World AIDS day, history and purpose by Ryan Jewels

Every year on December first we take the time to remember the ones we lost to the AIDS epidemic. In order to know about the history of world AIDS day we must first know AIDS as the disease. AIDS is a syndrome that attacks a person’s immune system or an immunodeficiency syndrome. The first recorded cases of HIV and AIDS were in the 70s and 80s. AIDS starts out as HIV and eventually progresses. It can be transmitted in a few different ways, such as unprotected sex, intro venous drug use, mother to child in birth or breast feeding and rarely through blood transfusions. Since the first recorded cases it has killed more than 25million people worldwide and an estimated 33.2 million people live with HIV and AIDS today. The first world AIDS day was organized in 1988 originally by U.N AIDS. U.N AIDS is the joint united nation program on HIV and AIDS. A major symbol of world AIDS day and HIV/AIDS awareness is the red ribbon. Each year a new theme is chosen for world AIDS day. The first theme in 1988 was communication. Communication can mean anything, like talking to a friend, family member or your partner about the disease or even your or their HIV status. The mission of world aids day is to lead and support an expanding response to HIV and AIDS. This includes prevention and treatment. In 2005 UN AIDS gave the responsibility of world AIDS day to the world AIDS coalition. This year’s theme is universal access and human rights. This basically means you have the right to be healthy. A huge issue in the country is health care. This problem affects everyone especially HIV positive people. If people can’t get there medication then how are they supposed to treat their illness? Another goal of World AIDS day is to help remove misinformation surrounding HIV/AIDS and a big stigma is that all gay men have AIDS, which is not true. This stigma first came to be when AIDS was first seen and an abundance of infected people were gay men. However the growing rate of infection is being seen in straight woman of color. The biggest goal of world AIDS day is education. If more people were educated on AIDS and how it is contracted, there would be a lot less people infected. One of the best ways to protect your self is to educate yourself.

14 year old gay youth speaks up to his school board

Over the past few months there has been an overwhelming amount of media coverage on various LGBT issues including the ongoing political struggles, gay youth suicide and anti-gay bullying in schools. It is so important for the LGBT community to be heard nationwide to further our efforts with decreasing hate crimes and bullying, and also to help with our political equality. Last Monday fourteen-year-old Graeme Taylor spoke articulately to school board members of Howell Michigan defending his teacher, Jay McDowell, after he stood up for gay youth by ejecting 2 students from class after they made anti-gay remarks. The teacher was suspended for that day without pay for his actions. You can see the video here.

Political issues and how they affect our youth

LGBT equality is a political topic that has gotten a lot of attention in the media lately. The marriage equality debate continues in California. Another issue that is catching headlines is the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy in the US military. GENDA (the Gender Expression Non-discrimination Act) is a bill that would prohibit discrimination in the New York State based on gender identity and expression. Another example is DASA (The Dignity for All Students Act), which has finally passed after about ten years of trying. How do these political issues affect young people? Many of our participants here at Pride for Youth have expressed strong feelings about these issues. Some have taken active measures to have their voices heard. They make trips up to Albany to talk with their legislators, take part in rallies and petitions, send letters, make phone calls and of course spread the word to their peers about what’s going on and what they can do to help. Others are fearful to voice their opinions due to being outed and having their families or peers find out. When it comes to the issue of marriage equality, many young people are outraged that it is not legal for them to get married. You might ask why this affects them when they are not even old enough to get married. The answer is simple: they do not feel equal, or they feel “less than”. We are raised in a society where marriage and gender roles are taught to us so rigidly defined from infancy on, even in the most open minded of households. When a child grows to adolescence and realizes their sexual orientation or gender identity doesn’t meet the rigid formula our community has made for them there are many psychological problems that arise. When they find out that it is illegal for them to marry, the message that there is something wrong with them is starkly reinforced. The repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell was recently voted down by Congress. Think about the young person that may want to join the military. Maybe this teenager is “out of the closet”. This youth faces the decision to either not join the military or to crawl back into the closet just to have the opportunity to be a part of serving our country. This kind of decision can be detrimental to a young person’s mental well being. Now how about the youth that’s still closeted. He or she could feel as though they need to hide themselves even further just to serve their country. The debate over LGBT’s being accepted in society has other types of impact for youth as well. Think about the dinner conversations that happen in not so accepting households. These issues come up in conversation. When parents and/or siblings at that dinner table voice their anti-LGBT opinions, how does that LGBT teen at the table—closeted or not—feel? When LGBT rights are debated in school—should LGBT’s be allowed to marry, adopt children, be protected by non-discrimination laws?—what impact does that have on students who are trying to build a sense of pride in who they are? A phenomenon that happens with any sort of minority political progress is backlash. People who feel threatened by LGBT’s become louder, angrier and sometimes violent. This can make young people feel scared and powerless. But it is important that we teach them that it doesn’t have to be this way. Civic/political participation is a key strategy for youth empowerment. At the most basic level, it can take the form of registering to vote. Youth can also get involved in LGBT political organizations and/or campaigns to elect politicians who will advance LGBT equality. For those who are not ready to take those steps, they may need a safe place where they can talk about how political issues are affecting them—a hotline, a youth center or a counselor’s office. When it comes to the fight for LGBT equality, young people can be an incredible resource, and we should also remember that they need our support to cope with the disappointment, alienation and fear stirred up by high profile political fights.

