 "Photo: The Curent")
Youthopolis is an organization put together to honor, not only the community as a whole, but also for the young activists in the queer community. Amber miller, a current student at Green River Community College and also a running start student, is co-president in the Queer and Allies club on campus. Amber was recently recognized for her great examples and dedication of being a leader in the club. Lets go back in time a little, How did Amber get involved and where did she start?
“I’ve always been politically active”, says amber. “When I was 13 I walked with my grandma in the march for women’s rights in Washington D.C.” Before the Queer and Allies club was named “Queers and Allies” it used to be called Gay straight alliance (GSA). Amber joined the GSA in the 2008/ 2009 winter quarter at GRCC. What really sparked her interest was the prom that the club was throwing, for everyone really. “I felt that it was like an alternate prom for people who didn’t want to go to their high school prom.” Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals, Trans-genders, or queers were able to come together and have a prom just for them.
Amber worked her way up to co-president in the club and established a vote to change the name from Gay Straight Alliance to Queer and Allies (Q&A). When asked how she felt the club affected the community, Amber stated, “I felt it had a huge and great affect on individuals in the community.” The name was to represent the “hidden community” and show who some people, even if different ethnicity, truly are inside and not be afraid to be proud of it.
At the Youthopolis awards ceremony Amber was one of six award recipients, with the biggest cheer from the crowd, for recognizing queer youth and allies in and around Seattle for HIV/AIDS prevention, alcohol awareness, work on campus at an area college, and queer youth group of the year. A couple days after receiving the award Amber decided to shift her career path into a prelaw and diversity studies degree where, as she states “ I would have never thought of doing.”
Amber felt great about the award, pushing her motivation further into success then she ever thought before really left Amber an inspiration to us all. Amber plans to continue what she’s doing and would like to tell the community “ you gain nothing, if you dream small”.
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