Local LGBTQ Organization Honors Janson Wu

From OUT MetroWest:

Local not-for-profit organization OUT MetroWest honored GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders (GLAD) executive director Janson Wu at this year’s Come Out & Celebrate event. Attorney General Maura Healey chaired the event’s honorary committee. The evening gala took place at the Hilton Boston/Dedham on Saturday, Sept. 24.

The dinner event featured live remarks from honoree Wu and five OUT MetroWest youth participants, plus a video from Attorney General Healey. In her video, Attorney General Healey reminded guests that “OUT MetroWest is protecting, connecting, and educating young people, and advocating for their rights.” Ticket sales from the event benefited OUT MetroWest’s programs for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) youth. Overall, the event raised more than $140,000 to support these programs.

“LGBTQ youth in our area still face considerable challenges,” states OUT MetroWest executive director Jack Patrick Lewis. “At Come Out & Celebrate, we took a moment to dial back those concerns and focus on that which is joyful about our community. Guests connected with friends old and new, and we did it all while raising funds for our life-changing youth programs. It was a special night for the MetroWest LGBTQ community.”

OUT MetroWest runs three programs for middle and high school youth, totaling eight meetings each month. Meetings are educational, social, and supportive and are held in Framingham, Newton, and Wellesley. The organization also provides workshops in the community to enhance understanding of gender identity and sexual orientation, as well as events for LGBTQ parents and their families.
For more information about OUT MetroWest, see the OUT MetroWest website, or call (508) 875-2122.

Photo courtesy of OUT MetroWest