We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Sharon Herrera. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Sharon below.

Hi Sharon, thanks for joining us today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

I wanted to save lives!

In September 2010, several publicized suicides of LGBTQ youth reminded United States Air Force veteran and educator, Sharon Herrera, of a pain she was all too familiar with. Having contemplated her own suicide, she knew things had to change and that we needed a community where all children are safe. Sharon knew that with peer and community support she could save lives and build a network of passionate and caring individuals to help LGBTQ youth and their allies in Tarrant County. LGBTQ SAVES (Students, Allies, Volunteers, Educators, Support) was born.

Sharon, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

In September 2010, several publicized suicides of LGBTQ youth reminded United States Air Force veteran and educator, Sharon Herrera, of a pain she was all too familiar with. Having contemplated her own suicide, she knew things had to change and that we needed a community where all children are safe. Sharon knew that with peer and community support she could save lives and build a network of passionate and caring individuals to help LGBTQ youth and their allies in Tarrant County. LGBTQ SAVES (Students, Allies, Volunteers, Educators, Support) was born.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

As a child, Herrera, who now is openly gay, had no one to turn to when reckoning with her homosexuality. An affirming, progressive hometown might have spared her the torments of her childhood, she said.

In the late 1970s, San Angelo was not that town.

Complicating matters was the conservative Catholic environment in which she said she grew up.

At church, Herrera was told homosexuals go to hell. In the broader community, there were no openly gay role models she could speak to.

At 16, she decided drinking a bottle of Drano was preferable to her conflicted identity. Her suicide attempt was thwarted when her aunt walked in on her moments before she put the cleaning agent to her lips.

“I know, mija,” Herrera recalled her aunt Margaret telling her. “You don’t like boys.”

Those seven words, Herrera said, saved her life.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

The first LGBTQ SAVES meeting was held in Sharon’s backyard. SAVES volunteers funded the organization out of their own pocket while hosting meetings and events where they could. Initially, it was difficult finding a space that would host an organization helping LGBTQ youth in Tarrant County. LGBTQ SAVES hosted their first event, an LGBTQ prom, in winter 2011 at Celebration Church. Meanwhile, Sharon, in collaboration with Tom Anable, David Henderson and Jon Nelson, gay activists and leaders of Fairness Fort Worth, challenged the Fort Worth Independent School District to add a Non-Discrimination Policy. The LGBTQ advocates prevailed and championed equity for staff and students.

As a child my favorite song was from the Wizard of Oz, Somewhere over the Rainbow. The lyrics, “there’s a land that I heard of once in a lullaby, where the dreams you dare to dream of really do come true.” As a teen, I realized there was no such land for me and my world became dark, leading to suicide. Fast forward, I am trying to create that land, no longer in a lullaby, but right here in Fort Worth, Tx, where the dreams of our LGBTQ youth can come true and they can thrive!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.lgbtqsaves.org/
• Instagram: @lgbtqsaves
• Facebook: LGBTQ SAVES
• Twitter: @lgbtq_saves
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVMqQ7G-iYp2dLAixFPJLIw

Image Credits
Sharon Herrera and Carlos Bonilla