On Monday (29 January), New York City held its first Gender and Sexuality Alliance summit for LGBTQ students.
Hundreds of students and faculty across the city gathered at Stuyvesant High School, a college prepatory school in Battery Park. They came to discuss a variety of LGBTQ issues, with the spotlight on them and their futures.
The summit is part of new campaign, the NYC Unity Project.
NYC First Lady Chirlane McCray first announed the project in September. It’s described as the city’s ‘first-ever, multi-agency strategy to deliver unique services to LGBTQ youth’.
It takes 16 agencies across the city to provide for LGBTQ youth and students.
‘For so many young people, including myself, New York City was the first place they could unapologetically be themselves and feel truly at home,’ McCray said. ‘As we make NYC an affirming place for our most vulnerable youth, we make it an affirming place for all youth. Together, we’ll make sure all New Yorkers know that New York City is a city for everyone.’
Drag queen story hour, dance party, and more
The Department of Education sponsored the event, while the city school district’s first LGBTQ community liaison, Jared Fox, organized it.
Students poured into numerous classrooms. Organizer renamed the rooms after various icons for the day, like Billie Jean King.
They discussed topics like body image, consent, grassroots organizing, and more. LGBTQ police officers in the city even stopped by to host a workshop with the students.
McCray also stopped by to encourage and inspire the students in attendance.
The day ended with a drag queen story hour and a dance party.
H/t: Huffington Post
