The GSA youth leadership summit is a three day retreat at UMASS Amherst. Students from all over Massachusetts involved in their high school GSA’s came together this past weekend. We took part in workshops about our rights, brainstorms in making our GSA’s better, a field day, talent show, and more! To sum it up, fabulous. Arnold and I had a super rad time and hopefully next year y’all can join us!
Since 2008, BAGLY and the Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition work together to provide an opportunity for transgender youth to meet and connect with other transgender and gender variant youth and the larger transgender community. At the summit, we share ideas, learn about legal rights and health information, and participate in workshops and fun activities including: gender identity groups, theater workshops writing workshops, trans* healthcare workshops and obtaining skills to advocate for trans* rights.
This year’s keynote speaker is Athena Vaughn. A legendary ballroom member, trans woman of color and pastor. Long time BAGLY youth leader Courtney Cawley will be receiving the Livingston Pangburn award for Youth Activism to celebrate her accomplishments as a leader within the LGBTQ youth community.
In order to attend the summit you must be between the ages of 13-24 years old, from Massachusetts/New England and identify with, or fall under, the label of ‘transgender’. Limited space is available for youth who do not identify as transgender/gender variant but are strongly connected to the trans youth community, such as a partner/friend/family member of a trans* person. For more information regarding the youth track of the summit contact the youth track coordinator Karter Blake at kblake@bagly.org
The summit also offers a parents track for parents/guardians/caregivers of transgender youth, in order to provide support, information, and networking opportunities that is coordinated by MTPC and PFLAG (Parents And Families of Lesbians And Gays) For more information regarding the parent track contact parent track coordinator Jesse Begeyni at jesseb@masstpc.org or visit MTPC.org
BLA Gay Straight Alliance 