Has anti-gay hate and violence reached a critical mass?

Check out this innovative article written for the Long Island Herald by our very own Andy Peters! http://www.liherald.com/stories/Has-anti-gay-hate-and-violence-reached-a-critical-mass,28285?page=1&content_source=

A huge thank you on behalf of Pride for Youth!

As a non-profit agency providing vital services to our community one can imagine we put a lot of effort in to fundraising. On Saturday October 16th Marcy Lang and A. J. Shanti performed live at Kelli’s Bar and Grille in Bellmore to benefit Pride for Youth. We are so grateful to them for dedicating their time to help with our fundraising efforts. Marcy Lang is a singer/songwriter and an all around amazing woman with a huge heart. Marcy has been writing music since early childhood. In addition to her performing at our benefit she also volunteered her time to come perform for our youth the Friday night before at our coffee house. The youth were inspired by her music and her life story that she shared with them. Her message is very positive and definitely had a strong impact on the youth. A.J. Shanti is also a singer/songwriter with a lot of talent. She is an alumni of Pride for Youth which she shared during her performance on Saturday. She stated on the microphone that night, “that place saved me and I am honored to give back”. A.J. also volunteers at Pride for Youth coffee house on Friday nights and is a positive role model for the youth. Kelli’s Bar and Grille in Bellmore has been an amazing ally to us here at Pride for Youth. They have graciously offered their venue to us for many of our fundraisers and are always accommodating with friendly faces. Kelli’s has a great atmosphere and is a great place to go to get drinks and a bite to eat. A huge thanks goes out to owner, Barbara, and all the Kelli’s staff for their support. www.kellisbar.net http://www.myspace.com/marcylang http://www.myspace.com/ajshanti

Time to wear your purple!

Here's your chance to remember LGBT youth who have taken their own lives, support Pride for Youth and Mpowerment Li and have a great night out! Shy lounge in Levittown is taking this special day of remembrance and making it even more special by helping out struggling LGBT youth in Long Island. Anyone who is wearing purple or who mentions that "Pride for Youth sent me", will have their door cover donated directly to Pride for Youth. So wear your hottest purple shirt and come on out to play! We hope to see you all there. Shy Lounge 2686 Hempstead Turnpike Levittown, NY 11756

Documentary about LGBT Youth for Japanese Public Television filmed at Pride for Youth

In early August 2010, Pride for Youth, was contacted by Marcom Visual Creation, Inc., seeking guidance and advice regarding their plans to shoot a documentary on LGBT youth for Japanese public television. The goal of the documentary was to capture the unique experience of American LGBT youth, documenting selected youths’ coming out experiences. The producers felt this type of documentary was a milestone for Japanese public television and hoped it would help Japanese youth who may identify as LGBT. Producers for the film met with Pride for Youth staff and youth participants on various occasions in order to better understand the experience of LGBT youth. Through this process the filmmakers were able to select one Pride for Youth participant and begin making arrangements to film her experiences with her family, at school, and with her peers at PFY’s Friday night Coffeehouse. On Friday, October 8th 2010, a film crew arrived at Pride for Youth to shoot footage at the Coffeehouse and interview Pride for Youth Director, Pete Carney. That same night was our annual “Coming Out Day” celebration, which helped the director of the documentary really capture the experience of coming out for many of our participants. The filming turned out to be a great success and we are hopeful that it will help Japanese LGBT youth develop a sense of pride and not feel alone. Pride for Youth is honored to have been picked to be a part of this important documentary.

Marcy Lang and A.J. Shanti live to benefit Pride for Youth!!!

