MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — The Manatee County Commission denied more than $27,000 in funding for an LGBTQ+ organization called Also Youth that provides a variety of services including counseling for kids suffering from anxiety and depression.

What You Need To Know

  •  Manatee County commission denies more than $27,000 for LGBTQ+ organization 

  •  Some commissioners are concerned that Also Youth would provide counseling for kids considering transitioning — a charge the group denies

  •  Also Youth provides services including counseling for anxiety and depression 

Becky McDonough, the Executive Director of Also Youth, said she feels the board discriminated against the organization.

“We feel the commission really missed out on an opportunity to provide critical care, accessible mental health counseling services to kids and families who need it,” McDonough said.

County Commissioner Amanda Ballard voted against funding for the group, saying she does not support providing any kind of care for kids looking to transition.

“I do think those kids need counseling, that they need help with mental health problems, but I don’t think that encouragement to transition is the answer for those children,” Ballard said.

McDonough said her organization does not provide any kind of counseling for children transitioning and that she told the board this while applying for the funding.

She hopes the county will reconsider the decision. While the commission denied funding for Also Youth, it provided more than $15 million to more than 50 other local programs.