PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Jasper Liem is the executive director of The Attic Youth Center, which has been supporting LGBTQ youth in Philadelphia for three decades. Liem’s advocacy though started long before the took the job.
“I kind of joke that I’ve been an advocate for LGBTQ youth since I was 1," said Liem, whose family has roots in Hong Kong. "Still queer — just not a youth anymore.”
In the late '90s, Liem started a gender and sexuality alliance for students at his high school in suburban Philadelphia after he and others came out.
“It was a big deal back then, because ... in the '90s, people didn’t believe that gay youth existed at all — let alone lesbian, bisexual or trans. It just wasn’t in the narrative back then.”
He wanted to correct that narrative and make a difference. It's an objective that he has taken with him through his life — from high school through his time at Haverford College to his career in social and clinical work.
In 2013, he was asked to join The Attic’s board of directors. Since then, he has served in a number of roles, including board president. And now, he’s in charge.
“I wanted to help other youth and young adults and provide that support, and safe spaces, that I didn’t always have as a young person.”
Queer youth face prejudice and misunderstanding from peers and adults, which can leave them feeling isolated and vulnerable. The Attic provides a respite for them with art therapy and writing workshops, support groups, life skills training, HIV testing and mental health counseling. And it’s a place where they can find the acceptance they may not have been able to find elsewhere.
“A space where youth can be themselves, can talk about what they’re going through, and be met with an adult peer — who are staff here, who have gone through it or are able to help navigate or help connect young folks to the supports they might need to get through it. That’s life saving.”
Throughout Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, KYW Newsradio is celebrating the contributions of these diverse and essential communities with an audio series called “Asian Americans Making Their Mark.”