young people feel accepted. For many youth, these events offer experiences that are not always available elsewhere.
The work does not end inside the building. Outreach efforts also connect with parents, educators, and community members, helping create safer and more supportive environments throughout Colorado Springs.
Even with these efforts, staff members acknowledge that the work can be challenging, especially in a community where perspectives on LGBTQIA2+ issues can be divided. At the same time, they say the impact makes the effort worth it.
Griego Gonzales emphasized that something as simple as having a place where young people can be themselves without fear can make a lasting difference.
For many youth, Inside Out Youth Services is more than a resource. It is a place where they know they belong, even on the days when the outside world makes that harder to feel.
