History and Mission

How The Equality Crew began and our vision for the future.

Organizational History

Phoenix (left) along with Safe, his sibling, pictured at the Visibly You Photoshoot Event in 2022.

The Equality Crew was founded in April 2021 by a 14-year-old transgender Arkansan. Phoenix May recognized the need for young LGBTQ+ Arkansans to have a strong and supportive community.

He recalls, “I realized there are tons of organizations that support LGBTQ+ adults but very few focused on youth. Instead of waiting for it to happen, I decided to take it into my own hands because I believe that everyone deserves to live in a world that is equal.”

Phoenix rallied the support of community leaders to create an LGBTQ+ led board and officially launched The Equality Crew at Siloam Springs Pride 2021 in June, and then welcomed over 75 LGBTQ+ youth and allies for its first event in July. The Equality Crew established the state’s only Affirming Teacher and School Staff Database ahead of the 2021-22 school year so LGBTQ+ students could identify and connect with affirming teachers in their school building, with over 200 teachers and staff joining the database within the first quarter of the school year.

Phoenix and his family have since left Arkansas, but the impact of his vision has remained.

LGBTQ+ Youth in Arkansas

LGBTQ+ youth in Arkansas are historically underserved and experience anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination from multiple angles. In a 2019 survey, GLSEN found that the vast majority (87%) of LGBTQ+ students in Arkansas regularly heard anti-LGBTQ+ remarks and experienced bias-based victimization at school. Nearly three-quarters of students reported experiencing at least one form of anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination and at least 90% of LGBTQ+ students in Arkansas did not have access to in-school resources and support. Furthermore, The Trevor Project’s National Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health 2021 found that 94% of LGBTQ youth reported that recent politics negatively impacted their mental health.

The Equality Crew believes it is critically important to understand and give voice to the current and desired state of young LGBTQ+ Arkansans’ quality of life and the specific barriers to achieving a true sense of belonging.

Our Values

  • Belonging is undeniably a human need that is essential to an individual’s wellness, and we are committed to providing spaces and opportunities for LGBTQ+ youth and their allies to feel a sense of belonging.

    Here’s how we do it:

    • Creating events where kids can be kids

    • Offering our affirming therapist database

    • Providing opportunities for youth leadership

    • Offering diverse literature through our rainbow library

    • Listening to feedback from youth and their families

  • We are deeply aware of the importance of advocating for and including diverse voices and experiences in our programming, and acknowledge the ways that intersectional identities may impact our community.

    Here’s how we do it:

    • Providing training to organizations and corporate partners

    • Maintaining up-to-date knowledge of diversity & equity best practices

    • Ensuring an accepting and welcoming environment at all events

    • Providing LGBTQ+ youth with opportunities to connect with professionals across the community.

    • Working with community partners to best meet the needs of our diverse community.

  • While we cannot perfectly guarantee that all programs will be free from disruption, we strive to make informed decisions regarding the safety and security of those participating, with the greatest consideration for the youth whom we serve.

    Here’s how we do it:

    • Conducting thorough background checks on volunteers and board members

    • Requiring child welfare and mandated reporter trainings

    • Maintaining a policy on youth interaction

    • Providing security at large, publicized events such as prom

    • Maintaining parent contact and encouraging parent involvement at all levels

Land Acknowledgement

As a non-profit LGBTQIA+ youth organization in Northwest Arkansas, we want to acknowledge that the land we work and gather on is the traditional territory of the Osage, Caddo, and Quapaw tribes. 

We recognize that these tribes have lived on and cared for this land for thousands of years, and we honor their ongoing connection to this place. 

We also recognize that the United States government forcibly displaced many tribes from their land in this region before treaties were signed, which has had a lasting impact on Native American communities. 

As we work to create a more inclusive and equitable community for LGBTQIA+ youth in Northwest Arkansas, we also pledge to support the efforts of Native American communities to preserve their cultural heritage and advocate for their rights.