PRIDE FOR YOUTH & FAITH SHEPHERD SCORE A VICTORY FOR GENDER NON CONFORMING STUDENTS!

Many of you have been following us as we take a journey with Faith Shepherd - the 17 year-old out lesbian from Central Islip who won Homecoming King at her school this fall! 


Faith ran - and won by a landslide - to raise awareness around transgender youth rights. Faith knows that being an out lesbian afforests her more privlige, a safer school experience & less risk when compared with her transgender peers. So she decided to create a space where any youth could come out as they are - whether they be male, female, cisgender, transgender or gender queer.

Since then, a controversy erupted as some adults in the community didnt like Faith's move. They asked that her move be banned, and that the school district create a policy banning youth from running for positions that didnt match their gender marker, because what she did broke tradition.


In November, we honored Faith at our 20th Anniversary Celebration as Long Islands first LGBTQ youth center, and our Social Worker Erin cultivated a relationship with Faith, advocating with her when needed. They were even on the news live!


In January and February Pride for Youth spoke to the Central Islip Board of Education asking them not to enact such a policy. Even the ACLU came along to show support and explain how the proposed policy violates Title XI, the NYS Constitution, The First Amendment & The Dignity for All Students Act.

At the meeting on Monday, TONS of Faiths friends, students, community members and parents flooded the Board of Education with testimonials asking them NOT to do this. Some people even spoke out in opposition of Faith's move. But in the end, the school board decided not to adopt the discriminatory policy! Even the Homecoming Queen, Valerie Baez spoke out!

Pride for Youth is proud and honored to take this exciting journey with Faith - and we will keep you posted on updates! Faith will be marching with us in the Long Island Pride Parade this June, and will be coming to Coffeehouse soon! Faith wanted to say 'Thank You' for all your support - please check out her video here!

Faith Shepherd & Pride for Youth fight for Transgender Youth Visibility!

Check this amazing video!

Long Island girl elected homecoming king challenges gender-specific policy at school: Long Island girl elected homecoming king challenges gender-specific policy at school

Pride for Youth is very lucky to be able to support Faith Shepherd, the 17 year old lesbian from Central Islip who won Homecoming King in her journey to raise awareness for transgender rights!

We have been supporting Faith from the beginning...we even honored her way before all the controversy began at our 20th Anniversary Celebration this past fall!


Check out Faith and our Social Worker Erin on the WPIX morning news discussing the issue! And stay tuned - Faiths journey isn't over yet!

Film Star Heather Matarazzo to appear this Friday at 20th Anniversary of Pride for Youth!

This Friday is the 20th Anniversary of Pride for Youth!

 

This Friday Pride for Youth celebrates it's 20th Anniversary at The Crescent Beach Club in Bayville, Long Island!

Did you know that Pride for Youth was the first LGBTQ youth program on Long Island?

Did you know that Pride for Youth was the first suburban program for LGBTQ youth in the COUNTRY?!

We are so proud to celebrate 20 years of ground breaking achievements with Long Island LGBTQ youth that we are having a special fundraising celebration to recognize some of these achievements! We will also be honoring Faith Shepherd, a local lesbian youth and Transgender advocate, and we will be joined by Heather Matarazzo, out lesbian, Independent Spirit Award winner for film and Keynote speaker!

Even Newsday wanted to spread the word! Tickets available until 5pm Friday, Nov. 14th by calling 516-826-0244 or at http://pfy20th.karma411.com/ !

Pride for Youth was the focus of a Fios episode about Cyberbullying!

Pride for Youth and Fios cable teamed up to bring you information on cyberbullying- something that affects millions of teens every day, all around the world.

Fios came to Pride for Youth to film a workshop on cyberbullying presented by Laura, our Community Education Specialist a from our parent agency Long Island Crisis Center! LICC offers free 24/7/365 crisis hotline at 516-679-1111 or www.licconline.org.

 Laura travels to local middle and high schools as well as colleges to educate young people about the dangers of cyberbullying and how to deal with it. Fios also profiled one of our young people who is transgender and has been the victim of cyberbullying. Push play to hear his story, check out our workshop and learn more!

If you are an educator looking to book one of our free workshops, you can give us a call as 516-679-9000 and ask for Meredith! We offer free workshops in cyberbullying, self-injury, homophobia, transphobia, working with LGBTQ youth, anger management and more!

