My team
Why I'm running the Falmouth Road Race to support LGBTQ+ youth
I’ve always wanted to run an iconic Massachusetts road race, and while I’m not quite ready for the marathon, I was very grateful to secure a number for Falmouth through OUT MetroWest, a local organization that’s more important than ever in its mission to support LGBTQ+ youth.
In 2025, there are no lack of causes to get behind - many of which I focus on in my day job - but the recent statistics around queer youth are sobering and concerning:
- Following the 2024 elections, the Trevor Project reported a staggering 700% increase in crisis contacts and a 33% spike on Inauguration Day 2025.
- According to the 2024 National Survey on LGBTQ+ Youth Mental Health, 39% of LGBTQ+ young people seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year, including 46% of transgender and nonbinary youth.
And for those who believe the blue state of Massachusetts is at less risk:
- 50% of LGBTQ+ youth in Massachusetts who wanted mental health care in the past year were not able to get it.
- LGBTQ+ students in Massachusetts report feeling less safe with family/caregivers and less like they belong at school compared to their straight, cisgender peers.
OUT MetroWest works to counter the hate and division with community, safety and belonging. They provide a space for connection and support that I wish all LGBTQ+ kids across the country could access.
This is my first time fundraising for any race, and I’m doubling down on the required goal of $1,200, because this cause is deeply meaningful to me.
I believe we all need and deserve the freedom and safety to be our true selves, at any stage of life, but especially during our most formative and tender years.
Thank you for considering a donation. Your support is powerful fuel for a more inclusive future, and every mile of my race.
With love,
Sue
Description
Please help me build communities where LGBTQ+ youth thrive.
For 14 years, OUT MetroWest has risen to meet the emerging needs of LGBTQ+ youth, launching new programs based on community demand. In 2015, our Nexus program was the first of its kind in MA for queer and trans middle-schoolers, filling a critical void. Since 2011, we have grown from a single weekly meeting for high schoolers to now offering multiple weekly programs for middle and high schoolers, monthly programs for elementary youth and young adults, community-wide events, and educating hundreds of individuals to build inclusive cultures in their own organizations.
Because LGBTQ+ youth deserve a community where they are welcomed and accepted, for exactly who they are.
Your support helps keep all of OUT MetroWest's life-affirming programs, resources, and events FREE!
- 20+ free programs each month
- more than 1,000 youth served over the past decade
- 350+ youth and families who attend programs and events each year
- over 30 cities and towns reached across Massachusetts
- At least one trained therapist at all weekly programs, supporting mental health needs of LGBTQ+ youth
- Thousands of individuals trained in LGBTQ+-inclusivity -- making their own schools, organizations, and businesses stronger, more welcoming communities.
Our youth programs include:
- Nexus: weekly program for LGBTQ+ middle schoolers, in grades 6-8
- Prism: weekly program for LGBTQ+ high schoolers, in grades 9-12
- Umbrella: weekly program for transgender and non-binary youth, in grades 6-12
- Drop-In: unstructured time for youth to connect in our youth-centered space, for LGBTQ+ youth in grades 6-12
- Shine & Glow: monthly gatherings for gender-expansive and LGBTQ+ children, ages pre-K through grade 5, and their families
- Nova: monthly social gatherings for LGBTQ+ young adults, ages 19 - 29
Learn more at www.outmetrowest.org
Thank you for helping me reach my goal!
Together we can give LGBTQ+ youth the support they need!
Recent donors
| Donation date | Donor name | Donation amount |
|---|---|---|
| Jul 27 | Lea Tompsett | $109.85 |
| Jul 27 | Mills crew | $109.85 |
| Jun 25 | Tara Olivier | $109.85 |
| Jun 24 | Laura and Alan Rothfeld | Undisclosed amount |
| Jun 16 | The Otte Family | Undisclosed amount |
| Jun 07 | The Stachura’s | $50.00 |
| Jun 07 | Janet Goldenberg | $109.85 |
| Jun 07 | Whitney Biafore | $55.35 |
| Jun 06 | Anonymous | Undisclosed amount |
| Jun 06 | Dena Patterson | Undisclosed amount |
