The Safer Community Project for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning Youth provides adult facilitated support groups for young people ages 14-20 in the Central New York area. Support groups are safe spaces for young people to talk freely, socialize, and share their experiences with caring others.

Counseling and referrals for other social support services are also available, as are support services for parents of LGBTQ youth.

The Project provides HIV education to youth, information on healthy life choices, dealing with bullying, job discrimination, positively impacting school climates, talking to parents, and other life issues faced by LGBTQ young people.

The Safer Community Project serves all youth regardless of sexual identification, HIV status, gender identity and expression, educational enrollment, disability, race and ethnicity. 

We advocate for the welfare of all youth, supporting the Dignity for All Students Act to curb school violence, which would prohibit discrimination against and harassment of students in New York State. 

We provide education for teachers and school systems on the issues faced by LGBTQ youth in their classrooms and schools and provide resources to create supportive and safe school environments.

The Safer Community Project for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning Youth has been housed by the AIDS Community Resource Center since 1998 when ACR took over the program from Lambda Youth Services, an organization no longer in operation. Over the past 7 years, the project has grown and now includes 3 support groups, including a transgender group. That growth continues with the receipt of a three year United Way grant to increase the services offered and opportunities to create a safer community.