The Necessity For Joy

Let’s be real. This year has been difficult, to say the least. None of us are happy with the way the election went, and this current administration has been on a mission to erase as many marginalized communities as they can. There’s a genocide in Gaza that our government continues to supply weapons to, and the effects of climate change are ever-present and looming. It’s all scary and frustrating, and it’s hard to just exist right now.

We have been strong in our fight against this tyrannical administration, against fascism, and against white supremacy. We boycott; we organize; we share information; we learn; we march, sign petitions, and we make art. And doing all the things that are accessible to us is important. Every little bit we can contribute to our communities and our causes help, and it all matters. But one cannot pour from an empty cup. It’s not sustainable to try and keep up a consistent level of activism without a pause or a break. We need to do things that fill our own cups as well.

That’s where joy comes in. Our oppressors want us feeling defeated, depleted, and hopeless. It is in their best interest for us to be as desperate as possible because we are less likely to fight back when we’re exhausted. And the best way to combat that? Seeking out, creating, and experiencing joy.

Joy As Resistance (JAR) is a nonprofit organization founded in Denver that prioritizes the wellbeing of queer young people. They offer mental health counseling for 2SLGBTQIA+ people ages 10-24, a mentorship program, and developmental services through their nonprofit partnership program. JAR has been serving the queer communities of the greater Metro Denver Area for five years, equipping our youth with resiliency and healing skills, connection skills, and, of course, hope and joy.

I got a chance to hear what JAR means to the outreach coordinator, Billie Mari Grant (she/her). She told me that these first few months of 2025 have been surprising and challenging. In response, the team is not only providing support for their clients and participants, but for themselves as well. Billie says the team takes pride in their work and in celebrating each other. She said that JAR works to create spaces that are radically inclusive for queer youth and they are doubling down on their mission as well as their dedication to one another. They are creating a world where LGBTQ+ people feel essential, celebrated, and equipped to live their authentic lives.

JAR offers several services that assist in building inclusive environments. They offer workshops that emphasize empathy and collective learning to strengthen the environment’s culture. JAR also provides coaching for youth-serving professionals so they can actively and effectively engage with complex situations. Heather C. (they/them), a queer parent of queer children, wrote in a blog post, “joy reminds us that we are whole.” They said that joy is active, intentional, and a victory against the oppressive forces we face. We are allowed and meant to experience other things besides fear and anger. Our communities deserve to have spaces that understand and encourage that.

JAR provides several healing-based approaches to their therapy, including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy that “supports clients in accepting hardships that they cannot change and take steps toward feeling more in control of their lives,” and Narrative Therapy, which, “supports clients in becoming the author of their own life stories.” They are dedicated to helping queer young people navigate the difficulties they face as people holding multiple targeted identities and finding ways to move towards motivation. Brandy Factory (she/her), a co-founder of Upset Homegirls, said that Black joy rejects the idea that violence and injustice are normal and acceptable. She says that Black joy affirms she is not a victim, but an agent of change. We deserve care that not only validates our experiences but endows us with courage to want better.

Elaine Nichols (she/her) from the National Museum of African American History and Culture writes, “Having a vision that circumvents adverse circumstances was and is an act of defiance and resilience.” JAR’s mentorship program, Big Queer, Little Queer (BQLQ), ensures that our youth can see a future for themselves. They train their mentors on anti-racism and anti-oppression content as well as equip them with the tools they need to connect healthily and meaningfully with the mentees. BQLQ provides a way for the young people to envision a world where they can survive and thrive.

When we seek joy, not only does it show those who wish us harm that we are not so easily stopped, but it reminds us of the futures we are fighting for. Futures where we can feel these good feelings more often than not. Futures where those whose time comes after ours don’t have to fight for their existence, but can simply be. Futures where all of us are free. Our queer ancestors wanted that for us, and we must continue to want it for ourselves. We deserve happiness. We deserve freedom. We deserve joy.