North Dakota Volunteer Network Launches for LGBTQ+ Youth

Faye Seidler believes the best way to help struggling teens is to empower everyday people to make a difference in their own backyards.

The Fargo-based suicide prevention advocate just launched the LGBTQ+ Safety Taskforce, a volunteer network designed to support queer youth across all 47 of North Dakota's legislative districts. Her goal is simple: recruit at least one volunteer per district to build resources and form connections with local leaders.

The beauty of the project is its flexibility. There are no rigid requirements or formal organizational structure. Volunteers can help however makes sense for their community, whether that's meeting with school board members, starting a support group, or organizing suicide prevention training at a local church.

"I think that there are people who kind of want to just get involved, but they don't know how," Seidler said. She's providing the tools and support to help volunteers create change on their own terms.

The need is real. According to Seidler's analysis of 2023 Youth Risk Behavior Survey data, lesbian, gay, and bisexual high school students in North Dakota were more than three times as likely to have attempted suicide as their straight peers. Transgender students faced even starker odds at nearly five times more likely.

Many local decision-makers simply don't realize young people in their communities are struggling this much. Seidler believes sharing these stories can open eyes and hearts.

The Ripple Effect

What started as one advocate's vision is already creating waves across the state. Volunteers signing up through Seidler's website gain access to data, fact sheets, and resources to support their work.

The project is entirely self-sustaining, with no external funding. That independence matters, especially given recent federal cuts to LGBTQ+ support programs. By keeping the network grassroots, volunteers can continue their work regardless of political winds.

Cody Schuler, advocacy director for the North Dakota ACLU, calls efforts like this "not only admirable, but necessary" given the current climate. When official channels close, community connections become lifelines.

To mark the taskforce's Monday launch, Seidler is hosting a 16-hour livestream starting Saturday at 8 a.m. She'll answer questions but otherwise let the time stretch on purposefully. "I want people to understand the weight of how long time can feel like when you're waiting for help and there's no help around," she explained.

The message is clear: when systems fail young people, neighbors can step up.