Last December, We’Ced Youth planned and organized a vigil for lgbtq+ youth throughout the country that have passed away. We included the words “Systemic Violence” to highlight that these deaths were caused from discrimination and hated towards people identifying as LGBTQ+. These deaths could’ve been prevented if more measures to accept diverse identities and debunk harmful myths that vilify them were implemented, whether in our communities, or in the electoral system of bills and policies. Instead, their existence is used as a talking point to create negative divisions and distort the feelings of people who are not educated enough to accept lgbtq+ people, which leads some to their deaths.

The Vigil was held at the Healing Generation Center in Merced Ca, placed in front of the window where people passing by the center where able to see the altar and names we included:

Iris Santos – Transgender
1999 – 2021
22 years old
Houston, TX

Oliver Taylor – Transgender
2004 – 2021
17 years old
Gervais, OR

Chynna Carillo – Transgender
1997 – 2021
24 years old
Pennsylvania

Tiara Banks
1997 – 2021
24 years old
Chicago, IL

Poe Black Transgender
2000 – 2021
21 years old
Sonoran Dessert CA

Novaa Watson – Transgender
1998 – 2021
23 years old
Lynchburg, VA

Nex Benedict – Non Binary
2008 – 2024
16 years old
Owasso, OK

Kier Lapri Kartier – Transgender
2000 – 2021
21 years old
Arlington TX

Fred C Martinez Jr – Two Spirit
1985 – 2001
16 years old
Cortez, CO

LGBTQ+ Youth ART Submission

I Fell In Love With The Sea

Her Kisses as soft as can be
Her arms they gently cradle me
I swam only to sink into
The endlessness that is her embrace
The silence at the bottom of the ocean
Fills up the space
All the way at the bottom of her heart
Is whereI lay at peace
by the oceans bay

By: Kylie Barker – This is a poem about falling in love with life

We are accepting art submissions created by lgbtq+ youth artists! (Ages 14 – 24) experience in the art piece is not needed, what we want to showcase is the story and and experience of living as an lgbtq+ person. People submitting can also receive a $100 stipend for their piece. Scan the QR code to fill out the form, or use this link!