On Saturday, 170 students from 47 schools in 86 towns across Vermont and into Canada are coming together for the 12th annual Queer and Allied Youth Summit in Newport.
The Youth Summit, hosted by North Country Union High School (and in the Northeast Kingdom for the first time), is themed “BE-yond The Rainbow,” emphasizing the individuality of each young person and empowering them to celebrate their authentic selves and their dreams for the future.
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 2015 VT Youth Risk Behavior Survey, LGB youth are 2.5x more likely to have been bullied in the last 30 days, and 4x 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 challenges that we know LGBTQ youth face: the Summit creates a community where youth feel safe, supported, and empowered to thrive. Programming includes youth-led workshops, a march from the high school to Pomerleau Park (from 1:20-2:45 PM), a speak out, youth priority-setting, an open mic, and an inclusive prom.
WHO: Outright Vermont, and over 250 youth and school staff advisors
WHAT: The 2018 Queer and Allied Youth Summit
WHEN: Saturday, May 12th, 2018, 9 AM to Sunday, May 13th, 2018, 8 AM
WHERE: North Country Union High School, 209 Veterans Ave, Newport, VT 05855
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, Qwerkal, North Country Market & Cafe, New Duds, 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. More information at: www.outrightvt.org/youth-summit.
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Outright Vermont is the statewide queer and trans youth organization.
Each year, we help over 1,500 young people by building safe, supportive, and healthy
environments in which queer and trans youth can survive and thrive.
United States