The conference was for LGBTQ youth, their allies and the adults in their lives in the lower Hudson Valley. Workshops and seminars focused on creating safe and supportive environments and improving self-advocacy and leadership skills so attendees can better understand themselves, advocate for equality, and enhance their schools and communities.
Emmy Award-winning actress and comedian Judy Gold delivered the keynote address.
The conference each year draws over 500 attendees. Typically, 70 percent are students and 30 percent are adults. About 20 percent of the students identify as LGBTQ. Attendees over the past 15 years have come from over 70 different middle and high schools and 10 colleges and universities.
Adults include teachers, psychologists, social workers, Gay-Straight Alliance Advisors, youth care workers, parents or guardians of LGBTQ youth, allies. About 40 percentidentify as part of the LGBTQ community. Most attendees come from the tri-state area.
PrideWorks’ mission is to inform communities about the realities of growing up gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender, and to inspire them to respect and support LGBTQ people and to advocate for positive change. PrideWorks Inc. is a 501(c)3 tax exempt organization.
For more about Prideworks, visit www.PrideWorksforYouth.org.