Marcy Lang and A.J. Shanti are amazingly talented musicians storming the acoustic rock scene. We are very lucky to have them come perform at Kelli's to benefit Pride for Youth. Come down and see these ladies perform live! We will also have our amazing house DJ spinning your favorite dance music you can shake it to through out the night. This event is not to be missed! Saturday October 16th 8pm-????? Kelli's Bar and Grille 2955 Merrick rd. Bellmore, NY 11710 $10 cover at the door 50/50 raffles so you can win money! giveaways throughout the night www.prideforyouth.org www.kellisbar.net http://www.myspace.com/marcylang http://www.myspace.com/ajshanti

Meet the rest of the Program Leaders!!!

Chris R., 19: The reason why I became a program leader is because I wanted to find a way to make a difference in the community in a fun and interactive way. My hobbies include reading, writing, playing video games, cross dressing, singing, and drawing. I hope to help mPowerment become a successful program. Chris A., 19: I became a program leader so I could help educate youth about the problems that affect their society, I plan to work as a Social Worker in the future and help more groups of people in my life. I enjoy going out with my friends and watching movies. Gerard, 17: I became a program leader because I really enjoy the environment I work in and I love the friends I made. My interests are long boarding, playing the guitar, and singing. My goal is to become more knowledgeable so I can teach other people the knowledge PFY taught to me. Jeff (Princess), 18: Well, I was an original peer educator and the reason I stayed because I loved helping out in my community and being an advocate for my own rights along with the rights of others. I am a dancer to the extreme; I have many random interests and skills. I want to become a lobbyist and work for human rights. I want to help people in all ways, if I can make one person life better for even a few seconds, I will be happy. Shay, 16: I realized that becoming a program leader was the best for me because after attending coffeehouse for a few months, I fell in love with PFY and I really wanted to have a bigger role in what PFY has to offer as an LGBT teen center. I love to write and recite poetry (mostly spoken word) and listening to music. I also love nature, reading, and blogging. I plan to become a Professor of either Music Theory or English Language/Creative Writing. Sarah, 17: I wanted to make a difference in my community by encouraging young people towards responsible decisions and I geared that towards working as a program leader. I like singing, writing, drawing, and sewing. I would ultimately in the future like to do something creative and have some kind of impact on pop culture.

Meet the Program Leaders!

Vanessa, 17: I became a program leader because I feel like I learned so much and I am going through so much in this span of my life. I might as well teach and educate everyone in certain issues dealing with today. I enjoy reading, having movie nights and outings with friends. My ultimate life goal is to be successful and live a carefree life. Ryan, 19: I really love educating the youth which is a major part of why I became a program leader. I feel that many things that should be taught are not reaching the youth properly, which is why this job is important to me. Music, reading and writing plays a great role in my life. I eventually I would like to be a stylist and open my own salon. Meredith , 18: I have been a peer educator and program leader for the past three years. Helping others is always worth the craziness and sometimes craziness makes life all the better. Just like everyone else I enjoy music especially indie. I am always interested in discovering new music. My current life goal is earning a college degree. Mary , 19:The reason for being a program leader for me was easy. I love when I get the chance to get out and hopefully educate on topics I was trained on. On my off days I love singing and acting and I am a major music fan, as it plays a big part in my life. My ultimate life goal is to become a social worker. Lorenzo ,18: My purpose for becoming a program leader is to show LGBT youth that you can be different and still be a leader. I enjoy entertaining others by playing the piano, singing and dancing. My life goal is to explore the works of this wonderful world and give inspiration to the LGBT youth. Justin ,19: I became a program leader to help inform my peers about information based on facts and details rather than myths and stereotypes. In my spare time, I like to read and write. I enjoy being an activist for LGBT youth. My life goals consist of helping and educating others and teaching them they are not alone. I eventually would like to become a social worker. Jonathan , 17: One reason I became a program leader is because I wanted to work in a place where LGBT is not only accepting but praised. Another reason is to share the message with LBGT Latinos like myself that is okay to be gay. I like to draw, talk and laugh. Laughing makes my day worthwhile. My life goal is to go to college for business and open my own advertising firm. Charles , 19: I became a program leader to help be a role model for peers in my community. Being a program leader helps me to stay motivated in my education and stay focused on my goals. In my free time I enjoy writing music. I eventually would like to help at least one person during my time as a program leader.

Program Leaders launch their new blog!

