Outright Vermont On Saturday, 200 students from 50 middle and high schools in 72 towns across Vermont are coming together for the 13th annual Queer and Allied Youth Summit in Chester.
The Youth Summit, co-hosted by Green Mountain Union High School (and in Windsor County for the first
time), is themed “Coming OUT soon!” emphasizing the power and complexity of visibility within LGBTQ+
identities, and the importance of creating our own narratives.
In their host application, the GSA students said:
“With changes in our neighboring schools, there are not as many events like this held in our area. The
southern end of Vermont is in need of strong representation for the queer community, and it would be
good to have a real presence in this little corner of our state. We have been considering wanting to host
this event for the past few years, and feel ready to take action. Plus, this would just be fun!”
In Vermont, LGBTQ+ youth face the challenges of coming out; of having limited access to other queer
youth; as well as high rates of bullying, harassment, anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and other
adverse childhood experiences. According to the 2017 VT Youth Risk Behavior Survey, LGBT youth are 2x
more likely to have been bullied in the last 30 days, and 3x more likely to have skipped school in the last
30 days because of feeling unsafe.
The Queer and Allied Youth Summit is organized in direct response to these challenges, creating a
community where youth feel safe, supported, and empowered to thrive . Programming includes youth-led
workshops, a march and speakout, affinity-based conversations, an open mic, and a celebratory prom.
For LGBTQ+ youth, accessing fun is not always easy or possible. To reclaim school hallways where you are
often the target of bullying and harassment, to dance in clothes you feel good wearing, to connect with peers
and share in experiences you may never have shared with anyone ever. It’s belonging, it’s connection, it’s
transformational. As one past participant said:
“I felt welcome and at home there, and it's a feeling I don't often get.”
WHO: Outright Vermont, and over 250 youth and school staff advisors
WHAT: The 2019 Queer and Allied Youth Summit
WHEN: Saturday, May 11th, 2019, 9 AM to Sunday, May 12th, 2019, 8 AM
WHERE: Green Mountain Union High School.
Students travel from across the state, often with advisors of their gender and sexuality alliances (GSAs),
to attend this event each year completely free of charge, thanks to our sponsors The Windham
Foundation, Ben and Jerry’s Foundation, New Duds, Love Local Catering, Heritage Deli and Bakery, and
many more community supporters.
To protect youth safety, the Summit is a registration-based event and is not open to the public.
Please contact Dana Kaplan if you are interested in visiting the event during the march and speakout
(1-2:45pm), which starts at the high school and ends at Heritage Deli and Bakery.
More information at: www.outrightvt.org/youth-summit