PUT THIS ON THE {MAP}, a project of the Seattle-based Revelry Media & Methods in collaboration with Youth Eastside Services’ (YES) B-GLAD Program received two awards in this past weekend’s Seattle Lesbian & Gay Film Festival. The film won the Audience Vote for Best Local Film and the Jury Vote of Honorable Mention for Short Film. The film screened Oct. 23 at Pacific Place in Seattle.

PUT THIS ON THE {MAP} features 26 lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or queer (LGBTQ) young people combating the lack of queer visibility in Seattle’s Eastside suburbs.

“From getting beat-up in a schoolyard to being picked-up as a runaway, queer youth in the suburbs exercise courage daily,” said Megan Kennedy, supervisor of outreach counseling for YES and co-director of the film.

In the film, these youth provide an honest evaluation of their schools and families and challenges they face in their community.

“It addresses their challenge not to have their existence swept under the rug. And it’s been used instructively for improving schools’ and communities’ perceptions of queer/transgender young people,” said Kennedy.

She notes that YES uses the film frequently in education and bully-prevention activities.

“The queer youth in this region are doing some amazing community organizing,” said Kennedy. “They are acting as leaders within their schools and doing outreach in the community.”

Several of the youth have helped show the film at area schools and businesses to raise awareness, combat stereotypes and stymie bullying of LGBTQ youth.

Many of the young people in the film are part of YES’ B-GLAD support group, a drop-in program for LGBTQ youth that helps them overcome emotional distress and build confidence, in turn preventing substance abuse, suicide and other unhealthy behaviors, which LBGTQ youth are at higher risk for.

YES considers it a safe place for youth to share and talk with others and meets at the Redmond Firehouse Teen Center on Thursdays at 6 p.m. Youth from the group are available to provide trainings to schools and community groups regionally and beyond, with or without a showing of the film.

PUT THIS ON THE {MAP} was directed and produced by Kennedy and Sid Jordan Peterson. For more information visit here.