SAN JOSE, CA – About 150 middle school students from �Ƿ���Դ�� and San Mateo counties gathered at San Jose State University on May 29 for Bestie Fest, a day-long event focused on connection, learning, and belonging for LGBTQ+ youth. 

Through a partnership among the �Ƿ���Դ�� County Office of Education (SCCOE), San Mateo-Foster City School District, San Jose State University’s Queer Hope Institute, and the �Ƿ���Դ�� County Public Health Department’s Tobacco-Free Communities initiative, Bestie Fest created a vibrant, affirming space where students could build community while exploring topics that impact their well-being. 

From the moment students arrived, the tone for the day was clear: this is a space to be seen, supported, and authentically themselves.  

“Being here just lets me represent myself,” said Kyla, a student from the San Mateo-Foster City School District. 

“This is a nice place to be yourself,” added fellow student Jolee. “School can feel big, and it’s nice to have a smaller community.” 

Bestie Fest reflects the SCCOE’s commitment to ensuring every student feels a sense of belonging. Throughout the day, students participated in workshops, interactive activities, and peer-led experiences designed to foster connection and self-expression. Students also engaged with sessions focused on mental health and strategies to avoid tobacco use as a coping method for stress.

A highlight from the event included a Lavender Graduation ceremony, honoring eighth-grade students, and the distribution of On the Rainbow Spectrum, a youth-created resource coloring book combining creative expression with accessible information on topics such as allyship, LGBTQ+ rights, and wellness. 

For volunteers and partners, the impact of Bestie Fest was especially visible in how students showed up with confidence and a sense of identity.

Fiona, a graduate student from San Francisco State University, spent the day face-painting and connecting with attendees. 

“I’ve enjoyed seeing the students on their own,” Fiona said. “They have a confident sense of independence.” 

For others, the event represented a visible shift in access, representation, and opportunity for younger generations. Wycoff, a returning volunteer and youth leader, reflected on how spaces like Bestie Fest recognize and affirm students. 

“Creating a space where people will address you as you are and how you feel you are is life-changing,” Wycoff said. 

They added that spaces to meet and hear from students older than them and adults in the LGBTQ+ community give students a tangible future to look towards. 

“They see ‘I can grow older, grow smarter, and find things and do things that can make an impact’,” Wycoff said, emphasizing this was their experience while coordinating and attending events such as Bestie Fest. 

Bestie Fest was made possible through collaboration across education and public health partners, including the SCCOE’s California Tobacco Prevention Program and the �Ƿ���Դ�� County Public Health Department’s Tobacco-Free Communities initiative. 

Together, partners created a space where students could explore identity, build connections, and learn about tools to support their well-being. By creating a space where students connect with peers, access resources, and see themselves reflected in the community, Bestie Fest strengthens belonging. For students who attended, that sense of belonging is something they carry back into their schools, communities, and their futures.

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