Youth Chatroom Moderator Volunteer

Ensure a Safe Space for Youth

Currently all training spots are filled.
Thank you!

LGBTQ Youth Wearing a Hat

4/15/24 - all training position are currently full.

Help Youth Feel Safe Online

Moderated chatrooms allow us to offer a space where young people can gather, form community, and support and uplift each other.

We offer online chatrooms available to LGBTQIA+ youth. Trained moderators take the lead within those chatrooms to make sure the chatroom stays safe and appropriate.

We’re looking for moderators who can find the balance between leading a conversation and providing a space where young people can find their own voice and create their own topics.

Additionally, moderators safeguard the rooms from trolls and hate speech to create a safe space for young people to feel comfortable to be themselves and to grow. 

ALL OF OUR VOLUNTEER POSITIONS ARE REMOTE AND VOLUNTEERS MUST BE AT LEAST 18 YEARS OLD

FOR THE LGBTQ TEENS CHATROOM, THE MODERATOR MUST IDENTIFY AS PART OF THE LGBTQIA+ COMMUNITY

FOR THE TRANS TEEN CHATROOM, MODERATORS MUST IDENTIFY AS TRANSGENDER, NON-BINARY, GENDER EXPANSIVE, OR GENDER QUEER

Volunteering Time Commitment

It's Important That You Can Honor Your Commitment

Moderator volunteers make a minimum commitment of two hours a week, the same time each week, for at least 12 months after training is complete.

A Safe Space

The chatrooms are Safe Spaces where youth can be open with their feelings, talk about fears or doubts, but also talk about the victories and good things that have happened in their lives. We encourage young people to join the chatrooms as often as they like, week after week, so they can form friendships and create support circles. The chatrooms are spaces where people can be themselves and let their guards down. It can be a place to vent over a hard day or to talk about their first shot of testosterone. At times the rooms can be serious and the conversation can be about coming out, discrimination or bullying, but other times it can be about favorite bands or the latest show binged on Netflix. 

Your Role

The role of the Moderators is to create a Safe Space where youth feel they can be open with their emotions and express themselves freely. This can be accomplished by kind and affirming words, giving each person the respect they deserve, and protecting the chatroom from pranks or verbal attacks. Moderators often provide information and resources while moderating the conversations as well. Sometimes the Moderator will lead a discussion, ask open-ended questions, or answer questions about the LGBTQIA+ community.

Volunteer requirements:

  • Moderators must be at least 18 years old

  • Commit to a 2-hour shift each week for at least 12 months (starting after training)

  • Access to high-speed internet

  • Must be able to use a laptop or desktop, you can not use a phone

  • Basic internet knowledge

  • Ability to type and communicate in English

  • Mature nature, but able to connect with young people

  • Strong conversation skills

Flexibility

If you are selected as a volunteer, we want to stress the importance of feeling highly confident that you can honor your commitment to being available for your chatroom shift (with the exception of illness or vacation). Some volunteer opportunities lend themselves to greater flexibility than we do. This is NOT the case with this type of work, since volunteers are moderating an active youth chatroom, and if someone doesn't show up for their shift, the chatroom can't open. So please, give careful thought to your schedule to make sure you feel comfortable with making this one-year commitment.

Chat Moderators go Through a Training Program that Consists of Several Components

Chat Moderators go Through a Training Program that Consists of Several Components

Step 1

Completing the application and shift availability form below.

Step 2

Phone conversation and interview. This will be a chance to get to know us, and for us to get to know you. We'll be able to answer questions you may have.

Step 3

Complete an online study course.

Step 4

Shadow a current moderator for several sessions.

Want to Volunteer?

We realize there are many volunteering opportunities out there, and we want to thank you for your interest in volunteering with us!

Please fill out the application and we will get in touch with you shortly.

(contact information in the application form will not be shared with any third parties)

As of 4/15/24 all training spots are full. If you are interested in volunteering please know it may be a few months before we begin training again.

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Personal Information
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Personal Information (cont)
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Responsibility and Commitment
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LGBTQIA+ Requirement
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Training Availability
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Skills
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Technology Requirements
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Agreement
Are you a student?*
Are you employed?
If you are not currently working, are you seeking employment?*
Have you ever been convicted of a felony?*

We are deeply honored that you are interested in volunteering with the LGBT National Help Center.

