Queer Hangouts is a patron-supported program that provides FREE visits to LGBTQ+ groups and clubs in schools. During these visits, Barrie and Laurenzo speak with LGBTQ+ students for the purpose of affirming, supporting, and encouraging their identities.
Laurenzo (they/them)
Barrie (they/them)
Laurenzo and Barrie are queer, nonbinary Content Creators on YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram with over 2 Million collective followers.
ABOUT LAURENZO
Laurenzo’s mission as a Content Creator is to educate the general public on issues of gender and sexuality and to affirm and encourage LGBTQ+ individuals around the world. In 2020, they received their PhD in Italian Studies at The Ohio State University with specializations in Film Studies, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. They have also collaborated with organizations such as Planned Parenthood, Merit America, and YouTube to forward other tangential advocacy projects. The three pillars that guide their work are artist, educator, and advocate.
ABOUT BARRIE
Barrie is an LGBTQ+ Content Creator, Singer-Songwriter, Actor, Producer and Mental Health advocate. Their mission is to inspire people in the queer community to truly know their worth and be their authentic selves. Barrie attended Cal-Arts for music and has produced many music videos, as well as songs for tv and film. Through overcoming addiction and mental health issues with spiritual and healing practices, Barrie hopes to facilitate safe and healing environments. Their approach is heart-centered, with a focus on compassionate dialogue to create positive change in the individual and world.
👉 LAURENZO’s PLATFORMS
TikTok (800K+ followers)
YouTube (300K+ subscribers)
Instagram (31K followers)
👉 BARRIE’s PLATFORMS
TikTok (600K+ followers)
YouTube (1K followers)
Instagram (7K followers)
All Queer Hangout events are supervised by the leading Teacher Advisor of the school's LGBTQ+ club/group and occur during a timeframe in which the club/group already meets. (Ex. 12:40-1:20pm Thursdays at lunch).
We are currently focusing on schools in Ohio (in the United States). If your school is in Ohio and you would like to book a Queer Hangout, please contact Barrie and Laurenzo at: queerhangouts@gmail.com. *If your school is not in Ohio, please email us, and we will add your school to our list when we expand nationally and globally!
Every group of students is different, and our approach and interactions vary based on classroom size, age, how students feel that day, and how many visits we have conducted with that specific club. Queer Hangout experiences can include: an introduction of ourselves, a discussion of our work and advocacy, answering LGBTQ+ questions from students, bringing lunch or snacks to share while having a casual hangout, or, following a set agenda where we speak on a specific requested topic (ex. Self Care Practices). Our ultimate goal is to create a safe and encouraging environment for LGBTQ+ students to feel accepted and seen.
Queer Hangouts began when a leader of a student-run LGBTQ+ club in Ohio emailed Laurenzo asking if they would speak at their school’s club. They said yes, and the school invited them to come back a 2nd time. In February of 2023, Barrie moved to Columbus, Ohio, and when the school asked Laurenzo to visit a 3rd time, Barrie joined as well.
As a nonbinary couple, our presence opened a unique connection with the students where they felt supported to engage openly and authentically. The students felt comfortable asking more personal questions, such as “What do I do about menstrual dysphoria?” Since we both have different, but sometimes overlapping experiences with our gender identity and queerness, the students appreciated our distinct perspectives.
After the event, one of the students shared that they had participated in LGBTQ+ groups for years, but this was the most powerful and honest discussion they had ever experienced. It showed us that there is a real need for these types of spaces and conversations. Since we have both developed audiences of primarily LGBTQ+ youth and parents, we believe that visiting more LGBTQ+ groups is the next iteration our careers–to give value and further connect with these individuals in our local area, in addition to our global online communities.
We want to show that happy, healthy queer adulthood is possible and facilitate environments that allow young people to feel safe to be their authentic selves. We realize that schools do not necessarily have the funds to pay for speakers to visit, so we decided to structure Queer Hangouts in a way where LGBTQ+ adults and allies could become patrons of the program so that it could be free for all schools.
Student: “Laurenzo and Barrie always make students feel comfortable and happy, remembering their names even when there's months between visits - we love spending time with them! Laurenzo and Barrie do a wonderful job connecting with and empowering the students!”
Teacher: “As an ally and the advisor of our Q+ group, Laurenzo and Barrie's presence at our gatherings has been truly a gift. Their interaction, support, and nurturing of our youth encourages the kids to live authentically.”
Student: “Queer Hangouts has given me a safe space to talk about my sexuality and lighten the burden and effect it has had on my mental health.”
