Serving Brethren and Mennonite

LGBT & Allied Youth, Young Adults

and Their Families

Serve as the Kaleidoscope Program Coordinator

BMC is currently looking for a new Kaleidoscope Program Coordinator! For more information about the position, visit our Get Involved page.

What is Kaleidoscope?

Kaleidoscope is a supportive and resource-sharing network for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT), questioning and allied people on peace church campuses, but includes those in high school, young people in general, and those young in spirit. Kaleidoscope provides opportunities to make connections, receive support, and be active in local communities. Faculty, alumni, and supportive individuals are also involved within the church and beyond.

What does Kaleidoscope offer?

Establishing educational programs for residence life staff and interested individuals.
Keeping the lines of communication open between faculty, staff, students, and alumni.
Increasing youth and young adult presence at BMC gatherings and retreats by offering scholarships.
For an archive of previous volunteers' writing, visit the Coming Out Strong blog.

Resources

These resources are intended to be used by youth and young adults, specifically at Mennonite and Brethren colleges. If you are looking for more specific resources for your community, contact the Kaleidoscope coordinator.

Queer Students Abroad

This booklet includes stories by seven lgbtq students who studied abroad with Mennonite or Brethren colleges. This booklet is a resource for lgbtq students about to study abroad or are considering studying abroad.

Download

Safe Zone Training 2016	This 2016 edition of Safe Zone includes three modules: one for sexual orientation, one for gender identity and one for becoming an ally. If your school or community would like to use this manual (or would like a print version of the pdf) or have someone from BMC facilitate a training, contact kaleidoscope@bmclgbt.org.
Contact People	An updated list of people for young LGBTQ Brethren and Mennonite to contact if they would like someone in the church to speak to. This comes after an older list that was published in the Coming Out Strong packet in 2010 (see below). If you would like further contact information of any of the people listed here, email the Kaleidoscope coordinator at kaleidoscope@bmclgbt.org.
College Degrees for Social Justice	This is a guide published by Affordable Colleges Online that features pathways to fighting inequality in the professional realm. There are links to other resources and to learning more about different careers in social services, nonprofits and other fields.
Kaleidoscope College Visit Resources	Goshen College Visit 2015: Stonewall History Powerpoint Ally Workshop Powerpoint
Coming Out Strong	This Information and Resources for LGBTQA youth, 2010 edition guide includes studies about Mennonite and Brethren colleges as well as basic definitions and information about coming out in Mennonite and Brethren contexts.
Kaleidoscope Resource Packet	Empowering the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Ally Brethren and Mennonite College Community, 2007 edition. This packet includes a comprehensive definition list, an introduction to biblical understandings of sexuality and more.
Kaleidoscope LGBT Continuum of Care	The survey has one main objective, to gather data and use it for the improvement of the state of lgbt care, and the education of staff, faculty, and administration at Brethren and Mennonite schools.
A Place at the Table: Exploring Acceptance of LGBTQ Students at Goshen College	In the spring of 2011, a group of Goshen College students completed a mixed methods sociological study on how accepting Goshen College is to LGBTQ students.
Safe Zone- Modules 1 and 2	This resource is meant to be used as a half day or two 90 minute workshops to give people the skills needed to create spaces that are safer for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.
Accompaniment	A training that provides basic information needed to create community and individual relationships of support and unconditional love for lgbtq youth.
Campus Pride Index	Campus PrideNet is a national online community and resource network committed to student leaders and campus organizations who work to create a safer campus environment free of homophobia, biphobia, transphobia, and heterosexism at colleges and universities.
The Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network	GLSEN strives to assure that members of all sexual orientations or gender identities/expressions of every school community are valued and respected.
The Safe Schools Coalition	The Safe Schools Coalition seeks to help schools - at home and all over the world - become safe places where every family can belong, where every educator can teach, and where every child can learn, regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation.
Out Proud	OutProud is a national coalition for gay, lesbian, bisexual & transgender youth that provides a wide range of web resources for youth and educators.
PFLAG and PFLAG Canada	PFLAG and PFLAG Canada have local chapters across North America and are also a great for information and resources for lgbtq people, and for our families. Resources for youth can be found here.