Volunteering with us requires a substantial time commitment. Training is a multi-step process, and then we ask that you can commit to a weekly shift and that you can DEPENDABLY work your shift each week for at least one year after you finish training.

It is important that you feel confident that you can honor this weekly commitment while training AND when becoming a Chat Room Moderator volunteer.

Some volunteer opportunities lend themselves to a lot of flexibility and if you don’t show up for your shift there are others who can fill in for you. That is NOT the case with this type of volunteering. When volunteering, if you don’t show up for your shift, the Chat Room can't open and this service becomes unavailable to the youth who need it.

So please, give careful thought about your schedule and availability to make sure you are comfortable making this type of commitment. We also commit to you that we will give you the training and support you need to enable you to feel prepared and excited about volunteering with us.

I understand the responsibility and commitment needed to be a peer-support volunteer

Because our callers define "peer" as either being gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, or queer, our moderators need to fall into at least one of these categories. (Please note that if you do not, you can contact us about other volunteer opportunities.)

Do you meet this LGBTQIA+ volunteer requirement?

Currently we are seeking only moderators for the Trans Teen chatroom for Friday nights, moderators must identify as transgender, nonbinary or gender expansive. Before taking on the role of moderator, there is several weeks of traning that involves shadowing a current Moderator. Please check off the shifts you may be available to train on.

Training Availabilty:

Because our volunteer positions are remote, volunteers need to have an up-to-date computer with reliable high-speed internet.

Volunteers must have a quiet, private space to answer calls and chats.

Volunteers cannot use a smartphone or tablet.

Also, your computer must be able to run Google Chrome version 75 or higher.

Those using Macs need to have an operating system of Sierra or higher.


Online volunteering requires a large amount of data use. To ensure training and volunteering is viable, please open a separate tab and go to www.SpeedTest.net and click "Begin Test" or "GO".

When the test is complete, please report the 3 test results: Ping, Download Speed, and Upload Speed. (If you prefer you can use any other speed test you would like; we just need to have those three results).

Applications without speed test results will not be considered.

Do you have a Mac or PC?*
Do you have a quiet and private space where you can take your shift?*

Individuals may volunteer for the LGBT National Help Center in many different capacities. Relevant to the programs they are volunteering for, the Help Center does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth), disability, age, citizen status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or gender expression, HIV status, military or veteran status, and other reasons as protected by law.

Individuals who specifically want to become Chat Room Moderator volunteers must be at least 18 years of age, and because our callers define “peer” as someone who identifies as LGBTQIA+, our peer-support volunteers must identify as part of the LGBTQIA+ community.

We understand that everyone comes with their own history, experiences, and levels of education and knowledge on LGBTQIA+ issues. We use our training program to help potential peer-support volunteers gain the skills and knowledge needed to create a Safe Space for our community to feel comfortable to talk about issues and concerns in their lives. Nevertheless, because of the critical nature of our work, peer-support volunteers must reach a high level of competency in order to complete their training.


It’s important that you:

  • Feel you can ask questions when you’re not sure about something (there are no foolish questions - this is how we learn)
  • Have the willingness to identify areas where you can grow
  • Have the ability for self-reflection
  • Accept constructive guidance
  • Have the willingness to learn

The LGBT National Help Center provides support to those seeking affirmation and acceptance, and we strive to create a safe space for all. We accept people as they are and how they wish to be addressed. This includes, and is not limited to, using the pronouns, names, and labels those who contact us use for themselves.

Moderator volunteers will under no circumstances obtain any identifying information from chatroom users and will not give out their own personal identifying information or meet with chatters. Moderators will also not make calls on behalf of chatters.

The LGBT National Help Center reserves the right to remove volunteers who are unable to comply with our mission and values during training or while on shift. We will work with you to make training an enjoyable learning experience, but please give careful thought about volunteering and your openness to learning.


We are not mandated reporters. Potential volunteers who do identify as mandated reporters in their professional careers must understand that they cannot act in that capacity while volunteering with us. We understand that some professions do not allow for that. If that is the case for you, this type of volunteering isn’t going to be the right fit. If you identify as a mandated reporter and are not sure if you are able to legally remove those restrictions from yourself, you may need to contact a lawyer or employer before continuing on with this application.

I understand and accept the statement above.*