Human Rights Alliance (HRA)

Youth Privacy & Online Safety Statement

Effective Date: August 30, 2026

The Human Rights Alliance believes that young people should be able to learn about programs, find community, and access resources without unnecessarily sacrificing their privacy.

Because HRA provides programming for LGBTQ+ youth and young adults, protecting the confidentiality, dignity, identity, and safety of young people is especially important to us.

This statement supplements HRA’s general Privacy Policy and describes our approach to youth privacy and online safety.

Protecting Youth Privacy

HRA seeks to collect only the personal information reasonably necessary to respond to inquiries, determine program eligibility, register participants, communicate about activities, maintain participant safety, evaluate programs, and meet applicable organizational or legal requirements.

We recognize that information concerning a young person’s sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, family circumstances, health, or participation in LGBTQ+ programming may be particularly sensitive.

HRA does not sell personal information about youth or program participants.

Information Young People Should Avoid Sharing Publicly

Young people should not post or submit highly sensitive personal information through public portions of the HRA website.

This includes information such as:

• Home addresses;
• Passwords;
• Social Security numbers;
• Financial account information;
• Detailed medical records; or
• Other information that could unnecessarily compromise personal privacy or safety.

When HRA needs sensitive information for a program, we will seek to collect it through an appropriate registration or communication process rather than through publicly visible areas of the website.

Parental or Guardian Involvement

Some HRA programs may require parental or guardian consent depending upon the participant’s age, the nature of the activity, applicable law, funding requirements, transportation arrangements, or other safety considerations.

At the same time, HRA recognizes that privacy can be particularly important for LGBTQ+ young people.

HRA will seek to balance appropriate parental or guardian involvement with the privacy, dignity, safety, and legal rights of young people participating in our programs.

Specific consent and confidentiality practices may vary by program.

Photographs, Video, and Stories

HRA recognizes that publicly identifying a young person as participating in an LGBTQ+ organization or program can have privacy and safety implications.

Accordingly, HRA will seek appropriate permission before intentionally identifying minors in photographs, videos, testimonials, participant stories, or promotional materials.

Youth should never feel pressured to publicly disclose their identity or personal experiences in order to participate in an HRA program.

Confidentiality

HRA staff, facilitators, volunteers, and program partners are expected to respect participant privacy consistent with their roles and applicable HRA policies.

However, confidentiality cannot be guaranteed in every circumstance. Information may need to be disclosed when required by law or when appropriate action is necessary to respond to a serious or immediate safety concern.

Professional counselors, healthcare providers, educators, and other professionals participating in or supporting HRA programs may also have independent legal and professional obligations concerning confidentiality and mandatory reporting.

Online Communication

HRA may communicate with youth participants electronically when appropriate for program administration.

HRA seeks to use reasonable boundaries and safeguards for communications between adults and minors. Individual programs may establish additional rules regarding email, text messaging, social media, virtual meetings, and other forms of electronic communication.

HRA staff and volunteers should not use program relationships with youth to solicit inappropriate personal, romantic, sexual, financial, or otherwise exploitative communications.

Social Media

Participation in an HRA program does not require a young person to publicly identify themselves as LGBTQ+ or publicly associate themselves with HRA on social media.

Young people should carefully consider the privacy settings on their social media accounts and understand that commenting on, following, tagging, or sharing content from an organization may sometimes reveal an association with that organization to others.

HRA cannot control the privacy practices of independent social media platforms.

Third-Party Services

HRA may use outside services for registration, email, virtual meetings, surveys, or other program functions.

When possible, HRA seeks to use reputable services and limit the amount of youth information shared with outside providers.

Third-party services maintain their own privacy and security policies, and HRA cannot guarantee the practices of independent providers.

If You Have a Privacy or Safety Concern

Young people, parents, guardians, and community members may contact HRA if they have concerns about privacy, online communications, photographs, personal information, or interactions related to an HRA program.

HRA will take concerns seriously and review them with appropriate leadership.

Human Rights Alliance (HRA)
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Email:
Phone: 505-819-9593
Website: hraNM.org

Our Commitment

HRA believes young people should be able to participate in programs and explore their identities without unnecessary exposure, identification, or risk.

Privacy, consent, dignity, and individual choice are fundamental to the safe and welcoming environment we seek to create.

© 2026 Human Rights Alliance. All rights reserved.