More than 250 youth and school staff advisors from 50 middle and high schools from 72 towns across Vermont participated in the 13th annual Queer and Allied Youth Summit held on Saturday and Sunday, May 11–12.
Along with a GSA conference, youth Pride march, a SpeakOUT, an open mic, a queer prom, and a SleepOUT , the event featured a march from host Green Mountain Union High School in Chester, Vermont, to Chester’s Heritage Deli and Bakery.
Reports Vermont Business Magazine:
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 2 times more likely to have been bullied in the last 30 days, and 3 times 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.”
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.
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