babyÖ±²¥app

_{By Alissa Smith for The babyÖ±²¥app Springs Independant posted March 8, 2017Â} 

---

LGBTQ people have always expressed themselves through alternative forms of media. In the beginning (and to a certain extent, still) that was the only way we could circulate our stories — through punk zines, underground literary magazines and through comics distributed by hand to trusted members of the community. Even today, LGBTQ literature is often published only by LGBTQ companies, and remains relegated to single shelves in bookstores. If bookstores carry it at all.

One local artist, Emma Oosterhous, grew up in a similar era, in a similar form of isolation. She says of her high school experience, "I knew that there was something different about me, but I didn't know what to call it. And I didn't know anyone else who was like that."

Unfortunately, it's a feeling we are all familiar with. So in May 2015 when Oosterhous began an internship with Inside/Out Youth Services, our local LGBTQ youth center, she set out to create  a webcomic that collects and tells the stories of queer youth.