Rainbow Youth Swim Time
Come As You Are
The hardest truth is that open spaces don't always mean inclusive spaces. Knowing this, and that so many LGBTQ+ youth forgo swimming, Rainbow Spaces Executive Director Nadia set out to create a space where they could feel comfortable just being young.
It began with a mention to National City Mayor Sotelo-Solis, then a conversation with Chula Vista Mayor Mary Salas and Chula Vista Councilmember Jill Galvez, and snowballed to conversations with Imperial Beach Councilmember Paloma Aguirre, the YMCA, and the Parks and Rec for the City of San Diego.
Once dates were secured, a plea to the community went out for funds, and an amazing abundance of riches returned from Queer led organizations as far as San Jose. Comments such as "I wish this was available when I was young!" and "I would take a day at the beach anytime." spoke to the impact something as simplistic as an inclusive Swim event had on those that had long disregarded the idea.
Through the 2021 year, under the original fiscal sponsorship of Southbay Alliance and through the determination of Nadia, swim events were held every weekend, attracting dozens of kids to community pools.
Now under the exclusive namesake of Rainbow Spaces, and renamed, the Rainbow Youth swim time hopes to return in 2022 bigger and better than ever, continuing its original goal to make swimming fun for all.
