Phoenix One-N-Ten LGBTQ Youth Center Holds 'Queermas' On Christmas

By Kathy Ritchie
Published: Tuesday, December 24, 2019 - 9:05am
Updated: Wednesday, December 25, 2019 - 9:02am

Volunteers wrap presents
Sky Schaudt/KJZZ
Volunteers wrap presents for Phoenix LGBTQ youth.

For some LGBTQ youth, the holidays can be a tough time of year. They could be disconnected from family or experiencing homelessness. But one Phoenix organization is making sure everyone they serve gets their Christmas wish.  

Staff and volunteers at One-N-Ten, an LGBTQ nonprofit that serves youth between the ages of 11 and 24, are wrapping gifts and getting ready for what they call, "Queermas."

On Christmas Day, youth will come here and open those presents, which have been donated by the community.

Crystal Hughes is with One-N-Ten. She says it’s nice for LGBTQ youth to be with their chosen family.

"So, it’s really important to have that safe space and really reframe what the holidays mean, especially if it has a bad connotation from past," she said.

As far as what topped this year’s wish lists? Art supplies, bath bombs and clothing, to name a few.

"A lot of youth request clothing that reflects their gender identity," she said. "So, we got a lot of chest binders, we have a lot of ... female to male trans youth. So, a lot of men’s clothing, we have skate boards, which was a big surprise this year. Lot of folks wanted skateboards."

Hughes says every wish was granted this year, a trend she hopes continues as the program grows.