The Program Leaders at Pride for Youth in Bellmore, NY are excited to launch this blog as a way of networking with others and addressing the sexual health concerns of LGBT youth and their straight allies. What are Program Leaders, you ask? Well, they are teenagers just like you, who work to educate their peers in Nassau County on such topics as HIV/AIDS, teen pregnancy, STI/STD’s and homophobia. They visit local GSA’s and other youth groups in order to spread education and awareness on these issues. They also collaborate, in an Adult/Youth Consortium, with a group of adults who are interested in generating change in our community with regard to the needs and concerns of LGBT youth. Program Leaders also assist with Pride for Youth’s Mpowerment program. The Mpowerment Program works with young men individually, in groups and through community outreach and events to provide opportunities for these young men to socialize and develop supportive relationships, and also become educated on HIV/STD prevention and safer sex. And last but not least, they will be updating and maintaining their new blog! They will be writing on a variety of subjects related to LGBT youth, from current issues in the media and political concerns to local events and updates on what we are doing at Pride for Youth. A particular focus of their blog postings will be to educate LGBT youth on all aspects of sexual health and healthy decision making. They welcome questions, particularly related to sexual health and the coming out process. If you have a question or comment or want to “friend” us, visit their page on Livejournal at http://programleaders.livejournal.com/. You may also visit our page on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/profile.php?id=100001422798770. You must attend at least one Coffeehouse on a Friday night at Pride for Youth before they will accept your friend request. Anyone, regardless of their “friend status” is encouraged to email them with questions or concerns. We look forward to hearing from you! Keep an eye out! Our Program Leader’s profiles are coming soon!

Bullied to Death: by Jill Estes

After reading recent news articles about three gay student suicides all within the same school district in the same year, I was reminded how important it is to address this issue. It is no shock that LGBT youth face extreme amounts of isolation at school, at home, at religious organizations and in our community. Along with this isolation they are also facing high levels of homophobia, bullying and harassment. This has been the case for decades and is continually a problem for these youth. A gay student by the name of Justin Aaberg took his own life on July 9th this year. He was one of three gay students in the Anoka school district in Minnesota to commit suicide this year. This created uproar in the community between LGBT advocacy groups and anti-gay groups. To hear a testimony from his mother’s words please reference this article. http://minnesotaindependent.com/64047/anti-gay-group-organizes-in-anoka-schools-as-community-deals-with-gay-suicides A 1989 US government study found that LGBT youth are 2-3 times more likely to attempt suicide than other young people. This finding was supported by a 2001 study that found LGBT adolescents 2.3-2.5 times more likely to commit suicide than their heterosexual peers. Also, psychological autopsies- that is the examination of a person’s psychological state in the time leading up to their death, show an alarming 30% of LGBT youth among the dead teens that have committed suicide. Psychologists believe that number may be higher, as LGBT teens are more likely to have the true cause of death and their sexual identity hidden by their family members. Many LGBT teens out there do not know where to turn to for help. Most of these youth cannot go to their families, teachers, peers, religious organizations or communities for help. But there are people to turn to for help. Right here in Long Island we are lucky to have Pride for Youth. We provide counseling including individual and family counseling, a drop-in center on Friday nights and support groups for LGBT youth. Also the Long Island Crisis Center provides short term crisis intervention on a 24/7 hotline. One more great resource is the Trevor Project, the leading national organization focused on crisis and suicide prevention for LGBT and questioning youth. All these resources are free, anonymous and confidential. The question here is how do we lower the risk of suicide for LGBT youth? The answer, I believe, is education. Already in many school districts we provide suicide prevention education. And in some school districts we are able to provide homophobia education. Recently passed was The Dignity for All Students Act (DASA) in New York, a bill that will prohibit harassment against students in school, including harassment based on real or perceived race, color, weight, national origin, ethnic group, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression and sex. This bill will require schools to adopt policies to make schools harassment and discrimination-free environments and also incorporate discrimination and harassment awareness into education curricula. This gives us an amazing opportunity to get into more schools to educate staff and students making a less homophobic environment. When taken into account these breaking news stories of gay student suicides and the alarming statistics of LGBT youth suicides in the US, one can hopefully see the need for more diversity education in the schools for both staff and students. With the passing of DASA, doors should be opened for us to get in and provide this ever so important education. My hopes are that over the next few years we will see these numbers drop and we will have less students being “bullied to death”. Resources: Pride for Youth (516)679-9000 www.prideforyouth.org The Long Island Crisis Center (516)679-1111 www.longislandcrisiscenter.org The Trevor Project (866)4-U-TREVOR or (866)488-7386 www.thetrevorproject.org

