We Are The Youth

Dianna Scholl and Laurel Golio 

A week or so ago I have the privilege of photographing the minds behind the "We are the Youth" movement and documentary.

W-ATY was an idea cultivated from the minds of Laurel Golio and Dianna Scholl. Quoting from the website:

"We Are the Youth is a photographic journalism project chronicling the individual stories of LGBTQ youth in the United States."

If you don't already know LGBTQ stands for Lesbian-Gay-Bi-Transgender-Queer. Here's some background. The LGBTQ is a large nationally recognized group which highlights many of the problems children, students, and individuals in general experience due to prejudice or hatred against their sexual orientation.

The group does not discriminate against membership. Straight or Gay, LGBTQ looks for people who are willing to help the cause. As a Residential Advisor at the University of Alabama I recognize LGBTQ and sponsor an offshoot of their premise known as SAFE ZONE which designates my residence as a place kids can go to if problems related to sexual orientation occurrences emerge.

Dianna talking to a Anna, a student at the University of Alabama, about her experiences

I'm getting a tad bit off topic though. Laurel and Dianna decided to document the lives of LGBTQ youth by photographing & interviewing students across the United States who proudly express sexual orientation without qualms in response to those who would condemn them.

I ended up covering this event for a news photographs for my college newspaper, but I thought this would be something interesting to share as well.

Be sure to check out their blog We Are The Youth and their fan page. For more information on LGBQT check out their site here. Looking forward to seeing this piece of work completed,