LGBT safe zone: GLSEN conference comes to English High

The Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) of Boston brings its 18th annual conference to the English High School in Jamaica Plain March 29. While past GLSEN conferences have featured keynote speakers from around the country (recent keynotes include Madison activist Sol Kelley-Jones and Rent star Anthony Rapp), this time around organizers looked closer to home, picking Gunner Scott, executive director of the Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition (MTPC). Scott is a leading activist in the effort to pass the statewide transgender rights bill, House Bill 1722. Morgan Darby, one of the coordinators of this year's conference, said she hopes Scott will inspire the youth to make change in their own communities. The conference draws students, faculty and administrators from schools around the state to learn ways to improve the climate in their schools for LGBT people.

"This [year's theme is] embracing your voice as a force for change, and we wanted to speak to the idea that students as well as parents and schools can get involved in terms of their activism and leadership and civics. ... We wanted someone who's connected to what's happening in the state, someone familiar with community leaders, someone that's also personable as well, and we think Gunner is that type of person who knows how to speak to, share ideas with, and also be a clear, visible role model for what you can do and how to get involved," said Darby.

That local focus extends to the opening entertainment. While most GLSEN conferences start with a speech, Darby said this year organizers wanted a high-energy performance to get attendees fired up about the day's activities. The conference will kick off with a performance by two locals, slam poet Kit Yan and folkie Melissa Li, who are beginning a cross country tour under the stage name Good Asian Drivers.

"The morning piece is going to be our jumpstart. ... We're going to talk about embracing your voice as a force for change; this is what it can look like," said Darby.

Last year's conference drew about 3000 attendees, but organizers have worked harder this year to spread the word about the conference, said Darby, and they're expecting between 4000-5000 attendees to turn out.

The conference will also feature two film screenings. Greater Boston Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) will be screening the documentary Anyone and Everyone, which shows the experience of a diverse collection of families of different religions and cultures responding when one of their children comes out. Keshet, the LGBT Jewish advocacy group, will be showing Hineini, a documentary about coming out in a Jewish high school.

Other new workshops this year will give broader coverage to transgender issues, racism, and gender issues.

And youth inspired by the various performances and films will get the chance to flex their own performance muscles. Youth and staff from the Providence, R.I.-based Youth Pride, Inc., will be leading a handful of workshops at the conference, including one called "Blow it up" that will teach youth how to express themselves on stage through theater and performance.

"Folks are basically going to able to practice using their voice and creating change," said Darby.

The GLSEN Boston conference takes place March 29 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at English High School in Jamaica Plain, 144 McBride Street. For more information or to register visit www.glsen.org/boston or call 617.536.9669. Registration will also be available on site.