Dignity for All Students Act signed into law! by Andy Peters

The need for better policies and training to prevent anti-LGBT harassment in schools has been self-evident to those of us who are LGBT. In 2000, PFY surveyed Nassau County students and found that 1 in 10 had been physically harassed due to their perceived sexual orientation. Nearly all of them reported that derogatory words like “faggot” and “dyke” get spouted from the mouths of classmates (and even teachers) on a regular basis. So it’s great progress that Governor Patterson recently signed into law the Dignity for All Students Act (DASA). Advocacy groups have been pushing for this legislation for ten years, and PFY has been a critical part of the effort. In annual trips to Albany, in-district meetings with elected officials, and through personal letters, young people and staff have kept the issue alive year in, year out. Many times, we wonder if our voices make a difference. DASA is evidence that the answer most definitely is YES! DASA establishes a consistent set of standards for preventing discrimination and harassment in schools—those motivated by anti-LGBT attitudes or other prejudices—and, quite significantly the law includes gender identity/expression as a protected category. Here’s a summary of the law from Empire State Pride Agenda. After ten years of hard work, the Dignity for All Students Act (DASA) will prohibit harassment against students in school, including harassment based on real or perceived race, Color, weight, national origin, ethnic group, religion, religious practice, disability, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity and expression and sex. 40 states have anti-bullying laws and now New York will join those states. New York is also one of the 14 states that include sexual orientation and gender identity/expression in its anti-bullying protections. DASA makes history marking the first time that gender identity and expression are explicitly protected under New York State law. This is an incredible victory for our community and was made possible by the tireless advocacy of so many organizations statewide including Pride For Youth. DASA will specifically require schools to: -Adopt policies to make schools harassment- and discrimination-free environments; -Inform students and parents of anti-discrimination and harassment policies; -Develop guidelines to be used in school training programs for teachers, administrators and other school employees to discourage the development of discrimination and harassment among staff and students; -Create guidelines relating to the development of nondiscriminatory instruction and counseling’ -Incorporate discrimination and harassment awareness and sensitivity into civility, citizenship and character education curricula; -Provide a staff member trained in human-relations counseling; and -Report on incidents of discrimination and bias harassment to the State Education Department.

Our Academy Awards Prom by Andrea Fogel

Pride for Youth’s Academy Award themed Prom was nothing less than magical. As early as 7:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time movie stars, singers, paparazzi and even Joan Rivers began to arrive on the red carpet. The night was filled with nothing but elegance including Pizza from a Five Star restaurant, “Joes Pizzeria” in Merrick and a sheet cake from the very prestigious BJ’s wholesale Club. The biggest hit of the night was the chocolate fountain that marshmallows, pretzels, fruits and graham crackers were dipped into creating long lasting chocolate covered smiles. The Rich, Famous and Beautiful enjoyed a night of dancing under the stars and no one left empty handed, all receiving their very own academy award. August 27th, 2010 will sure be a night to remember. -Andrea Fogel, LMSW LGBT Program Supervisor

Production of Dog Sees God at Coffeehouse

On Friday, August 13th, 2010 at the PFY Coffeehouse a group of dedicated participants premiered their own production of the off Broadway hit Dog Sees God. They spent many weeks in preparation, working hard to make the play come together for opening night. Our participants are very adept at producing entertainment for Coffeehouse that is emotionally impacting, educational and entertaining for their peers. This play was a hit and everyone in attendance loved it . Brittney, a dedicated participant took on the huge role of director where her strong background in theater was obvious. Brittney was involved in many productions in her high school and at SUNY Fredonia including Suessical the musical, Footloose, and Terror In The Trees. She was also in choir, often as a soloist, for many years and directed the Rent Showcase here at Pride for Youth last year. Rebecca, who played the role of CB’s sister has also been involved in theatre for many years. Rebecca’s first role was Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz when she was just seven years old at her summer camp. She continued going to sleep away theater camp for five years participating in ten more shows. Quoted from Rebecca, “each show has taught me something new that I carry with me everywhere. But the most important and recurring theme I’ve gotten from each show is definitely that working with those you love doing a thing you love is something you keep with you forever.” In the matter of a few weeks the show was put together. The youth rehearsed a few times per week putting in a lot of hard work to make this play possible. One participant, Sam, that played the part of CB, the main character, was very convincing in his role captivating the audience with true emotion. All of the roles played in this show were alluring and entertaining, making a wonderful play. The play focuses on many issues that hit close to home for many of our participants here at Pride for Youth. Dog Sees God is set in a high school setting and addresses issues such as coming out, homophobia, social stigma, social isolation and suicide. With an emotionally gripping yet humorous twist the play gives everyone something they can relate to. It is also quite the eye opener for how the seemingly less impacting issues can escalate into more severe crises. The cast: CB: Sam CB’s sister: Rebecca Beethoven: Thomas Matt: Katerine Tricia: Sarah Marcy: Yelena Van: Mary Van’s sister: Lisa Special thanks to Lisa for putting in extra hard work and helping direct and build sets. Stage Crew: Jeff Amanda Mike

Annual camping trip!

