Building Bridges ND — Share Your Story
Rooted in Christian faith and Jesus’ call to love our neighbors, Building Bridges ND seeks to help save lives and ensure that LGBTQ people and their families are treated with kindness, dignity, and love. Everyone is welcome, regardless of faith or belief.Share as much or as little as you feel comfortable sharing. All personal questions are optional; only the final consent choices are required. You do not need to provide your name.If you wish to remain anonymous, please avoid including names, exact towns, churches, schools, employers, or other details that could identify you or someone else. Providing an optional email address will identify you to the project. Because the form service may process technical information, complete anonymity cannot be guaranteed.Submissions will not automatically appear on the website. Building Bridges ND will review each submission privately. Material may be published manually only when it is consistent with the permission you provide.This form is not monitored in real time and is not a crisis service. If you need immediate emotional support in the United States, call or text 988 or use the 988 Lifeline chat. LGBTQ young people may also contact The Trevor Project by calling 1-866-488-7386 or texting START to 678678. If there is immediate danger or an urgent medical need, call 911.
All personal questions are optional; no name required; avoid names/exact locations/employers/churches/schools; no guarantee of complete anonymity, optional email identifies you to project; submission never automatically publishes; publication is manual after review and only under your permission.
In the US call/text 988, chat https://988lifeline.org/get-help/; Trevor call 1-866-488-7386 or text START to 678678 or https://www.thetrevorproject.org/get-help/; urgent danger/medical attention 911. Neither this form nor project is monitored in real time.
North Dakota connection
How connected to ND?
Born here
Grew up here
Live here now
Lived here before
School/college here
Family here
Work/worked here
Attended church here
Community most connected to story?
Rural/farm
Small town
Larger city
More than one
Prefer not to say
A little about you
Age range
under18
18-24
25-34
35-44
45-54
55-64
65+
prefer not to say
Sexual orientation (optional)
Gender identity (optional)
Faith and church
Raised Christian home/church?
Yes
No
Somewhat/Complicated
Prefer not to say
Christian before understanding LGBTQ?
Yes
No
Unsure/Questioning
Not applicable
Relationship to Christianity today?
Christian
Christian but not connected to church
Questioning/Unsure
No longer Christian
Never Christian
Prefer not to say
How did realizing you are LGBTQ (or realizing someone close to you is LGBTQ) affect your faith?
Have you ever felt like you had to choose between your faith and being honest about your identity or the identity of someone you love?
What could Christians or churches have done differently?
How people treated you
How have Christians treated you because of your sexual orientation or gender identity? (Good and difficult experiences are both welcome.)
How have non-Christians treated you because of your sexual orientation or gender identity? (Good and difficult experiences are both welcome.)
Rejection, mistreatment, or exclusion in these areas (check any that apply)
Family
Friends
Church/Faith Community
School
Workplace
Community
Healthcare
None
Have you felt unsafe in North Dakota because you are LGBTQ?
Yes
No
Sometimes
Prefer not to say
Hard moments
This section may be painful. You can skip any question. No graphic details are needed.
Has something been said or done to you because of your orientation or identity that deeply hurt you? (Share only what you are comfortable sharing.)
What do you wish the people involved understood about the impact on you?
If you wish, share how rejection, isolation, or acceptance has affected your wellbeing.
Has rejection or mistreatment significantly affected your mental or emotional health?
Yes
No
Unsure
Prefer not to say
If you are in crisis or thinking about self-harm, please reach out for help. In the US you can call or text 988 for 24/7 crisis support, or chat at https://988lifeline.org/chat/. LGBTQ youth may call The Trevor Project at 1-866-488-7386, text START to 678678, or chat at https://www.thetrevorproject.org/get-help/. Call 911 if you are in immediate danger or need urgent medical help.
People who made a difference
Tell about a person who made a positive difference for you (without naming them).
This person was (check any that apply)
parent/family
friend
teacher/coach
pastor/church leader
church member
coworker
counselor/health professional
someone else
What did they do that helped?
Did their support help you through a crisis, keep a connection to faith, or help save your life?
What is one thing you wish more people would do for LGBTQ people?
What you wish others understood
What do you wish people who disagree on LGBTQ issues understood about you?
Your story, in your own words
Share any experience of growing up, living, working, worshiping, or being LGBTQ in North Dakota. You can share as much or as little as you want.
Tell your story
What would you say to a young LGBTQ North Dakotan who feels alone?
What would you say to a Christian parent whose child has just come out?
Permission
Publication permission
*
Anonymous excerpts from my story may be shared publicly.
My full anonymous story and excerpts may be shared publicly.
For private understanding only. DO NOT publish any of my words.
Contact me before publishing anything.
Editing permission
*
You may make light grammar, spelling, length, or privacy edits that do not change the meaning.
Please use my wording as written, except remove identifying information.
Email (optional; required only if you want to be contacted before any publication). This email will never be published.
example@example.com
I understand this form does not create a counseling, medical, legal, or pastoral relationship, and that the project may decline publication or remove identifying details.
*
I understand and agree.
Share My Story
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