In Bermuda, we often speak proudly of being a community that cares - a place where neighbours matter and where we look out for one another. Yet for many LGBTQ+ Bermudians, that promise remains unfulfilled.

Across our island, LGBTQ+ people continue to face discrimination, stigma, bullying and barriers to inclusive healthcare and education. Too many still feel invisible - especially Black queer Bermudians and transgender people. The impact is profound: a recent Bermuda study found that more than 70 per cent of adolescents who do not identify as male or female experience moderate to severe anxiety or depression, nearly double the national average. The global picture is equally troubling: a 2020 survey showed that nearly one-quarter of the world's population believes being LGBTQ+ is a crime.

Behind those statistics are young people who tell us they feel unsafe at school, unseen at home, or fearful of being themselves. That desire -- to be valued, accepted, and free -- is something every human being deserves.

At OUTBermuda, we believe community is the solution. We create spaces where LGBTQ+ people of all ages can connect, learn, and thrive.

Through OUTLET Junior (ages 14–17) and OUTLET (ages 18–29), developed in partnership with Solstice Bermuda, we provide peer support groups that combine connection, creativity and candid conversation. These spaces are lifelines -- places where young people can share their experiences, find understanding and build confidence.

We also empower individuals to shape their future through our empowerment grants, which support community projects, training and advocacy. And each year, we award a $10,000 education bursary to help LGBTQ+ students pursue higher education, alongside $5,000 in smaller community grants.

With only two staff and the support of dedicated volunteers, OUTBermuda serves an estimated 4,000+ LGBTQ+ residents through programmes and advocacy that make tangible change. Our impact includes:

● Providing peer support for LGBTQ+ youth ages 14 to 29

● Offering subsidised counselling services (85 sessions to 19 residents last year)

● Hosting community events and workshops to promote inclusion

● Collaborating with partners such as Solstice, Curb, Home, the Human Rights Commission, The Department of Health and the Department of Education

● Producing Bermuda Pride, which mobilises thousands in a movement of visibility and belonging.

Each interaction -- whether a counselling session, support group or Pride event -- builds a stronger, more connected, more inclusive Bermuda.

Progress takes more than goodwill. It requires systems that are fair, inclusive, and accountable. That is why OUTBermuda released Bermuda’s first LGBTQ+ Policy Manifesto, a practical roadmap for action. It outlines policies to:

● Improve mental health supports

● Advance inclusive education

● Promote safety in schools and workplaces

● Strengthen equality under the law

Our goal is clear: to build a Bermuda where every person can live with dignity, safety, and pride -- free from discrimination and fear.

Change does not happen by accident; it happens when people show up. Parents reach out to learn how to support their children. Businesses call to ask how they can become more inclusive. Young people arrive at OUTLET ready to listen, lead, and lift each other up.

To everyone who has marched, donated, learned, volunteered, or simply stood beside someone who needed support -- thank you. You are helping to build a future where belonging is not a privilege but a birthright.

To LGBTQ+ people of all ages who may still be struggling: you belong, you matter. Bermuda is better with you in it.

At OUTBermuda, we will continue to stand with you - until every person, no matter who they are or who they love, can live openly, safely, and proudly.

Joshua Samuels is executive director of OUTBermuda. To learn more or to support our work, visit outbermuda.org. This op-ed is part of the Third Sector Spotlight Series, a collective campaign co-ordinated by the Non-Profit Alliance of Bermuda. The campaign aims to raise awareness of the value, impact and contributions of Bermuda’s non-profit sector