We were very fortunate this summer to be able to take 16 of our youth on a wonderful five-day camping trip to the Boston/Cape Cod area. This trip was not only fun but also very meaningful. Our youth get a chance to interact with staff and build friendships with their peers on a weekly basis here at Pride for Youth. But a trip like this really deepens these relationships and creates lifelong memories.

We packed up the vans to leave bright and early Monday morning and set off. Arriving at the campgrounds was quite exciting after the five hour ride. We immediately unpacked and ran off to the pool. The campgrounds were packed full of fun. The jumping pillow was a favorite among our kids, and some staff as well! We cooked up dinner barbecue style and all enjoyed each other’s company. Following dinner that night we did some fun team building activities. Everyone enjoyed “knee-tag” and a good old-fashioned game of Manhunt.

On Tuesday we packed ourselves in the vans again to head off to Salem! We started off at the Witch Museum. They gave us a lovely tour and a greater understanding of what happened during the Salem Witch Trials. We also took a tour of a horror movie museum. We spent the rest of the day shopping around the cute old fashioned town.

Wednesday we spent in Boston. We started off touring the famous Boston aquarium. I’ll never forget how excited one of the kids, an aspiring marine biologist, was to have that experience. After the aquarium we hopped on a boat for a five hour whale watching tour. They brought us way out into the open sea at an exhilarating speed to see the whales. The perfect weather held out for us right until the very end of our boat ride. Then back to camp for dinner and activities we went. With a little struggle we managed to get our fire started. We made smores and played improv acting games right up until bed time.

Thursday morning came quite quickly and we departed for Provincetown. Once again the weather was perfect for the two hour ferry ride. We all enjoyed our time out on the water. The kids were so excited to shop around Provincetown and enjoy the beach. The kids were very excited to be in such a LGBT friendly town. When we arrived back at camp it was time for our last camp fire together before departing home the next morning.

The end of the trip came quickly for all of us. Friday we found ourselves back on the road heading home. We asked the kids to each name their three favorite parts of the trip. The majority said their favorite parts were the day in Salem, the jumping pillow at the campgrounds, and the opportunity to get to know their counselors and peers so much better.

Expanded Partnership with Planned Parenthood

We are very excited to announce that once monthly at the Coffeehouse, beginning July 16th, Planned Parenthood of Nassau County will provide clinicians to perform STD screenings and birth control counseling. This is additional to the monthly in-house HIV testing and counseling they have been providing at the Coffeehouse since 2008. Services will be provided confidentially and free of charge. No physical exam is required. STD screening is done through urine samples, and HIV testing involves a pin prick blood sample. No appointment is necessary. Youth are seen on a first come, first served basis between 7:30 and 11:00pm. Services will be available on the third Friday of each month. For further information contact Galo Cunto at Pride for Youth. Galo Cunto 516-679-9000 extension 23 gcunto@longislandcrisiscenter.org

Chili's giveback night!

Pride for Youth is very grateful to Chili’s in Bethpage for giving us this wonderful fundraising opportunity. Pride for Youth is receiving 10% of the sales from Chili’s when our guests dine-in and present this voucher on Tuesday July 13th. So come down and get some great food with us! If anyone has any problems printing out this voucher please email me and I will send it to you! Jill Estes Jestes@longislandcrisiscenter.org

Check out this amazing article about PFY in The Bellmore Patch!

All of us here at Pride for Youth are honored to be the recipient of a generous donation from Frantic Fran’s cast of Rent, at the Showplace Theatre in Bellmore ! They raised $945.70 for us in such a short time. The cast also gave our kids a great opportunity to see the show and even participate in it! A special thanks to Erinn Furey, who spearheaded this project, and the rest of the cast for all their hard work and generosity. Check out the article here http://bellmore.patch.com/articles/cast-of-rent-show-playing-locally-donates-to-pride-for-youth