And if you are being cyberbullied or just need someone to talk to you can call us 24/7/365 at 516-679-1111, chat us at www.licconline.org or text LICC to 839863 from 7-9 pm to talk to a counselor. Pride for Youth also offers free, confidential counseling to LGBTQ youth. Call 516-679-9000 for more information and check us out on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram!

Three Little Girls Raise Big Money for Pride for Youth!

Pride for Youth serves LGBTQ young people of all ages - and our services are free! So imagine our surprise when we received a HUGE donation from 3 young girls - sisters age 8, 10 and 12.

The granddaughters of one of our long-time supporters Sandy (who was also one of the founders of the Long Island Pride Parade!) fund raised over $350 for Pride for Youth! Proof that even the smallest of voices can be heard!

The girls took the PFY literature from their Grandmothers room and without telling her made a sign to fund raise for Pride for Youth! The sisters sold lemonade and goodies to make the money!

Thank you so much to all of you! Our young people made tons of 'Thank You' cards for the young girls that are in the mail with PFY t-shirts, bracelets and more! They made our day, so we wanted to make yours! 

If you or a group you belong to ever want to donate to Pride for Youth, you can do so here!

Pride for Youth Goes Back to School!

Have us come to your school!

Pride for Youth heads back to school, just like you! And we welcome our community educators, Bob & Devon! They are fun, entertaining and know a whole lot about homophobia & transphobia - and how YOU can stop it! And now, they are both coming to a school near YOU!

Did you know that last year, Pride for Youth taught workshops on homophobia & transphobia in over 35 Long Island middle, high-school and college classes?  In 2012 we taught over 6,000 Long Island young people about homophobia, how it plays out in their school & what they can do to stop it! We also taught young people about what it means to be transgender and how to stop transphobia. Our Community Education program sends Pride for Youth staff to local schools for all different classes, after-school clubs and school-wide events, such as Uniondale High School's 'Respect Day'. And the best part is - if you're a school, the workshop is FREE!

Myths and stereotypes about LGBTQ teenagers limit young people’s appreciation of diversity and can contribute to violence and harassment in school and community settings. Many young people (and adults) think they have little experience with LGBTQ people and don't know what they can do to help out - until they sit through our workshops!

Check out out list of workshops here and if you are an educator, GSA member or want to ensure that your school becomes a safer place for LGBTQ youth - call Pride for Youth today at 516-679-9000!

Nickelodeon set to film Coffeehouse this Friday, 9/6!

Hey everyone! We at PFY are BEYOND excited because a very famous television show on Nickelodeon is coming to Pride for Youth THIS FRIDAY, September 4th to film at Coffeehouse for something special!!!

So here is the deal and what YOU NEED TO KNOW!

Anyone can attend Friday nights Coffeehouse event this Friday:  'PFY Welcomes Japan' - a group of LGBTQ youth from Japan will be visiting us & want to hang with and talk to YOU!

****IF YOU WANT TO BE ON CAMERA HANGING AT PRIDE FOR YOUTH YOU MUST DO THE FOLLOWING****

-Bring a signed NICKELODEON CONSENT form to Coffeehouse on Friday. (*This is NOT THE SAME at the PFY consent!)

-If you are under 18 your parent/guardian MUST SIGN THE CONSENT

-If you are over 18, you can sign one yourself when you get here.


TO GET A NICKELODEON CONSENT FORM:

-print out the form attached (as photo) and bring it signed to PFY on Friday for Coffeehouse.

-pick up an already printed out form at Pride for Youth Mon-Friday 10-5

-visit our Facebook page and print a consent from there (www.facebook.com/prideforyouth.pfy)


-email MBarranco@longislandcrisiscenter.org and a consent form will be e-mailed to you

-Have your parent COME IN to the PFY lobby and sign the consent form prior to you checking in to coffeehouse.

****IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO BE ON CAMERA*****

-No one will be on camera that doesn't want to be and everyone's confidentiality will be respected. If you do not want to be on camera that night you will be given a necklace to wear. Anyone wearing a necklace will be blurred out when the show is edited.

-If you do not have a signed consent form you MUST ALSO WEAR A NECKLACE that we will give you, indicating you do not have parental consent and you will be blurred out in editing.

A staff member will be checking consents and ensuring people are wearing their necklaces.

For more information, or if your parents have questions please call Erin Furey at 516-679-9000 ext. 17.