LETS SAY GAY

Welcome to Let's Say Gay, a new queer* youth literary journal.

We are facing a dark, but hardly unprecedented time. With each new wave of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation passed since the inception of Florida House Bill 1557, non-heteronormative children and their families are further decentered, and face more frightening and isolating lives. This publication was designed for the generation of young people being systematically silenced by discriminatory laws. We know the uncertainty you face and the fear that now taints a time of self-discovery and growth, but you aren’t alone. We launched this journal as a reminder that our community is alive and thriving and that no matter how many of our stories are stripped from shelves, or how many young people are forbidden to speak about themselves, we will continue to be.

*We use the word queer to be inclusive to all member of the proud and diverse LGBTQ+ spectrum; so whether you identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, pansexual, gender queer, trans, asexual, demisexual, nonbinary, skoliosexual, gender non-conforming or another unnamed identity, we respect you and we want to hear you.

Our Mission Statement

Our identities— how we see and define ourselves and who we choose to love— are ours alone. No one has the right to silence, degrade, or invalidate the existence of another person. Our stories, and thus our presence in the country’s narrative, are under attack. We will resist. We will continue to create spaces for the LGBTQ+ community. Let’s Say Gay is a place where young artists can tell their stories. A place where we all can, and will, say gay. Or maybe even shout it.

Who We Are

Let’s Say Gay is manned by a group of queer students who will not abide by censorship. Writers, artists, and creators ourselves, we wondered how many more books would be banned and how many more schools would be forced into narrow-minded discriminatory regulations. Our hope in creating this publication is to carve out space for LGTBQ+ youth and combat the isolation being imposed on queer artists. Let’s Say Gay is a safe place to tell and read stories, share art, and honor our identities.

Friends of LSG

Project Write Now
Project Write Now is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization transforming individuals, organizations, and communities through writing. PWN offers classes for writers of every age at any stage of their writing lives. Join the global writing community at https://projectwritenow.org.

Let’s Say Gay was lucky enough to partner with Project Write Now’s teen journal, Bridge Ink, for our first issue, “Rainbow Ink.”

Just Breathe: Parenting Your LGBTQ Teen
Sitting in the top 2% of all podcasts, Just Breathe is relatable, educational, and warm. Heather Hester from Chrysalis Mama is here to transform the conversation around loving, raising, and empowering an LGBTQIA+ teenager as well as being a supportive ally to all LGBTQIA+ people. Since 2017, when her son embraced his sexual orientation as a young gay man, Heather and her family have felt every emotion, and have experienced dozens of situations ranging from heartwarming and humorous to terrifyingly life-threatening. She discusses taboo topics and works to erase stigmas surrounding the coming out process and parenting an LGBTQIA+ teen.

Heather not only repped our journal on her podcast, but added our information to her resources page on her website, Chrysalis Mama: https://chrysalismama.com/home
We so appreciate your support, Heather, and all that you do for families beginning their journeys with the LGBTQ+ community.