The Bellmore production of Rent partners with Pride for Youth

Pride for Youth participants has been given a wonderful opportunity this week. This past Friday we were lucky to have a visit from the Showplace Theatre of Bellmore cast of Rent. The cast of Rent is greatly supportive of Pride for Youth. We are grateful to have them as allies. At our coffeehouse this past Friday night the cast came to speak to our participants. As they spoke about Rent they drew strong parallels between what we do here at Pride for Youth and the message behind the play Rent. “No day but today” is a universal message that we can all use to greatly impact our lives no matter what our backgrounds are, or what our troubles are today. Our kids were also quite excited when they were given the opportunity to sing Seasons of Love on our very own stage with the cast. Pride for Youth is honored to be the recipient of a generous donation from the Rent production. They have already risen over $500 for Pride for Youth. They are also graciously giving discounted tickets to all of our participants, volunteers and employees of Pride for Youth and The Long Island Crisis Center. With the opportunity to buy tickets for $7 instead of $22 we are able to bring up to twenty of our kids to see the show this Thursday free of charge! So many times we are amazed by the support we receive. Pride for Youth would like to thank the Bellmore Cast of Rent for their strong support and the opportunities they have given to our kids. Also, a special thanks to Erinn Furey, who plays the part of Maureen in the show. She had a great, positive presence with our kids, and has spearheaded our partnership with the production. Please feel free to join us at the show. Many of our staff and participants will be at the show Thursday 6/24 at 8pm. Erinn Furey may have a little surprise for our kids, giving them the opportunity to get up on stage with the cast. This is not to be missed!

Long Island Pride Parade 2010 by Jill

Sunday June 13th marked the 20th anniversary of Long Island Pride. As we do every year, we rounded up many our participants and some high school GSA clubs (gay straight alliance) to attend this highly anticipated event! Everyone had a lot of fun on this very special day. If any of our readers haven’t experienced The Long Island Pride Parade I highly recommend attending next year. The day starts with a family friendly parade down Main Street in Huntington. You hear cheers coming from the crowd lined up on the street and a lot of chants from the marchers. There are smiles and rainbow flags everywhere as we all come together to celebrate the LGBT community. The parade ends in Hecksher Park where a festival is held. At the festival you will find many LGBT organizations at tables sharing their resources. And of course there is plenty of food and entertainment. I am proud to say that our participants have a lot of talent, and this showed at the festival when they performed on the stage. Up first we had Lorenzo singing a top R&B hit. Next we had Britney and Mary singing “Take Me or Leave Me” from Rent. Then last but definitely not least we had The Princess Minaj Hatter Project with a well choreographed dance! Our kids did a great job up there and the crowd loves them. As the day rolled to an end you could feel the energy of Pride in the park. When you take the walk out of the park you have the opportunity to see a timeline tour consisting of pictures from Long Island Pride each year before. I always like to take a few minutes there to remember how different things were 15 years ago. We fought many struggles and hardships just to have one day a year we could be out and proud. But we have come a long way and today we don’t run into these issues as much anymore. Thank you to all who came to march with us, all that came as supporters and everyone who was there celebrating our pride with us. This huge amount of support from the community really does help our kids in more ways than I can say.

Long Island Pride Parade 2010 is right around the corner!

We are very excited for this year’s Long Island Pride Parade. This year marks the parade’s 20th anniversary. We have over 100 kids marching with us, and we are extending an invitation to Pride for Youth’s supporters to join our contingent as well. This Friday night at the Coffeehouse we are lucky to have Sandy Faison and Steve Henaghan come speak to the kids about Long Island Pride. Sandy is the Director and Executive Treasurer of the Long Island Pride Parade. Steve was one of the founders of the Pride Parade in 1990. He will speak to the kids about the issues they faced when they first started Pride and how it has evolved today. I hope you all can attend Long Island Pride this year. Please come visit our table in the park at the end of the parade. You can meet some of our staff and peer educators and check out our Pride merchandise. For a suggested donation of $20 you will receive your choice of a hat or a t-shirt. For a suggested donation of $30 you will receive both. Money raised helps us continue the valuable work we do in our community. We can’t wait to see you all there! For directions/map to the Parade gathering spot in Huntington, check out: http://www.liprideparade.com/

Pride for Youth’s Annual Drag Show by Jill

Throughout Coffeehouse history our annual drag show is always our biggest event of the year. Our show this year proved no different. Many of our participants dressed to impress, and there were a variety of memorable performances. The lovely MC Princess hosted the night. Aria performed “Poor Unfortunate Souls” from The Little Mermaid, and Macy J. performed “I Took The Night.” We even had our own Lady Gaga who danced to a medley of the pop diva’s hits. We can’t leave out our amazing Drag Kings. Mike, Tory and Lawrence sang “Somebody To Love” by Queen. Then, Mike and Tory were back on the stage again doing “Love Addict” by Family Force 5. We were also quite lucky to see Brian McD perform the classic hit “Back At One”. Ending the show we had a fabulous performance from Princess and our new super star Andromida Moon. Finally Princess showed off her belly dancing skills to the song “Jai Ho” from Slumdog Millionaire. Pride for Youth is proud to host this show each year. In my opinion the best part is that young people put everything together themselves and have the satisfaction of calling it their own and enjoying the success of their efforts.

