New York— New York City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito and the Council’s LGBT Caucus today announced “What Matters Now: An LGBTQ Youth Summit,” which aims to engage lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, gender nonconforming and queer youth from all over New York City in a day of skills building, community organizing and resource sharing.
“Our schools and communities should be safe spaces for all our youth, including our lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, gender nonconforming and queer youth,” said Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito. “Our commitment to equality and justice is unwavering. The New York City Council is proud to join with the Hetrick-Martin Institute to host the LGBTQ Youth Summit. I look forward to joining the LGBTQ youth leaders in helping fostering the necessary skills and power to create change for all.”
“Our youth members hail from all parts of this city and their stories are as powerful as the young people themselves,” said Thomas Krever, CEO of the Hetrick-Martin Institute. “It is an honor to partner with our City Council Speaker and our City Council LGBT Caucus to co-host this summit and amplify the voices of LGBTQ youth. Our young people have so much to offer and must be invited to the table whenever we are setting policy for our city. I am grateful to our Speaker for understanding just how important their voices are.”
The LGBTQ Youth Summit will begin at 9:30 AM on Saturday, January 24th at 2 Astor Place New York, NY 10003. LGBTQ youth ages 14-24 wishing to RSVP can email kwilliams@hmi.org or lrivera@hmi.org.
The summit will provide LGBTQ students the necessary tools to create safe spaces in their schools in anticipation to Respect For All week, which will take place on February 9th-13th.
The summit will offer a variety of workshops that will cover topics that will assist LGBTQ youth in advocating for and developing safe spaces in their communities. Among the topics that will be covered during the workshops are youth organizing, art, identity, transgender and gender nonconforming experience, LGBTQ history, media, technology, faith, spirituality, health wellness, mental wellness and anti-violence.
“As one of New York City’s openly gay elected officials I believe it is important to share my story and let LGBTQ youth know that their voices matter too,” said City Council Majority Leader Jimmy Van Bramer. “Through the Council’s LGBTQ Summit we hope to engage the City’s youth by providing them with the right skills and resources to become the future leaders of this City. That’s what the Summit is all about – empowering young members of the LGBT community and giving them a platform to be heard.”
“The LGBTQ Youth Summit is something that I wish I had growing up as a gay teen,” said City Council Education Chairperson Daniel Dromm. “Events such as these are important ways to lift LGBTQ youth out of the shadows and show them that they have the right to advocate and create safe communities.”
“LGBTQ Youth are the leaders of tomorrow and it is with great honor that I co-sponsor this LGBTQ Youth Summit with my colleagues of the NYC Council’s LGBT Caucus and Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito,” said Council Member Rosie Mendez. “This summit organized by the Hetrick-Martin Institute exemplifies the strength and power of the young people in our city. We are in for a day of community building, leadership support, and advocacy! As a member of the LGBT Caucus, I look forward to building bridges with these extraordinary and fabulous young people.”
“Organizing and building capacity among young LGBT people is critically important to our City in this moment,” said Council Member Carlos Menchaca. “In the face of criticism about apathy, young people have displayed leadership, and they continue to inform and shape public policy in our City. The truth is that LGBT young people in New York City are clear about their priorities, and about the things that most affect their lives, and the lives of their friends, peers, and families. As public servants, we must continue to create safe spaces for these young people to express their concerns, and help find solutions to the issues they face. I applaud Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, my colleagues in the LGBT Caucus, and The Hetrick-Martin Institute for serving as allies to this important community of people. I’m looking forward to a great event!”
“Too many of our young people are confronted with challenges that no child should have to experience,” said Council Member Corey Johnson. “This is particularly true with LGBTQ youth, who are too often discriminated against simply for who they are or who they love. ‎‎I believe that empowering communities and individuals is key to affecting change. ‎The LGBTQ Youth Summit will provide young people with the tools they need to succeed and thrive. I am proud to be a part of this important effort.”
“As the youngest member of the New York City Council, I’m very proud to support the Hetrick-Martin Institute’s LGBTQ Youth Summit,” said Council Member Ritchie Torres. “Creating safe spaces for LGBTQ youth to learn from each other, share experiences, and organize as a community are essential, and the tools that participants will gain from this Summit will help amplify their collective voices. I’m looking forward to participating in the Summit and learning about the issues that matter to the participants.”
Free lunch and metro cards will be provided to those who attend the summit. The summit is hosted in partnership with the Hetrick Martin Institute, the Office of New York City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito and the LGBT Caucus of the NYC Council.
###