© 2024 Central Florida Public Media. All Rights Reserved.
90.7 FM Orlando • 89.5 FM Ocala
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Orlando Summit Seeks to Empower LGBTQ Youth to Live Authentically in Personal, Professional Lives

Transgender children might lose access to gender confirmation surgery and hormones. Photo: Flickr Creative Commons
Transgender children might lose access to gender confirmation surgery and hormones. Photo: Flickr Creative Commons

More than 200 LGBTQ youth and their parents are expected to attend the Orlando Youth Empowerment Summit this weekend in Orlando.

Local leaders and LGBTQ groups will offer workshops to LGBTQ youth on topics from becoming more politically active and getting their first job to the basics of putting on makeup.

Zebra Coalition's Robin Daily says along with these resources, the conference will highlight people in the community who can provide mentorship.

"To be able to be in that space and see people that are already working in these fields being their authentic selves and living their lives is very empowering for the youth."

Daily says it’s the first time since the conference started in 2014 that there will also be a full-day training for parents.

"For anyone who has a child in their life that simply doesn’t fit into society’s notions about gender. Whether they’re transgender, non-binary or just gender expansive or if it’s just someone in the community either a parent or caregiver that wants to learn more, understand more about gender."

Along with these sessions there will be a live lip sync battle, musical and drag performances, and confidential HIV and STI testing by Hope & Help.
If you'd like to listen to the story, please click on the clip.

Danielle Prieur covers education in Central Florida.