Speakers Panel
Some Pride Youth Program participants help to educate their peers by serving as panelists for discussions within local high schools. Pride speakers share their coming out stories and their experiences as LGBT students, and then answer questions from the audience. The most common questions asked include:
- When did you first know you were gay?
- Did you lose any friends when you came out?
- How did your parents react?
- What do you think of the media portrayals of the gay community?
- How do you meet people to date?
- Do you struggle with your religion and sexuality?
- Do you want to get married?
- What is your reaction to the phrase, "That's so gay?"
- Do you want to have children?
- How can a straight friend be supportive?
These panel discussions can help to reduce homophobia and strengthen the idea that gay teens have more commonalities than differences with their heterosexual peers. For more information about the Pride Speakers Panel, contact Erschel De Leon.
