Have a question? We’re here to help! 

Each section below is presented as an Accordion that you can select to drop down questions and answers.

FAQ’s

BAGLY’S Programs & Services

  • BAGLY’s programs, meetings, and events are for LGBTQ+ youth ages 22 and under. Our drop-in space and mental health services are for LGBTQ+ youth ages 25 and under. Our Clinic serves clients ages 29 and under.

  • Check out our About Us page to plan your visit to BAGLY!

  • Parents/guardians are welcome to attend one BAGLY meeting so that they may check out our space and speak with our on-site adult staff and volunteers.

  • Yes! In addition to BAGLY’s full-time Boston-based program staff, a team of trained and screened volunteer Adult Support is assigned to all of our program meetings and activities. The screening process includes interviews, background checks, observation, and orientation. 

    Interested in becoming a trained Adult Support? Please contact us here!

Accessibility

  • Of course! It is essential to us that ALL of BAGLY’s programs are physically accessible for everyone. BAGLY’s meetings and events are held in buildings and facilities where accessibility is guaranteed under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). We also offer many of our meetings virtually for increased accessibility.

  • Yes, BAGLY provides National Association of the Deaf (NAD) certified and Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (MDCHH) approved ASL interpreters as needed at our weekly meetings. Please contact us if you or a youth you know needs BAGLY to arrange ASL interpretation at our weekly meeting spaces.

    BAGLY also provides ASL interpreters at each of our major events upon request during event registration. Interpreters are used during our stage program and performances and are available to support communication among youth attendees and with BAGLY staff and adult chaperones.

    If you are an ASL interpreter and would like to work with BAGLY, please email us! Proof of MCDHH approval and/or NAD certification is required.

Available Resources

  • Absolutely! BAGLY has been supporting youth and adults in making schools safer for LGBTQ youth for more than 40 years. BAGLY offers public speaking engagements at school assemblies and diversity days through the BAGLY Speakers Bureau, providing a wide variety of Technical Assistance and Training to youth, adult allies, and school administration. We’d also be happy to plan a visit to your school to table at a resource fair or special event!

  • We’re excited to offer BAGLY Field Trips where you can come tour our space, play some games, and learn more about our programs and services. Start planning your BAGLY Field Trip by filling out our interest form here.

  • Plenty! Since 1993, BAGLY has coordinated the “AGLY” Network which is a program that–among other things–connects youth to social support, health promotion, and leadership development opportunities all across the state! Take a look at our page to find a group near you.

Get Involved

  • Thanks for asking! BAGLY always needs your financial support throughdonations, donor events, and our other fundraising activities. We also need your volunteer support by serving as Adult Advisors, administrative volunteers, and/or on our Board of Directors. Please visit our Get Involved page to find the best fit for you.

  • Absolutely! You are welcome to donate new or gently used clothing to our Stabilization and Success Program’s BAGLY Boutique! If you would like more info or to arrange for a donation drop off, please email BAGLY’s Stabilization and Success Manager, Liz Flynn.

Requests to BAGLY

  • Although BAGLY is always happy to consider requests for interviews, surveys, and/or other research projects relating to LGBTQ+ youth, we can't accept them all due to the high volume of requests. However, we are interested in accredited projects that focus on community and population-level data and assessment. BAGLY gives priority to projects that may have a statewide and/or national impact in contributing to the field of LGBTQ youth work and policy development. Please feel free to contact us with questions or for more information.

  • For all press requests, please reach out to BAGLY’s Director of Marketing & Communications, Kurtlan Massarsky.

  • Amplifying or promoting an external event is approved on a case-by-case basis. Please feel free to send hardcopy flyers to our mailing address or contact us for more information.

Allyship

  • No, allies are welcome too! However, BAGLY’s meetings and events are designed specifically to provide LGBTQ+ or questioning youth with a safe place where they can find social support, resources, and referrals that are competent and appropriate for their unique, individual needs. If you are not LGBTQ+ identified or are not questioning your sexual and/or gender identity and are wondering if it is appropriate for you to access our services, we invite you to consider the above before attending our programmatic offerings.

    • Challenge homo/bi/transphobia whenever you hear/see it.

    • Refuse to participate in events, shop in stores, or eat in restaurants that exclude LGBTQ+ people.

    • When attending an LGBTQ+ event, remember that you are a guest in someone else’s space, respect the rules and act appropriately.

    • Educate others, learn about LGBTQ+ resources and share these resources at school, in your community, and with your friends and family.

    • Learn more about how heterosexism operates and how to challenge it.

    • Learn more about how gender binary systems operate and how to challenge them.

    • Don’t assume biological sex determines gender for everyone.

    • Don’t ask trans people about their genitals, surgical or hormone status, how they have sex, or what their “real name” is.

    • Don’t be the “gender police”; respect people’s identity (including if they’re still figuring that out), name, pronouns, and what bathroom they use.

    • Don’t assume you can tell if someone is trans.

    • See people’s whole selves; LGBTQ+ people are more than their sexual and gender identities.

    Most importantly, do everything you can to understand LGBTQ+ communities and identities. Be aware of, and acknowledge your privilege and use this power for good!