The Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network of Boston seeks to bring together teachers of all grade levels from early childhood through college, students, administrators, parents, counselors, school staff, and community members to create schools and communities that are truly inclusive and safe for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and questioning youth and adults. Many of our workshops this year will focus on helping participants find the words, the curriculum, the ideas, and the means to create meaningful changes. Our goal is to provide participants with information and tools that they can bring back to their schools to ensure that each member of their school community feels valued, respected, and free from fears as they pursue their educational goals.

Who?

Educators; high school, middle school, college, and graduate students; parents; administrators; counselors; coaches; youth leaders; policy makers; religious leaders; and everyone who is committed to creating safety and teaching respect for all in our schools and communities.

Where?

Harvard University in Cambridge.

Why?

• Network with other educators and students from around the Northeast.
• Gain skills and information to create more inclusive school communities.
• Learn how to address harassment and anti-LGBT bias.
• Build alliances with administrators, parents, and community members.
• Gather ideas and materials for your classroom and school community.

Workshops

More than 50 workshops on topics such as:

• Parents of LGBT Youth Share Their Stories
• Creating a Positive and Inclusive Middle School Community
• Resources and Ideas for Elementary Schools
• Finding Your Role as an Ally
• LGBTQ Students and Community Service
• Reconstructing Masculinity
• Transgender Youth
• The Bible: Word of Death or Voice of Hope?
• Superhero Training: Fighting Oppression
• Coming Out in a Jewish High School -- Film Screening
• Countering Ex-Gay Programs Aimed at Youth

Click here for a complete listing of workshops.

Scholarships

Thanks to a generous donor, we have a limited number of full scholarships available on a first come, first served basis. These are available to both youth and adult educators. Email Chris at conference@glsenboston.org for info.

Keynote Speaker: Anthony Rapp

The Best is Yet to Come: Inspiring Future Leaders
A speech and slide show by Benjie Nycum

You are compassionate, fair, knowledgeable, energetic, resilient, motivated and a good leader. Whatever obstacles are in your way, you know you will overcome. Now look to the future: ten, maybe 15 years from now. You will be in the early stages of your career. Now look 20-25 years out. You are a leader in business, politics, culture or whatever. The world is in rough shape: poverty racism, environmental destruction, human rights violations, the list goes on. So many people in the world cope with so little compared to us. How can we make the world a more just, compassionate and healthy place? It is time to rise up, seize the power that is ours and use it to do good unto the rest of the world. Join Benjie Nycum as he presents a vision for a better tomorrow and how he believes LGBT youth are better suited than any other group to lead us there.

Benjie Nycum is the president and publisher of YGA Magazine and co-founder of the website/movement Young Gay America, a resource and research based website that has interviewed over 1500 LGBT youth, visited 48 states and 4 provinces, taken 15,000 photographs, and driven more than 65,000 miles. In 2003, YGA co-created a full-length award winning documentary film on LGBT youth in America called JIM IN BOLD which has been screened around the world.

State Senator Jarrett Barrios, MA (D) was the first openly gay Hispanic elected to any state Senate in the country. Senator Barrios has been instrumental in advocating for equal marriage rights and he has worked tirelessly to ensure the safety, respect, and value of every individual. He is enjoying his first year of marriage and raising two children.

Eva Rosenberg is a high school senior at Lexington High School. She has served on the GLSEN Boston Board of Directors for 2 years and has been a student leader in the Lexington High School Gay Straight Alliance. She has worked on the GLSEN National Student Leadership Team for 3 years and has been an organizer for the Day of Silence and other national and local initiatives. Eva is a powerful and effective ally in every sense.

Mayor Kenneth E. Reeves was the first African American Mayor in Massachusetts, as well as the first openly gay African American Mayor in the nation. For four years he served as the Chairman of the Cambridge School Committee. Mayor Reeves tenure has been one that has celebrated diversity and one that has focused on building strong, safe and healthy communities for young people and families.

Register Now!

You may register online or print out and mail your application.

Program

GLSEN Boston

31 Heath Street
Jamaica Plain, MA 02130

V. 617-536-9669
F. 617-238-2467
E-Mail GLSEN