Maxwell Poth: Empowering Queer Youth

Born and raised in a religious environment, Maxwell Poth probably started being an advocate for queer rights the moment when he quit the church at the age of 16 because, in their beliefs, “being a gay person was sinful’. More than a decade later, and after consolidating a successful career as a photographer in Los Angeles, Maxwell is today the Founder of Project Contrast, a non-profit organization that supports LGBTQIA+ youth across the US.

By providing education and spaces to raise mental health awareness, they strive to connect and give visibility to real queer stories across the US, with the aim of decreasing young suicide, one of the leading causes of death in the country. Under his signature phrase, ‘You Are Loved’, Maxwell sat with Container Love to present his latest book, Young Queer America, and comment on his life and the general situation for LGBTQIA+ rights in the US. 

How did it start the idea for your latest book Young Queer America?

At the beginning, it was a photo project to help queer kids facing struggle and suicidal thoughts to find community. I created Young Queer America: The Real Stories and Faces of LGBTQ+ Youth because I wished I had a book like this when I was young, queer, and closeted. I grew up in a very religious place where saying the word “gay” wasn’t an option, so I felt very isolated and alone.

I imagined that things would have been different if I had access to something like this project. Even in my own bedroom, just reading all these stories alone would have made me feel like I had made friends who were just like me. Because Young Queer America collects real stories about these queer kids across the country, from different backgrounds, sharing their challenges with their own identities, families, schoolmates, teachers, offering a message of love and support to their LGBTQIA+ peers. 

How was the process of finding and getting in contact with the young queer people portrayed  in the book?

My goodness, it was difficult. Especially because I started the project in 2020 in the middle of the pandemic. LGBT Centers were closed, and youth queer groups were not running. So I tried every possible way: news articles, hashtags on TikTok, Instagram, casting calls, mom’s Facebook groups, and local connections.

Once I found a kid, the first step is talking to the parents. If they approve,  I would have a round of zoom interviews to get to know them and their lives. I couldn’t travel until vaccines were available, so only by July 2021 I started portraying them. I can proudly say that I traveled to 16 different states to cover all 75 kids within four months. It was definitely a journey, one that I will never forget.

You were once also a young queer person. How was your time growing up?

I went through difficult times discovering my queer identity, but I quickly moved into standing my ground and a sense of confidence. I was raised in the Mormon faith -now only called Latter Day Saints (LDS)- but I left the church when I was 16 years old. I asked myself, “why would I want to stay in a community (as most religions do) that doesn’t accept who I am?”. Nowadays, I encourage anyone queer and in a religious cult to try and find a community that will accept them and help them slowly leave. Easier said than done, though. 

I pushed my self-confidence because it was a way of creating a protective shell. I found that the more I owned the fact I was gay, the less people tried to bully me. However, it was still difficult for my community to accept and love me. I dealt with it by finding my own terms, but it was very isolating.

Your professional life started as an epidemiologist, continued as a model, moved into photography, and today you are also an advocate. How has this journey been? Looking back, did you always have a vision about this point in your life?

No way! I would have never imagined that I was going to become a photographer in Los Angeles, California. Even when I moved to L.A., I had no idea which path I would take. My goals have indeed changed since I first moved here. Being a published author was not on the list of accomplishments, but I can say with pride that I have trusted my gut and followed the path that felt right for me, and I am grateful for the journey I have been on thus far.

In which part of this journey, your NGO Project Contrast started?

It all happened kind of by accident. It was originally supposed to be one story and photo project to highlight and raise awareness about the high suicide rate among queer youth in my home state of Utah. I wanted my home state to be held accountable for the poor job they were doing at protecting the LGBTQIA+ community.

So I collected and documented three queer kids in Utah and had the stories published in OUT Magazine and The Advocate. Once those were published my entire life changed overnight. I began receiving messages from queer kids all over the country wanting more and thanking us for sharing the stories. I saw firsthand queer kids finding hope and community. It only felt right to keep going. So in 2018 I launched Project Contrast, a nonprofit organization, as a place that could amplify these stories in bigger ways.

And how is that going? Does it enable you to have an impact in the youth?

Seeing the faces of young people light up with pure joy at Project Contrast events has been truly a life-changing experience for me. Many of these kids have never met another queer person before our events, so when they come in for the first time, they walk in mostly shy and scared. Without exception, everyone who leaves the place has made new friends and grasped a feeling of community. That’s our main goal, and that has definitely an immediate impact.

Since we started, we have worked with over 350 kids across the nation and published four in-house books under the title “Project Contrast.” Now, with Young Queer America, we are presenting our first collection of chronicles. I have seen the power of these initiatives in the stories of these kids, which is the reason why I continued Project Contrast.

You live in Los Angeles, California. In recent years, the US has exacerbated its contrasts and differences across the country, especially in relation to LGBTQIA+ rights. How do you see the situation for queer people in the country these days?

It is a challenging time to be queer in the United States. The Human Rights Campaign, for the first time in 40 years, has declared a state of emergency for the LGBTQIA+ community. Just when we all thought we were moving forward with the queer revolution, we have now taken three steps back.

Our country has become divided on a demographic that simply wants to live their truth. It seems like everyone else in the country randomly decided to focus on us, putting the queer community under a specific lens and weaponizing it for their own political gains. This has left all of us stuck in this battle that we didn’t want in the first place. We had so much progress coming our way. The Trump administration truly destroyed a safe country for anyone who is different to thrive. It’s a scary time to be an American. 

What is your opinion about the recent bills against transgender people that Florida’s governor -and presidential candidate- Ron DeSantis has passed?   

It’s terrifying. Ron DeSantis and all the other politicians attacking our community have no grounds or right to create such hate. The queer community is starting to be represented more than ever in our country. It’s been a beautiful journey to see more representation each year in the media. Sadly, this has also made those who hate the queer community more prevalent. Even though we are moving three steps back in this country, this is how history works. We see progress, and then those against it see it too. They try to resist and fight against it, they may even win little battles, but eventually, we will win. I just hope we win sooner rather than later.

Our young queer community, however, is strong. They know how to fight. I have a lot of hope for them to really tackle these issues and make the change we plan to see in this country. 

Not only in the US, but worldwide, how do you think we improve LGBTQIA+ rights, opportunities and freedom in the near future? 

Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. I truly think that we need to educate our opposers by  becoming close with those fighting against us and showing them who we truly are.

Utah is a prime example of what I mean. The state of Utah has a very religious administration. The Mormon community not only covers most of the population but also heavily influences their government. They push their religious values into the policies. And even though they have these issues, they are a Republican state that, against all odds, has made it a safer place to be queer. Of course, they still have a lot to do, but they are taking the lead in the states where Republicans have the majority. This mainly is because the ones fighting for LGBTQIA+ rights in Utah are teaching and educating their opponents with love and acceptance while standing their ground and fighting. Aside from that, it is just important to VOTE and show affirmative actions to make change. 

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