2 gay family groups schedule joint conference in Dallas in October
Registration is now open for the Act OUT: National LGBT Family Conference, being held in Dallas in October.
The conference is being presented jointly by the Family Pride Coalition, a national organization advocating for equality for GLBT parents and their families, and Children of Lesbians and Gays Everywhere, an organization advocating for children and adults with GLBT parents.
Organizers said the three-day conference will be the first of its kind. It will focus on advocacy, education and support, and will train participants on how to actively engage with media, legislators, faith leaders, school officials and others.
COLAGE will provide programming for youth in third grade and up, as well as training for COLAGE members interested in taking leadership roles.
The conference will also include family entertainment events such as a dance and a Halloween party, and exhibits by vendors serving the needs of GLBT parents and their children.
For registration information, see the Family Pride website at www.familypride.org/conference.
9th annual DFW Gayla Prom plans “‘Night in Las Vegas’ theme
The ninth annual Dallas-Fort Worth Gayla Prom for gay and lesbian youth has been set for May 6 at the Hughes-Trigg Ballroom on the campus of Southern Methodist University.
The theme for this year’s event is “A Night in Vegas.” It will include Las Vegas-style decor, casino games, live entertainment and a “wedding chapel” where guests can have their photos taken and perform in a mock Las Vegas wedding.
The Gay Lesbian Straight Education Network of Dallas is official sponsor for the Gayla Prom. American Airlines, Motorola and Showtime are corporate sponsors.
The Gayla Prom is reserved for guests ages 14 to 22, and identification is required at the door. Advance tickets are $15, and are available online at www.gaylaprom.org. Tickets at the door are $20.
UTD “‘Safe Zone’ program to feature transgender panel presentation
The University of Texas at Dallas Safe Zone program is sponsoring a transgender panel presentation on April 17, which will feature four transgender people sharing their personal stories and talking about trans issues on campus and in the workplace.
The Safe Zone program is coordinated by the university’s counseling center, women’s center and multicultural center and designed to create a diversity-affirmative campus.
Speakers at the panel discussion will include Micki Dianne Garrison, supervisor for the Resource Center of Dallas’ food pantry; Monica Greene, a Dallas restaurant owner; and students Josh and Sean.
The four will discuss definitions and language, the trans movement, “jumping the gender fence,” workplace, campus and community issues, negative vs. affirmative environments and overcoming myths, misunderstandings and negative stereotypes.
Jennifer Hartman, with the university’s Student Counseling Center, and Lauren De Cillis, with the university’s Women’s Center, will provide the introductions for the panel discussion.
For more information contact Hartman at 972-883-2575 or by e-mail at jhartman@utdallas.edu.
This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition, March 24, 2006.