PSEC Winter Convening 2012

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Jason Landau Goodman
jgoodman@payouthcongress.org

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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PSEC Affiliate Organizations
Arcadia University – PRIDE
Art Institute of Pittsburgh – Pride Club
Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania – GSA
Bucknell University – FLAG&BT
Dickinson College – Spectrum
Edinboro University of Pennsylvania – Identity*
Gettysburg College – Allies*
Haverford College – SAGA
Indiana University of Pennsylvania – Pride Alliance
Keystone College – OPEN
Kutztown University of Pennsylvania – Allies
Lebanon Valley College – Freedom Rings*
Millersville University of Pennsylvania – GSA
Penn State University Behrend (Erie) – Trigon
Penn State University Harrisburg – Capital Alliance
Penn State University Park – Rainbow Roundtable
Scranton Local #1 – GSA
Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania – SALE*
Swarthmore College – SQU
Temple University – Queer Student Union*
The University of Pennsylvania – Lambda Alliance
Ursinus College – GSA
Villanova Local #2 – GSA
West Chester University of Pennsylvania – LGBTQA
Wilkes University – GSA
Williamsport Local #3 – GSA*
*PSEC Associate Organization

Additional Organizations Present for the PSEC Winter Convening 2012
The Attic Youth Center (Philadelphia)
Harrisburg Area Community College – Lancaster GSA
Juniata College – PLEXUS
Penn State University – Brandywine – GSA
The University of Pittsburgh – Rainbow Alliance