Wade Davis to Speak in Storrs at Country's Largest LGBTQIA Youth Conference

From True Colors:

Storrs CT - True Colors, Inc. will hold the country’s largest LGBTQIA youth conference this weekend at the Storrs campus of the University of Connecticut. True Colors is a non-profit organization that 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 two day event will be attended by over 3,000 people, including youth, school administrators, guidance counselors, social workers and the public who can participate in workshops, activities, and keynote sessions. This year’s guest speaker is retired NFL player Wade Davis who currently serves as the Executive Director for the You Can Play project, an advocacy organization working to eradicate homophobia in professional sports.

“We are so excited to have Wade Davis join us for our 23rd annual conference because his story and advocacy is so inspiring,” said True Colors Executive Director Robin McHaelen. “Our theme this year is intersectionality so our workshops will explore all the different aspects of our lives that make us who we are. Intersectionality is the recognition that every human has multiple social identities some of which might be privileged and others oppressed. We will never fully achieve social justice until we recognize, respect, affirm and include all of those identities.”

“Each year during the conference we strive to create an environment where every member of the community feels welcomed, valued and appreciated for who they are. Our hope is that, with the aid of all who support us, we can help others spread that feeling of inclusion to their own communities across the country.”

In 2015, True Colors provided services to more than 6,500 youth, family members, educators, social workers, juvenile justice staff and policy makers via our mentoring, training, consultation and other programs.

In addition to educational workshops including “An Alphabet Soup of LGBTQ-IDK identities,” “Power, Privilege, and its effects on LGBT Mental Health” and “LGBT Legal Rights and Advocacy Skills,” attendees can enjoy performances by the Hartford Gay Men’s Chorus, poet and founder of awQward J. Mase III, poet/percussionist Vita E, and singer-songwriter and activist Skyler Kergil.

The Annual True Colors Conference begins at 9:00 AM on Friday March 18th and runs through 5:30 PM on Saturday March 19th at the Storrs Campus of the University of Connecticut. To learn more about the conference, please view the program guide here.

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. We can be reached at 888-565-5551, or on the web at www.ourTrueColors.org