True Colors, Inc.
PRESS RELEASE
March 10, 2011
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Robin McHaelen
860-232-0050
True Colors, Inc.
LGBT  Youth & Allies converge at UCONN
Governor Malloy to welcome attendees
Hartford, CT -March 11 & 12th, 2011 will bring the largest conference in the nation for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning, Intersex, and Allied (LGBTQIA) youth to the Storrs campus of the University of Connecticut.  During the two-day conference, over 2,500 youth, guidance counselors, social workers and the public descend on the Storrs campus both for the education - and for the social interaction!  Participants travel from all over Connecticut, New England and the Northeast to attend the over 200 workshops.  This year's conference is titled True Colors XVIII: iBelong and will focus on use of social media by youth.  
  

Conference LogoKicking off Friday's activities will be Governor Dannel Malloy. Additionally, Child Advocate Jeanne Milstein, State Comptroller, Kevin Lembo and representatives from Department of Children & Families (DCF) will be joining Governor Malloy.

Workshops are offered on a variety of topics and to a range of target audiences.  They address "real life" LGBTQ issues.  Attendees can look forward to such workshops as "How to Begin Living Your Best Life," "Safe Schools - a Hands-On Classroom Training", "Cultural and Linguistic Competency with LGBT Youth," "I'm Beautiful, DAMMIT: Exploring Body Image," "Queering Things Up: The Evolution of Queer Theory," "Life's a Drag!," and "The Real World, But Not on MTV: Being LGBTQ Outside of the College Bubble" at this year's conference.

"The conference is MAGIC' says True Colors, Executive Director, Robin McHaelen.  "It is the one place in the world where youth and adults of ALL orientations and genders are free to BE!  I think it is a testament to the work we do that more than half of the participants are straight allies. The conference theme this year is iBelong. Considering the recent rash of LGBT youth suicides our theme couldn't be more timely.  A few notes of interest are below."

  • Connecticut Artist in Residence, Shola Cole will  perform at the opening. In addition, conference favorite, nationally known drag performer, Momma will be in the house!
  • Robyn Ochs, nationally known speaker on bisexual rights and women's studies, will lead a discussion about challenging our binaries (Friday closing plenary)
  • Faisal Alim, queer Muslim Activist and representative of Hidden Voices: The Lives of LGBT Muslims will speak on his personal experiences growing up both Muslim and Gay(Saturday Keynote)
  • For some, a major highlight of the experience is the FREE dance held on Saturday night.  Participants unwind after the workshops and drag show by getting their groove on!
True Colors works to create a world where youth, adults and families of all sexual orientations and gender identities are valued and affirmed. We challenge all forms of oppression through education, training, advocacy, youth leadership development, mentoring and direct services to youth and those responsible for their well-being. True Colors, Inc. works with other social service agencies, schools, organizations, and within communities to ensure that the needs of sexual and gender minority youth are both recognized and competently met. The organization trains more than 2400 people annually and manages the state's only LGBT mentoring program. True Colors has been spotlighted by both national and local media for their expertise in LGBTI youth issues, including most recently CNN.

 

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