 |
Photograph by Jessica Parga and illustration by Brea Spencer for BenitoLink/Catchlight |
|
Dear CalMatters reader,
This month, we're featuring Beyond Tolerance: The Mental Health of Queer Youth, a visual story by photojournalist Jessica Parga for BenitoLink and the CatchLight Mental Health Visual Desk. After Hollister's only dedicated queer support group shut down in 2024, a 17-year-old trans student started one himself so others wouldn't have to navigate their experiences alone. The project follows six LGBTQIA+ young people in Hollister, California, exploring community, identity and mental health through creative portraits and conversations.
To protect participants' identities while preserving the emotional power of their stories, Jessica collaborated with illustrator Brea Spencer to layer illustrations with photographs, creating portraits that balance anonymity with dignity and self-expression.
"I feel like this work is an important representation of queer voices,” Jessica explains. “My hope is for the story to be seen by queer youth who are struggling with mental health, to know that they are seen, they are heard and where they can get help. I titled the piece Beyond Tolerance with the idea of it sparking actions to better support and include these youth in our community."
Sincerely,
|
|
|
|
Jenny Stratton
Executive Editor, CatchLight |
|
|
|
|
|
Jenny Stratton
Executive Editor, Catchlight |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Photograph by Jessica Parga and illustration by Brea Spencer for BenitoLink/Catchlight |
|
Mae Pung poses for a portrait at Hollister High School on Feb. 12, 2026. Pung, 17, identifies as bisexual and says being out with her family was a smooth process because with multiple family members also being part of the LGBTQ community, it felt almost normalized. |
|
|
|
|
📷 We want to see your best California photos.
Are you a photojournalist or photo-enthusiast? Submit your work to California in Pictures! Selected submissions for inclusion in the newsletter will be paid a licensing fee from CatchLight. |
| Submit your photos |
|
|
|
|
 |
Photograph by Jessica Parga and illustration by Brea Spencer for BenitoLink/Catchlight |
|
This artistic depiction represents an LGBTQ teen who did not wish to be identifiable and who said they feel like their parents avoid the topic of queer identities. |
|
|
 |
Photograph by Jessica Parga and illustration by Brea Spencer for BenitoLink/Catchlight |
|
(From top left) Mae Pung, Haiden Dizon, David, and Gael Barba-Solis laugh during a portrait in Hollister, CA on Jan. 20, 2026. Gael, who identifies as a transgender man, says he has found support in his long-time friends and considers them to be like family. |
|
|
 |
Photograph by Jessica Parga and illustration by Brea Spencer for BenitoLink/Catchlight |
|
This teen, whose identity has been obscured for their privacy, described significant mental health struggles during time spent at juvenile hall. |
|
|
 |
Photograph by Jessica Parga and illustration by Brea Spencer for BenitoLink/Catchlight |
|
Founder and President Gael Barba-Solis leads a Mariposa Club meeting at Hollister High School on Jan.14, 2026. Barba-Solis started the club his sophomore year of high school to create a transgender community. Students now meet every Wednesday during their lunch to talk about issues impacting them. |
|
|
 |
Photograph by Jessica Parga and illustration by Brea Spencer for BenitoLink/Catchlight |
|
An anonymous teen who identifies as queer sits for a portrait in Hollister, in 2026. He said it felt nice to talk about his identity with his close friends and that after opening up, he felt less of a mental weight. |
|
|
 |
Photograph by Jessica Parga and illustration by Brea Spencer for BenitoLink/Catchlight |
|
Sarabi Grace Muñoz, 14, poses for a portrait at a skate park she considers a safe space for herself on April 8, 2026. Muñoz moved to Hollister from San Jose last year and still travels out to the city to visit a psychologist for mental health support.
|
|
|
