QT Connect is an 18+ program rooted in harm reduction and community care. We create welcoming, substance-free spaces where queer and trans folks—especially transitional age youth, queer women, non-binary, and trans community members—can build community, learn life-saving harm reduction skills, and access resource navigation in Boyle Heights, East LA, Southeast LA (SELA), and gateway cities.
QT Connect helps build safer, more informed community spaces.
Early outcomes we can say now (based on your notes):
Before QT Connect, there was a major gap in gender-expansive, community-centered programming for youth, transitional age youth, and adults across Los Angeles—especially in Boyle Heights, East LA, Southeast LA, and gateway cities.
At the same time, queer and trans communities are navigating real pressures: stigma, misinformation, mental health stress, and attacks on trans dignity and care. Those conditions can fuel isolation and unhealthy coping strategies—and make it harder to trust services or reach out for support.
QT Connect exists so our community doesn’t have to navigate any of this alone.
QT Connect is built on harm reduction and community care—principles that honor people’s agency and dignity, and address root causes of harm through education.
Through QT Connect, participants can access:
QT Connect is 18+ and welcomes queer and trans-identified folks—especially:
Why 18+?
We shifted QT Connect to 18+ so participants can openly talk about adult issues affecting queer and trans communities—and to build an intergenerational space rich with stories, support, and shared experience.
When you come to QT Connect, you can expect:
How we keep it community-led:
QT Connect is shaped through participant feedback and surveys, so programming stays grounded in what our community actually needs—and often sparks new collaborations and partnerships.
Many participants connect with QT Connect through our QT Connect Ambassadors, who share program messages and invitations across their networks—often reaching people in LA’s queer nightlife scene and beyond.
QT Connect supports community members in:
