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We Are Family
About We Are Family
We Are Family began in April 1995 under the direction of Tom Myers (1940-2016), the father of a gay son. Tom recognized the need for support for LGBTQI youth, and WAF was born from the love of a father for his son. WAF initially focused on the use of direct mail to provide constructive information to people and community leaders that LGBTQI youth would normally seek out for counsel and support. The staff sought out speaking engagements whenever possible, at churches and other public places to spread a message of understanding and acceptance. In early 1997, WAF began to offer direct services (SafeSpace) to LGBTQI youth in the Tri-County area through a weekly peer support group.
Our mission as a Southern Grassroots non-profit organization is to provide affirming spaces for LGBTQI+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, intersex, etc.) and ally youth up to the age of 24 through direct support, leadership development, and community engagement.
Our vision is that LGBTQI+ and ally youth feel empowered to find their places in the world, in their families, and in their communities.