Planning Begins for Youth Pride Day April 18, 1998

WASHINGTON, DC (February 3, 1998) – The Youth Pride Alliance (YPA) announced plans today for the Second Annual Youth Pride Day. Youth Pride Day will take place Saturday April 18, 1998 in Washington, DC's Dupont Circle-the heart of the city's Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender community.

"This event promotes Pride in who and what we are," said Christopher Dyer, Chair and Founder of the Youth Pride Alliance. "By creating a non-judgmental space for a day, we help empower youth to lead healthier and safer lives. This event is organized by youth for other youth." Washington DC's Youth Pride Day is one of three youth pride events in the country. "Youth Pride Day celebrates the dignity and courage of youth as they come to accept their sexual identity," comments Youth Pride Spokesperson Dana Palanker. "The three main goals of Youth Pride Day are to promote awareness of issues effecting GLBT youth, increase the visibility of this dynamic group, and to foster pride in our community."

Youth Pride Day 1998 will continue to feature national celebrities, speakers from other states and several testimonials by youth in the Metro DC Area. It will also feature performances by local bands and entertainers. Additionally, local and national groups will set up tables and informational booths. The day will end with an evening dance at George Washington University. In coming months, Youth Pride will announce this year's celebrity speakers, performers, and other participants.

Last year over 900 youth and their supporters attended the first Youth Pride Day. Speakers included former U.S. Figure Skating Champion Rudy Galindo, noted transgendered activist and GLAAD Spokesperson Jessica Xavier, and youth activists from DC to as far away as Salinas, Kansas. This year, organizers plan to increase their outreach to youth around the Metro area as well as continue to build outreach nationally. "Many Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transsexual, Transgendered and questioning youth feel isolated and alienated in their coming out process," explained Program Coordinator David Grossman. "By gathering in a public space we send a powerful message to our struggling brothers and sisters that they are not alone."

The Youth Pride Alliance is a coalition of over 25 youth support and advocacy groups in the Metro DC Area including Sexual Minority Youth Assistance League (SMYAL), Parents, Family, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (P-FLAG DC), Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network (GLSEN DC), seven campus student groups, Metro Teen Aids Coalition and BiNetwork DC. Its mission is to celebrate the dignity and courage of all young people as they discover their identity as gay, lesbian, bisexual or straight; and challenge society to stop the hate, the violence, the fear, the isolation, and the denial. 

By sponsoring events such as Youth Pride Day, the Alliance strives to achieve its goal of providing safe and healthy spaces for youth to grow.

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