Session 1 (1-2 PM)

  • Mental Health and Queer and Trans Youth 

    Facilitator: Arrive Therapy / Eben Hilpert
    Track: Parents, Educators

    This workshop, led by LGBTQ-focused counseling practice Arrive Therapy, is designed to empower parents and caregivers with the tools to confidently support queer and trans youth. It focuses on addressing the mental health challenges that particularly affect Queer and Trans youth and provides best practices for navigating this critical period in their lives. By the end of the workshop, participants will gain both the knowledge and resources necessary to foster a healthy and supportive environment for their loved ones during the most vulnerable times.

  • Interfaith Working Group*

    Facilitator: Josh Blakesley
    Track: Interfaith

    This Interfaith Working Group, composed of spiritual leaders from around the Greater Philadelphia Area, will focus on several key goals:
    • Establishing a network of interfaith individuals and organizations committed to supporting and uplifting LGBTQ+ youth 
    • Sharing resources, contact information, preferred organizations amongst the interfaith network
    • Developing recommendations for inclusive best practices for LGBTQ+ spiritual individuals and organizations

      * This Working Group convenes during all 3 workshop sessions. If you are interested in joining the Interfaith Working Group, please email Producer Andrew Watring at watring@peopleslight.org.

  • Self-Defense Workshop

    Facilitator: Robin Gow
    Track: Youth

    This training teaches skills and techniques for avoiding unsafe situations, verbal-de-escalation, safety practices for interacting with police, and basic self-defense techniques for LGBTQ+ folks. Grounded in abolitionist thought, we take an anti-carceral approach to safety and emphasize community care.

  • Supporting LGBTQIA+ Youth

    Facilitator: Aries Powell
    Track: Parents, Educators

    This is a moderated panel of LGBTQIA+ youth leaders working in the Center for Trans and Queer Advocacy (CTQA) at West Chester University. As LGBTQIA+ peer educators these student-leaders are particularly equipped to talk about what resources, further education, and best practices are most essential for educators, parents, and other allies looking to support the LGBTQIA+ youth under their care. These students will answer a series of predetermined questions to frame a larger group conversation about the needs of LGBTQIA+ youth in 2024 from their own experience and perspectives. Although this session is intended for teachers and parents, it can serve as a great opportunity for other LGBTQIA+ youth in attendance to share their voices and perspectives, and for other allies to join an ongoing conversation about how we care for LGBTQIA+ children in an increasingly hostile cultural climate.

Session 2 (3-4 PM)

  • Sports and LGBTQ+ Youth

    Facilitator: Lex Horwitz
    Track: Parents, Educators

    Misinformation and disinformation are driving fear and discrimination of trans athletes, primarily transfeminine people. We will understand how to approach the “debate” based on current legal, medical, and scientific knowledge, dismantling two core misconceptions, which are rooted in transmisogynoir and cissexism. Participants will leave with tools to engage in dialogue on the “debate”, in addition to best practices for supporting and advocating for non-binary and trans athletes at individual and institutional levels. Presented by Lex Horwitz, a queer, non-binary trans former collegiate athlete who switched from competing on the women to the men’s team.

    This session will impart knowledge, build skills, and share tools to make us all better advocates for trans athletes – understanding that this is not a debate but rather a fight for equal and equitable rights for all transgender people. 

    Learning objectives:
    • Understand that this is not a debate but rather a fight for equal and equitable rights for all transgender people
    • Critically look at the ways in which misinformation is driving fear and discrimination of transgender athletes, primarily trans women
    • Leave with tools to address the “debate” and best practices for supporting transgender athletes

  • Interfaith Working Group

    See Session 1 for description.

  • LGBTQIA+ and DEI in the Workplace

    Facilitator: Jacob Kelley
    Track: Parents, Educators, Interfaith

    This workshop is an overview of the current landscape of workplace inclusivity. In this workshop, participants will receive practical strategies for fostering an inclusive environment, key statistics and common challenges faced by LGBTQIA+ individuals in the workplace, and effective communication strategies for promoting understanding and inclusion.

  • Our Trans Loved Ones: Q&A for Loved Ones of People Who are Transgender or Non-Binary

    Facilitator: Cindy Apostolico / Julie Moyer
    Track: Parents

    Workshop info coming soon!

Session 3 (4-5 PM)

  • What is Gender Affirming Care? Myths and Facts

    Facilitator: Dane Menkin, CRNP
    Track: Parents, Youth

    This workshop will provide information about gender affirming hormones, puberty suppression and what you should expect from a visit from your provider when initiating a conversation around gender exploration. Dane Menkin is a family nurse practitioner with over 18 years of experience providing LGBTQ care, including gender affirming care to youth, adolescents and adults. He is the Director of LGBTQ Services at Main Line Health, and is passionate in training healthcare providers to provide high quality healthcare to LGBTQ people.

  • Interfaith Working Group

    See Session 1 for description.

  • Youth Poetry Workshop

    Facilitator: Robin Gow
    Track: Youth

    In this workshop we’ll use poetry to explore our identities and experiences. Reading contemporary queer and trans authors for inspiration, we’ll write, share, and perform our own poetry pieces.

  • Drag Workshop

    Facilitator: Jacob Kelley
    Track: Parents, Youth, Educators

    This workshop will offer an introduction to the concept and culture of drag. Topics covered will include: a brief overview of the evolution of drag culture, an exploration of various drag styles and their influence, lessons from drag on self-expression and creativity, and using drag as a tool for social change and leadership development.