"You Can't Sit with Us:" Gender Bias in New Orleans Youth Programming.

Background: The COVID-19 Pandemic in 2020 exasperated resources available for our global society, however, a group largely impacted by outcomes has been youth. Schools, extracurricular activities, recreational spaces, and youth spaces were shut down and left to recover with new challenges. In Orleans Parish, youth make up one third of the population and receive more than their fair share of blame for problems such as violence. Purpose: For Black youth in particular, they are often overlooked when it comes to their needs and stigmatized in their ability to live their everyday lives. This research focuses in on the perceptions of LGBTQ+ youths experiences with youth serving organizations by understanding how youth and community view their presence and contributions to solving youth issues. Results: Gender bias in program implementation and approach showcase the differences in outcomes and youth participation. It also presents a challenge for not only providers but local youth in their understanding of solving issues and interacting with youth spaces. Using Monique Morris's Push Out theory, youth programs and other spaces continue the pattern of the criminalization of Black girls and LGBTQ+ youth. Implications: "Pushing Out" certain groups, especially based on gender, compounds the prejudicial layers of overlooking Black youths' needs. Addressing gender bias and expanding the view of who and how to serve youth will provide greater benefits for youth and the global society.