Youth Groups

The LGBTQ Center OC’s Youth Program offers comprehensive services and resources that promote the healing, well-being, and empowerment of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (LGBTQQ) youth. We organize in-group activities and community events that strengthen youth and their sense of well-being and identity, as well as their involvement in their schools and communities. In addition, we have established ongoing relationships with 45 Gay-Straight Alliance clubs and their advisors, student leaders, and members to create safe and supportive schools for LGBTQQ students. We continue to increase our support for more Gay-Straight Alliances each year and provide resources for youth, students, families, teachers, administrators across Orange County.

Young Adult Groups

We understand many young people transition into a new stage of life after graduating high school, and with that comes a renewed sense of independence whether it is attending college, working, traveling, meeting new people, or exploring other ventures in life. We provide social and educational groups for LGBTQQ young adults ages 18-26 to meet other peers, engage in educational workshops, and participate in local community events.

Gender Flood is a social drop-in group for transgender, genderqueer, non-binary, gender non-conforming, and gender-questioning young adults ages 18-26. This is a wonderful group to meet other transgender and gender non-conforming peers from throughout Orange County. Get involved, meet others, and participate in engaging weekly discussions, activities, and community events. Important Note: This is a closed space facilitated by and for transgender and gender non-conforming young adults. We kindly ask to respect the space for trans people only. For more information and upcoming meeting dates and times, please click HERE.

Prism welcomes all lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, and/or allied young adults ages 18-26. The objective of this group is to provide young adults with a safe and welcoming space, where they can meet friends and participate in engaging weekly discussions, activities, and community events. For more information and upcoming meeting dates and times, please click HERE.

Social and Educational Groups:           

  • InBeTweeners provides a safe and supportive environment for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning and allied youth (or “tweens”) ages 10-13. It offers a social space for middle school youth who are exploring their identity and provides an inclusive environment for them to meet other peers and engage in fun activities and discussions suitable for their age group. Activities include arts and crafts, creative writing, discussions, movie nights, and group-building activities. For more information and upcoming meeting dates and times, please click HERE.

  • Study With Pride is a tutoring group for LGBTQQIA youth ages 13-18. Youth are invited to stop by for homework help and tutoring on topics, such as math, science, and writing, and grab a snack in a safe and supportive environment. Study with Pride meets every Wednesday from 5:00-6:00 pm in the Youth Room. For more information and upcoming meeting and date times, please click HERE.

  • Rainbow Group is a social drop-in group for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning and allied youth ages 13-18. Three adult mentors facilitate group activities and discussions to provide a safe and supportive environment, where youth can make lifelong connections with their peers and develop a positive sense of identity. On a monthly basis, we invite guest speakers from different community organizations to speak in order to increase the educational component of our program. Youth are able to learn about different topics, such as STI and HIV prevention, relationships and setting boundaries, consent, dating, sexual self-care, gender identity, coming out, advocacy, empowerment, student rights, bullying and harassment, drugs and alcohol, mental health and suicide prevention. For more information and upcoming meeting dates and times, please click HERE.

  • Trans*Fusion is a closed social space for transgender, intersex, non-binary, gender non-conforming, and questioning youth 13-18. The purpose of this group is to create a supportive and inclusive environment in which one’s gender may be freely expressed and respected. Given that the majority of transgender students feel unsafe in school, it is important to provide a safe and welcoming environment that caters to the direct needs of transgender youth. Two adult group facilitators offer discussion topics relating to the transgender community while leaving space for youth to connect with peers and participate in engaging activities and community events, such as Transgender Day of Visibility, OC Trans Pride, and Transgender Day of Remembrance. For more information and upcoming meeting dates and times, please click HERE.

  • South County Rainbow Group: In collaboration with Shanti Orange County, we offer a social-drop in group for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning and allied youth ages 13-18. South County Rainbow Group provides social, interactive, and educational group activities and events in South County and the greater Orange County area. Youth are able to connect with their peers in a safe and supportive environment facilitated by LGBTQ Center OC staff and adult mentor facilitators. For more information and upcoming meeting dates and times, please click HERE.

  • South County Breaking Binaries is a social drop-in group that we offer in collaboration with Shanti Orange County. Breaking Binaries is for transgender, gender non-conforming, non-binary, and gender-questioning youth ages 13-18. Similar to South County Rainbow Group, Breaking Binaries invites youth from the transgender community to get involved and participate in engaging discussions, social activities and community events in South County and the greater Orange County area. Trans youth are able to connect with their peers in a safe and supportive environment facilitated by LGBTQ Center OC staff and adult mentor facilitators. Please note: This is a closed space facilitated by and for transgender, gender non-conforming, non-binary, and gender-questioning youth. Allies are respectfully asked to keep the space for trans people only and visit South County Rainbow Group instead. For more information and upcoming meeting dates and times, please click HERE.

  • North County Rainbow Group, in collaboration with the First Christian Church of Fullerton, is our newest social group lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning youth ages 13-18. Adult mentors facilitate group activities and discussions to provide a safe and supportive environment, where youth can make lifelong connections with their peers and develop a positive sense of identity. We recognize the need to support more youth in the Northern part of Orange County, reaching students living in the Fullerton, Anaheim, Placentia, Orange, and Yorba Linda areas. For more information and upcoming meeting dates and times, please click HERE.

Youth Empowerment, Leadership, and Civic Engagement:       

  • Youth Empowered to Act (YETA) is a coalition of LGBTQQ and allied youth young leaders working to create safer, supportive and intersectional* spaces to engage in advocacy and social justice. Every year, this youth group organizes and leads Orange County’s only LGBTQQ youth conference, the OC LGBTQQ Youth Convening. Community events include but are not limited to: speaking at school board meetings, presenting at local youth conferences, hosting a leadership summer program, drag show fundraiser, and attend the national Creating Change Conference. This is a free group with no membership fees. We meet Tuesdays 5:30-7:30pm at The Center on 4th (305 E. 4th St. Santa Ana, Ca 92701- Second Floor) For more information and upcoming meeting dates and times, please click HERE.

  • Gender and Sexualities Alliance Leadership Hub welcomes high school and middle school youth leaders and members who are involved with Gay-Straight Alliances at school or who are interested in establishing a club. The purpose of this group is to create an affirming space for Gay-Straight Alliances youth leaders to meet and network with one another. Our goal is to continue expanding and providing a monthly space for students to meet and become engaged at the community level. This is a perfect opportunity for youth to learn how to learn and participate with our youth programs.

  • Q Chat Space provides live, chat-based, professionally facilitated, online support and discussion groups for LGBTQQ+ teens 13-19. Q Chat Space was developed by CenterLink in partnership with Planned Parenthood Federation of America and PFLAG National and in collaboration with CenterLink member centers. It is a resource for all LGBTQQ+ centers and other organizations serving LGBTQQ+ youth to better serve youth who cannot access services in person. Learn more here.