PFY Awarded Five-Year HIV/STI Prevention Grant

PFY is proud to announce that it is the recipient of a highly competitive, five-year grant from the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) AIDS Institute to address the continuing and emerging HIV/STI needs of LGBT young people in Nassau County. Funds will expand PFY’s peer education program, replicate the national model Mpowerment Project and create a Youth/Adult-Led Consortium on Adolescent Sexual Health. For more information, visit our blog.

Come to "Family Night" at PFY!

Are you a family member of a lesbian, gay, bisexual and/or transgender (LGBT) youth? Are you interested in getting more information on how to support LGBT youth in your life? Are you interested in meeting and getting to know other families of LGBT youth? Then Pride for Youth’s “Family Night” is for you!! On Wednesday, May 19, 2010, Pride for Youth (PFY) will hold a “Family Night” from 6-8 PM. This event is open to any family member of an LGBT young person. There will be a presentation from PFY staff regarding PFY services as well as education on the unique challenges faced by LGBT youth. PFY staff will also be available to answer questions and provide support. A representative from Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) will also be present to answer questions and provide information regarding supports available to families. Light refreshments will be served. Please RSVP to Pete Carney, Director, at (516) 679-9000 Ext 125 or via email at pcarney@longislandcrisiscenter.org.

Bellmore Patch Covers Kelli’s Fundraiser

Check out this video from our fundraiser at Kelli’s May 1st. Thanks so much to everyone who came out that night. We raised $700 for our summer camp!! http://bellmore.patch.com/articles/showing-support-for-pride-for-youth

Rescheduled Fundraiser at Kelli’s Bar coming up Saturday 5/1!!!

Unfortunately, due to a power outage from that crazy storm we had on March 13th, we had to reschedule our fundraiser. And we have!!! Come on down and party for a good cause!!! Open mic night followed by DJ and dancing. Lady Gaga look-alike contest with prizes, raffles, snacks and more!!! 8pm-????? 21+ up $10 cover All proceeds benefit Pride for Youth and the Long Island Pride Chorus www.prideforyouth.org www.licconline.org www.lipridechorus.org www.kellisbar.net

AMHH Awards Honor PFY and PFY Supporters

On Sunday, April 18th, Pride for Youth was the proud recipient of the Auntie M’s Helping Hands 2010 Community Service Award for Outstanding GLBT Organization. The award recognizes PFY’s vital role in the community and pioneering work to address the fear and isolation of LGBT adolescents. Each year Auntie M’s Helping Hands, Inc. (AMHH, INC.), a 501c(3) not-for-profit, is dedicated to helping others. Through their fundraising events, sponsorships and donations, both to organizations and individuals, many lives have changed for the better. LICC’s Associate Executive Director Andy Peters and PFY Director Pete Carney accepted the award at a luncheon reception held at Guy Anthony’s Buon Appetito in Merrick. PFY thanks AMHH for the honor and support. Two other Community Service Awards were bestowed on individuals who have been part of PFY’s circle of support. Nick Montalbano, who volunteers at the Coffeehouse, received Male Volunteer of the Year. Laura Ruhl, who is a member of PFY’s Advisory Board, received Female Volunteer of the Year. Congratulations Nick and Lau

STUDENT THEATRE PRODUCTION TO BENEFIT PRIDE FOR YOUTH

Adelphi sophomore and former PFY Coffeehouse-goer Asim Naqvi is launching a production of his original show “[Sticky Tags] & Black Sharpie” and will be donating a portion of the ticket sales to PFY. For more information, visit our blog.

Fundraiser at Kelli's on 3/13!!!

Our highly anticipated event is finally here! Come on down to Kelli’s Bar and Grille in Bellmore Saturday 3/13 to party for a good cause. All proceeds benefit Pride for Youth and the Long Island Pride Chorus. Open mic night followed by DJ and dancing. Along with our Lady Gaga look-alike contest we will be having raffles, snacks and give-a ways throughout the night!!! Saturday 3/13/2010 8pm-??? 21+ Kelli’s Bar and Grille 2955 Merrick Rd
Bellmore, NY 11710-5727
 (516) 765-3892 http://www.kellisbar.net/

Grant from Rapoport Foundation Will Support HIV Prevention

We are thrilled to announce that Pride for Youth was awarded $50,000 from the Paul Rapoport Foundation. This one-year grant will support the operating costs of our Young Men’s Program.

PFY Fundraiser at Kelli's!

PFY will be having a fundraiser at Kelli's in Bellmore on March 13th. Come out and enjoy a fun night for a good cause! Visit our blog for more info.

New Website

Welcome to Pride for Youth’s new website!! You’ll find information about our programs by navigating our menu. Check back for the latest news.