Goodyear resident ready to bust a move for LGBTQ+ youth

Goodyear resident Yessica Molina will participate in the 17th annual Dancing for one·n·ten charity event from noon to 2 p.m. Sept. 12 at Tempe Center for the Arts, 700 W. Rio Salado Parkway in Tempe.

The event features 10 community leaders from across the Valley who will perform dance routines while competing for the title of grand champion.

The competition raises money for programs supporting LGBTQ+ youth, a cause especially important to Molina as a member of the community.

“I’m part of the LGBTQ+ community myself, but I had no idea how my experience was completely different from a lot of kids out there,” Molina said.

Molina, a real estate agent with more than 10 years of experience in Goodyear, said they grew up with an extremely supportive and loving family, which is not the case for many LGBTQ+ youth.

According to The Trevor Project’s 2024 U.S. National Survey on the Mental Health of LGBTQ+ Young People, only 40% of respondents said their home was an affirming enviorment.

Molina hopes that by raising money, they can help give kids the same support they felt growing up.

“These kids that maybe didn’t have the same privilege as I have, I couldn’t fathom being a kid and feeling like I’m all by myself in this world,” they said.

Each performer is expected to raise $10,000, and the group hopes to raise $150,000 altogether. Every step helps fund one·n·ten’s programs for LGBTQ+ youth.

In preparation for the event, Molina has practiced with a professional dance instructor every week since late June, sometimes more than once a week.

“At first I was like, ‘I’m an amazing dancer,’” Molina said. “But when you actually have to learn step by step, and there’s a routine you have to follow, it’s so hard.”

Molina said they originally planned to recreate a scene from the “Step Up” movie franchise but later altered the routine.

“I wanted to do something with hip-hop, something a little more different,” Molina said.

The event is presented by one·n·ten, a Phoenix nonprofit organization dedicated to serving LGBTQ+ youth.

Tickets cost $40 and are available online at tempecenterforthearts.com.