Speak_Out_Youth's Amplify Diary

History of House/Ball Room Scene

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 13:56:00 -0500

Here is a intro video of the History of House/Ball Room Scene at Creating Change 2010. This was one of the most informative sessions I attended. It gave an amazing background on how House/Ball Room culture began, as well as why it was started. This session was informative and interactive as well as put to rest any rumors that Madonna was the creator of Voguing!!

Day 1 Opening Session Video

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 13:36:00 -0500

Hey everyone,

Here is a small video of what it looked like during the opening session at Creating Change 2010.

Creating Change 2010!!

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 12:53:00 -0500

Well Hello Everyone,

So this post is much over due but none the less here it is for you all!!

So from Feb 2-7 I had the great opportunity to travel to Creating Change 2010 with some amazing Youth Resource Peers. Below is my over all assessment of the conference:

The overall experience of Creating Change 2010 was a good one. I not only was able to interact with some amazing people on the national level but also the chance to interact with some amazing young people. These young people were not only doing LBGT work but other social justice projects that will make for a better future. I attended some well put together workshops. Although I may not have gotten a ton of new information from some of the workshops I attended, I was able to refresh my information in those areas of interest. I had some very meaningful conversations with members from Center for American Progress, Service members Legal Defense Network as well as students from UC-Santa Barbara, Southwestern University in Texas as well as students from Louisville University in Kentucky. The energy from over 2,000 attendees was monumental and inspiring. From the opening plenary hosted by Kate Clinton (aka Lady HAHA) to the State of The Movement Address by ED of NGLTF Rea Carey to the ending brunch with Vogue Evolution everything seemed to run flawlessly. The staff of the Task Force was very welcoming and was there with answers to just about every question, concern or issue attendees had. If I had to rate this conference on a scale of 1-10 with 1 being poor and 10 being over exceeds expectations I would give CC 2010 an 8. I feel the space should have had mobile testing for people as well as more food for us. Other than that it was a great conference and I look forward to going next year.

This conference had to have been one of the best OVERALL conferences I've attended in my time as a progressive youth. I look forward to other conference were I get to share my thoughts and feelings to you all. If you would like to know more about my experience at CC10 please let me know.

All the Best,
W.

Day 2 Creating Change 2010

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 20:09:00 -0500

Hey Everyone,

I wanted to write a brief re cap of my day here in Dallas Texas. The morning started a little later than what I wanted just to be honest with you all. I started the day off in a informative yet not as productive space entitled Working with Low Income LGBT people. The conversation was very open and wide spread and allowed all ppl in the space to express their concerns as well as to give advice for particular situations. We discussed things like privledge as well as the way we reach out to low income communities. The realization that some strategies we use to outreach and spread messages are not inclusive of all communities. As well as the fact that there has been NO conversation on how to bring low income people in around the National LGBT Movement by the Task Force. It was also brought to our attention that within the National LGBT Movement there is not discussion about the hardships low income LGBT people face and how to help allivate those hardships.

Next, I had lunch with some friends from DC then went to the State of the Movement Address, where Rea Carey ED of the Task Force gave an amazing opeing speech and set the agenda for this years action items for the Task Force. The telecast was on CSPAN live which was pretty amazing.

I then went to a session named The Black Church and Homophbia. This was an amazing session were we spoke on the issues of homophobia in the black church and what we can do to change that mind set. The issues of sexual health were brought up by a number of people and how that was also a big issue that continued to lead to the homophobic nature of the black church. The discussion in that space was very much needed for the people who attend church on a regular basis and allowed them to feel safe and to be able to express themselves with out fear of being shamed, hurt, bullied or made fun of.

Overall Day 2 was AMAZING and I am looking forward to the finally 2 days here at CC 2010.

Cheers,
W.

Pre Conference Day 1

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 16:15:00 -0500

Hey everyone,

This is an interview with Russell Roybal who is the Executive Deputy Director of External Relations for NGLTF. He tells us what Creating Change is and what it stands for. Enjoy!!

A Movement!

Thu, 17 Sep 2009 16:43:00 -0500

What happens when Advocates for Youth gets together 120+ young people from the US, Nigeria, Jamaica and Ethiopia? You get a INTERNATIONAL STUDENT MOVEMENT! But not just any ISM, but one that centers on comprehensive sexual education and sexual health rights. September 10-14^th students embarked upon L’Enfant Plaza Hotel to learn tactics that they could take back to their respective campuses and communities. Our purpose was to learn how to become an effective educator on young people’s sexual health rights, as well as lobby to pass the Real Act. As an intern and member of Youth Resource (AFY online peer education resource team) I was blessed, humbled and honored to not only attend Urban Retreat 2009 but also a inside/outside perspective to this conference.[More]

Go to College&thats the only way youll get a JOB!!!

Thu, 28 May 2009 13:24:00 -0500

Those were the words that I was told all through high school. Those words were spoken by guidance counselors, teachers, friends, family members and coaches. So I went to college obtained a four year degree and STILL DON’T HAVE A “job”. I graduated from the University of North Carolina Wilmington in May of 2008 and have been looking for a job in Washington DC ever since. [More]

Growing Up..Difference between Straight Men & Gay Men!!!

Thu, 23 Apr 2009 14:51:00 -0500

Hey there Amplify readers....I have something that I would like to get off my chest. I do hope you all can help give good feedback about it....

I currently have a internship with one of the leading comprehensive sexual education advocacy groups in the US in Washington DC. My project entells that I do research on young men of color being heterosexual and their risks in getting HIV/AIDS/STI/STDs things like that. So through out my research I have come across some barriers in finding any concrete data into this topic. I started to wonder why that was. Why is almost everything you read about with regards to HIV/AIDS dealing with the LGBTQ community? I mean men aren't just having sex with men are they? For the men who identify as being heterosexual why isn't there much educational outreach to them?

One thing that I realized when meeting with my supervisor the other day is that in the gay community one of the top four things we are educated on/have to worry about it HIV/AIDS. I know this to be true because I am a gay man. On top of that I am a gay man of color, so my risk of getting HIV/AIDS has just increased. WHY???!! because there isn't much educational outreach to these communities. SO my over all question is, if I am a gay man why am I automatically educated about HIV/AIDS and the risks that it presents, but if I were a straight man I wouldn't really have to "worry" about it? I mean while doing this research ALMOST everything I find only deals with MSM (men who have sex with men). Where are the education programs for straight men of color and their risks in getting HIV/AIDS? Why isn't it within their top four things they should worry about in life? How has it been so engrained in the gay community but not the straight community or the ENTIRE United States for that matter? We are ALL at risk for getting HIV/AIDS so why not make it engrained in everyone to become educated about their risks in getting HIV/AIDS?

I random thought that I wanted to express. I would greatly appreciate feedback. Thanks a ton =)