PSEC Winter Convening

Jan 15, 2012 – From PSEC:

PENNSYLVANIA LGBTQ YOUTH LEADERS MEET AT PENN STATE; REFORM STATEWIDE LGBTQ YOUTH ORGANIZATION

State College, PA— From January 13-15, 2012, Pennsylvania LGBTQ youth leaders as the Pennsylvania Student Equality Coalition (PSEC) held their second winter convening at Penn State University – University Park. This statewide organization of LGBTQ youth leaders met over three days to evaluate the structure and roles of individuals within the organization.

PSEC was founded last spring by Pennsylvania youth as the first and only youth-led statewide LGBTQ organization in the nation. Over the past year, PSEC has been advocating across Pennsylvania for the welfare of LGBTQ youth. The 2011 winter convening at Penn State was where over 30 youth leaders from Erie to Lancaster met to unanimously vote for the formation of PSEC.

The convening met Friday evening, all day Saturday, and Sunday morning at Penn State to discuss, review, and develop the roles and relationships within the PSEC Coordinating Committee. One resolution of great importance was the disbanding of the State Committee, an elected committee of one representative from each of the eight PSEC regions, in order to establish new regional staff positions. These PSEC staff members would be responsible for the former roles of the State Committee as well as regional fundraising and office hours to outreach to local youth, community organizations, and government officials. With these new roles, as leaders discussed, comes more accountability and responsibility within PSEC.

Also, this weekend PSEC adopted three new affiliates: West Chester University’s LGBTQA, Villanova Local #2, and Wilkes University’s GSA. The coalition looks forward to working with these affiliates in the future.

The youth leaders also voted to create a new PSEC region: Appalachia. This region breaks the former PSEC Pittsburgh-West region into two parts: Pittsburgh City and the Southwestern PA counties. This will allow for a stronger voice of rural Appalachia youth within the statewide LGBTQ youth movement.

During the Day of Silence this year, PSEC affiliates voted to unite across Pennsylvania to break the silence in “Night of Noise” observances. These events will vary from concerts to (bio-degradable) balloon releases. Interpretations may vary, but in solidarity we will overcome injustices in our communities. The Pennsylvania Student Equality Coalition Coordinating Committee will convene again in Philadelphia the weekend of Equality Forum, May 4-6, in Philadelphia, PA.

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