Resist LGBTQ Youth Summit 2017,

About the event

We at GLSEN Maryland are excited to present our annual Youth Summit, a leadership and advocacy conference for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning youth, as well as their allies. We have hosted the summit for nearly 15 years, and we expect over 100 high school-aged youth from Baltimore City, Baltimore County and surrounding counties to attend.

GLSEN is the leading national organization devoted to ensuring safe, supportive K-12 school environments for all youth, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity or expression. According to GLSEN’s extensive original research, 61% of LGBTQ students in Maryland have been harassed due to their sexual orientation, and 45% were harassed due to their gender expression. Nearly half of transgender students in Maryland were prevented from using their preferred name and pronoun in school. We also know LGBTQ youth are disproportionately disciplined, and few are able to identify many supportive educators, or learn positive representations of LGBTQ figures in school.

GLSEN Maryland works to mitigate these experiences through direct services, outreach and advocacy throughout the state. We partner with school communities to provide professional development and training for educators to learn how to shape classrooms into affirming, welcoming environments for all students. We provide technical support to students looking to transform their school environments through gay-straight alliances or gender-sexuality alliances (GSAs). We advocate for policies which protect LGBTQ youth and lead to positive outcomes. In the past five years, we have been able to train over 3,000 educators and support students in over 100 schools across Maryland.

The Youth Summit is one way we have been able to successfully connect with youth and educators. This day-long event provides youth and educators with the tools they need to make change in their communities. Youth enjoy workshops on gender identity, bisexuality, LGBTQ history, and how to build strong, effective GSAs. Educators are able to network and share best practices as GSA advisors or LGBTQ diversity ambassadors at their schools. Towson University graciously hosts this event on campus each year.

This year’s Youth Summit will be a bit different, as we have recognized an opportunity for growth. We will, for the first time, provide free transportation for youth located in under-resourced areas of Maryland. We expect attendance to double. In order for us to serve more youth and accommodate this event’s growth, we are asking for your support.

Why should you sponsor?

We at GLSEN Maryland are excited to present our annual Youth Summit, a leadership and advocacy conference for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning youth, as well as their allies. We have hosted the summit for nearly 15 years, and we expect over 100 high school-aged youth from Baltimore City, Baltimore County and surrounding counties to attend.

GLSEN is the leading national organization devoted to ensuring safe, supportive K-12 school environments for all youth, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity or expression. According to GLSEN’s extensive original research, 61% of LGBTQ students in Maryland have been harassed due to their sexual orientation, and 45% were harassed due to their gender expression. Nearly half of transgender students in Maryland were prevented from using their preferred name and pronoun in school. We also know LGBTQ youth are disproportionately disciplined, and few are able to identify many supportive educators, or learn positive representations of LGBTQ figures in school.

GLSEN Maryland works to mitigate these experiences through direct services, outreach and advocacy throughout the state. We partner with school communities to provide professional development and training for educators to learn how to shape classrooms into affirming, welcoming environments for all students. We provide technical support to students looking to transform their school environments through gay-straight alliances or gender-sexuality alliances (GSAs). We advocate for policies which protect LGBTQ youth and lead to positive outcomes. In the past five years, we have been able to train over 3,000 educators and support students in over 100 schools across Maryland.

The Youth Summit is one way we have been able to successfully connect with youth and educators. This day-long event provides youth and educators with the tools they need to make change in their communities. Youth enjoy workshops on gender identity, bisexuality, LGBTQ history, and how to build strong, effective GSAs. Educators are able to network and share best practices as GSA advisors or LGBTQ diversity ambassadors at their schools. Towson University graciously hosts this event on campus each year.

This year’s Youth Summit will be a bit different, as we have recognized an opportunity for growth. We will, for the first time, provide free transportation for youth located in under-resourced areas of Maryland. We expect attendance to double. In order for us to serve more youth and accommodate this event’s growth, we are asking for your support.

Jabari Lyles

Jabari Lyles has over 10 years of experience working in various positions that emphasize his passion for education and social justice activism. He is currently Executive Director of GLSEN Maryland and a member of GLSEN’s national staff. He is the former executive director and current President of GLCCB, Baltimore's LGBTQ community center and producer of Baltimore Pride, has worked with FreeState Justice, a Maryland LGBTQ legal organization as an Outreach Specialist and Program Coordinator, and has years of experience as a public school teacher and speaker in Baltimore City. Jabari has presented on LGBTQ issues at conferences locally, statewide and nationally. He is involved with a number of workgroups and coalitions in Maryland working towards positive outcomes for youth most at-risk. Jabari is a Maryland native and currently lives in the Reservoir Hill neighborhood of Baltimore City.

Contact the Organizer Contact the Organizer