JASMYN, the Jacksonville Area Sexual Minority Youth Network, offers crucial support and services to LGBTQ+ teens and young adults in the area.
As Pride Month continues, News4JAX is highlighting local organizations, like JASMYN, that provide resources and safe spaces for the Northeast Florida LGBTQ+ community.
Francisco Castro recently took the reins as JASMYN’s Chief Executive Officer.
He said that just days into the new job, he saw the life-changing impact JASMYN provides for local youth.
“I met two different mothers on different instances, and they each told me how JASMYN made such a difference in the life of their child. It was because their child was able to come here and find community. They were able to make friends,” Castro said. “They even felt that JASMYN actually helped save their child’s life.”
JASMYN has its roots in a small support group for gay and lesbian youth started at the Willowbranch Library in 1992 by Ernie Dy Selorio Jr., a queer Asian youth of Filipino descent.
Decades later, JASMYN is now a robust nonprofit supporting LGBTQIA+ teens and young adults aged 13-29 in greater Jacksonville.
Campus tour
Castro recently gave News4JAX a tour of JASMYN’s campus, which consists of three buildings on the cusp of Jacksonville’s Brooklyn/Riverside neighborhoods.
The first building, known as “J1,″ is also now called the “Cindy Watson House,” in honor of JASMYN’s first CEO.
“This is where it all started as far as us owning our own property,” Castro said.
J1 is the weekly teen drop-in center, where young people ages 13-17 can be together and find community. It includes a gathering space with a board game wall, a small kitchen, and walls covered in uplifting artwork.
JASMYN hosts an annual prom for LGBTQ+ teens and their allies and offers a quaint “prom boutique” at the drop-in center.
Castro knows firsthand how isolating it can be for teens and young adults who are looking for acceptance.
“Our young people are hearing these messages saying being trans is wrong, or being plus is wrong,” Castro said. “All these young people want to do is be their authentic selves, and they just don’t understand why they’re being attacked for just being who they are.”
Castro said the goal of JASMYN is to counter the negative narrative and send a welcoming message, which the organization has been doing for years.
“What they would do is tell their parents that they were going to ‘Jasmyn’s house,’” Castro explained. “It really seemed to work as far as being a space where people could come (find community) and not have to necessarily out themselves.”
WATCH: JASMYN CEO Francisco Castro shares his journey with HIV
More to offer
JASMYN has been able to expand its reach and services over the years as it strives to be a beacon of hope and support for those in need.
Its J2 building offers access to essential health services, including HIV and STI testing, as well as resources for treatment. It even has a room set up for taking blood.
Additionally, the J3 building provides mental health services for young adults aged 18 to 29, many of whom are unhoused.
“This is a place where they can get a hot meal,” Castro explained. “They have access to the food bank and the hygiene bank.”
At the J3 building, clients also have access to computers and training to help them become self-reliant.
JASMYN’s commitment to supporting LGBTQ+ youth in Jacksonville is unwavering, and Castro has a heartfelt message for young people seeking acceptance and a community to provide it.
“You are fine; you are beautiful just the way you are,” Castro said. “You’re not alone, and we’re here to support you. We are here to celebrate you when you’re ready.”
As a nonprofit, JASMYN is always accepting donations, including items for its food and hygiene bank. To learn more about JASMYN and how you can help, go to jasmyn.org.
