Espanola High School hosts Free 2B Me Conference on April 11th

The Espanola High School Gay Straight Alliance will host a conference for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered, queer, two-spirited and straight students on Wednesday, April 11, 2012. The conference, which will take place from 9:20 am to 2:50 pm, will coincide with DayofPink, the International Day against Bullying, Discrimination, Homophobia and Transphobia in schools and communities.

“We want all students to feel safe, secure, welcomed and valued in our schools,” said Superintendent Lesleigh Dye. “Espanola High School is to be commended for presenting the Free 2B Me Conference with a focus on awareness, activism, entertainment and creativity.”

She added: “We are pleased that they have opened their doors and invited students from across Rainbow Schools to participate in a day of dialogue and discussion in a spirit of friendship and fun. The conference is part of our ongoing efforts to promote equity and diversity.”

Students will participate in a variety of workshops. Closing events will include a group discussion and debriefing as well as short drama presentations and a short documentary film, both created the day of the event.

Workshops:

The Two Spirited Path: First Nations and the Third Gender 

Though the term “two-spirited” is a new construction, first peoples traditionally respected and revered those who were both feminine and masculine.  This workshop discusses the tradition and the contemporary role for two-spirited people in the community.

Rainbow 101: What Does It Mean To Be Gay?

With all the terms and acronyms out there to label people, what does it truly mean to be homosexual?

The Activist’s Toolkit

This workshop is a show-and-tell of the huge collection of online resources available to demand change in our communities.

Queer History

This workshop will focus on political action and the queer community.

Rainbow Cinema

Documentaries and short films by and about LGBTQ will be presented. This workshop includes a roundtable discussion.

Get Dramatic!

In this hands-on workshop, participants create their own short dramatic piece to share with the conference participants in the closing ceremonies. This workshop will involve the Espanola High School Improv Team.

Tie Shirts/Shirt Designs and Hanky Project

In this hands-on workshop, participants will design and create their own protest fashion.

Documentaries: Telling the Story

In this hands-on workshop, participants will work together to make their own short documentary film.

Free 2B Me is being supported by Jer’s Vision, the Royal Bank of Canada, Espanola High School, Spartan Youth Radio and Rainbow District School Board.

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Media Contact:

Nicole Charette, Senior Advisor,

Corporate Communications and Strategic Planning,

Rainbow District School Board, 705-674-3171, ext. 7217.