Gold award mural project by lillian mclaughlin

[ WATCH VIDEO OF MURAL INSTALLATION - YOUTUBE LINK ]

Resources for lgbtQ+ Teens

Mental Health Crisis information

Local Wichita: Sedgwick County Comcare Crisis Intervention Services

National: The Trevor Project 24/7 Info & Support

Local Organizations & Groups

GLSEN -Community-led chapter supporting students and teachers.

The Center of Wichita - Community resource run by and for the community.

Wichita Pride - Community events celebrating June Pride Month

Medical

KU Medical Center-Midtown Clinic | 1001 N Minneapolis | Wichita, KS 67214 | 316-293-1840

Positive Directions (HIV/STI prevention, education, and testing) | 154 N Topeka #200| Wichita, KS 67202 | 316-263-2214

LGBT+ Wichita Health Coalition | 800 N Market St. | Wichita, KS 67214 | EMAIL

Education

GLSEN -Community-led chapter supporting students and teachers

The Trevor Project 24/7 Info & Support

Education for Kids (books)

Being You: A First Conversation About Gender by Jessica Ralli and Megan Madison

I Am Jazz by Jazz Jennings (Check out at the Wichita Public Library)

Wichita Public Library List of Relevant Books

Project Description

This LGBTQ+ Affirming Mural is a Girl Scout Gold Award Project created by Lillian McLaughlin (she/her). This Gold Award is the highest award in Girl Scouting. It asks the candidate to find an issue that she cares deeply about, research it, create a plan, recruit a team, and take action on a self-sustaining project that will educate and inspire others. This project addresses the issue of mental health struggles among LGBTQ+ teens. As a teen and part of the LGBTQ+ community herself, she has recognized the issue among her peers and wanted to help. LGBTQ+ teens are four times more likely to consider, plan, and die by suicide than non-LGBTQ+ teens.  Many LGBTQ+ teens do not have the support system at home and among friends that they need. For this reason, teens may not be connected to the services they need in the community, even though many excellent support services exist. To work toward a solution to this issue in our community, Lillian designed an LGBTQ+ affirming mural to connect teens in need to available services. Her goal was for this project to be a volunteer effort for people in the community to come together and paint in a cooperative group. On October 14, 2023, over 80 individuals, ages 5 to 85 came together to paint the mural over an 12-hour period. The day was a magnificent celebration of a community coming together to support LGBTQ+ teens in need. Lillian hopes that this brightly colored mural will make a bright difference in many LGBTQ+ teens’ lives and help connect them to resources they may not have access to elsewhere.

WATCH VIDEO OF MURAL INSTALLATION - YOUTUBE LINK

Biography

Lillian McLaughlin (she/her) will graduate from East High School in 2024. She has been involved in many types of art her whole life and is excited to add mural creation to the list of her accomplishments. Lillian has been a Girl Scout for thirteen years, achieving the Bronze, Silver, and Gold Awards. Lillian has been a competitive dancer since she was six years old, most enjoying the styles of contemporary and pointe but additionally competing in jazz, tap, and hip hop.

At Wichita East High School, Lillian is in the honors curriculum with an elective emphasis on pottery and she is currently completing her portfolio for AP Pottery. She is the treasurer of both the National Art Honor Society and the Clay Club and is also a member of the National Honor Society. After high school, Lillian plans to attend The University of Kansas to major in Psychology and minor in both dance and pottery.