Models of Pride 18 – October 9, 2010

This year’s Models of Pride – a youth Pride event with workshops, resource fair, entertainment and a closing dance was attended by over 600 young people ages 12-24. This year’s event was hosted by Friends of Project 10 and the LA Gay and Lesbian Center’s Lifeworks project.

This year there was something new - a workshop for parents of LGBT youth. Kim Pearson of TYFA and many other notables were hosting panels on various topics throughout the day and providing lots good information. I sat in on one session called “How can I Work Within My Faith Community To Accept My Family”.

The panel, hosted Harold Kameya of PFLAG in Pasadena, consisted of (left to right) Rev. Abel Lopez from All Saints Episcopal in Pasadena, Rev. Eric Lee of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and Fr. Geoff Farrow - a Roman Catholic Priest. These all have taken very notable and public stands in favor of marriage equality and human Rights for all. They had a lot of very encouraging things to say to parents of LGBT youth, many who are struggling to accept their children as gay or transgender.

I have volunteered at MOP every year since coming out and this is my 5th time. Even though I over-taxed my partially healed foot early in the day and had to cut out before the last session and the entertainment I did get to meet a lot of the youth and experience the wonderful spirit there as many of them for the first time in their lives got to be out in public simply as themselves. As always I encourage every one of you to get out and be a role model for our youth and support them in any way you can– they are our future!

Check out the Models of Pride website at modelsofpride.org to see the workshop listing and other details of the event.

Pictures included here are of the Drum Circle. (More photos available at:

http://www.4shared.com/dir/ra71b5Pp/Models_Of_Pride_18.html)

See you next year at MOP 19!

Hugs and Blessings,

Eva-Genevieve!

SUMMARY OF YOUTH SUICIDE RESOURCES

This list was compiled by Friends of Project 10 in Los Angeles

www.FriendsOfProject10.org

American Association of Suicidology www.suicidology.org
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention www.afsp.org
Signs of Suicide (SOS) www.mentalhealthscreening.org
Teen Screen Program www.teenscreen.org
Centers for Disease Control www.cdc.gov
National Suicide Hotline: 800.SUICIDE
TEEN LINE www.teenlineonline.org
The Trevor Project www.thetrevorproject.org

Stomp out Bullying:
Phone: (888) 347-KIDS
STOMP Out Bullying (a signature program of Love Our Children USA) focuses on reducing and preventing bullying, cyber bullying, sexting
and other digital abuse, educating against homophobia, racism and hatred, decreasing school absenteeism and truancy, and deterring violence in schools, playgrounds, online and in communities
across the country.
Website: http://stompoutbullying.org/index.php


Welcoming Schools:
The Welcoming Schools Guide offers tools, lessons and resources on embracing family diversity, avoiding gender stereotyping and ending bullying and name-calling. Start changing Minds early with these ideas for activism (Grades K-5)
Website access only: http://www.welcomingschools.org/
(Submitted by Jennifer Meneray)

*Article
Responding to Teen Suicide: What You Need to Know

*Report
Suicide Prevention and Intervention

Resources for adults:

Bullying Training Guide, the Los Angeles Unified School District

Safe Schools Coalition, addressing LGBT Issues in schools, headquartered in Washington
California Safe Schools Coalition

*Resources for the classroom:
Look, Listen, Link and Help Every Living Person, suicide prevention curricula for middle and high school, respectively, from the Youth Suicide Prevention Project

Let's Get Real .. film and discussion guide from Groundspark about bullying for middle school

Lipstick and Who I Am ... films and discussion guides from Scenarios USA written by youth, performed by pros & discussion guides, about friendship, coming out, and more for middle and high school

*Free Speakers' Bureau in the Los Angeles Area
GLIDE (Gays and Lesbians Initiating Dialogue for Equality)

*GLSEN'S SAFE SCHOOLS KIT
This kit is downloadable on GLSEN's web site at www.glsen.org. Click on "tools and kits" students.

*MODELS OF PRIDE CONFERENCE FOR PARENTS, EDUCATORS, SERVICE PROVIDERS, AND OF COURSE, STUDENTS --Saturday, October 9, Occidental College in Los Angeles.
www.modelsofpride.org

*Make It Better Project "It Gets Better" video


The GSA Network will be promoting a nationwide Make It Better Week of Action for October 5-11 in partnership with grassroots activists and other organizations.

PLEASE SHARE WITH YOUR FRIENDS, COLLEAGUES, FAMILY MEMBERS, AND LISTS.

Hugs and Blessings,

Eva-Genevieve!