For Further Event Information:
215-732-3378 or
www.equalityforum.com
info@equalityforum.com

For Further Press Information:
Fleischman Gerber & Associates
Deborah Fleischman
215-735-7356

GLBT YOUTH IS FOCUS OF EQUALITY FORUM PROGRAMMING

Equality Forum presents Equality Forum Youth with ten programs during its concluding weekend. Equality Forum, formerly PrideFest America, presents the world's most comprehensive programs about the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) on April 28-May 4 in Philadelphia. Equality Forum features 76 programs and social events by 95 regional, national and international GLBT organizations.

"Ten years ago, to be young and gay was deemed tragic. Five years ago, to be young and gay was considered unfortunate. Today, to be young and gay, one can feel exuberant," said Equality Forum's Executive Director Malcolm Lazin. "Our programming for GLBT youth reflects the resilience of youth and the wonderful diversity of young teens who openly identify themselves as gay."

The week kicks off with the opening of Exuberance!, a collaboration with The University of the Arts. Exuberance! features more than 300 images culled from over 8,000 photographs by Mike Glatze and Benjie Nycum from Young Gay America and professional photographer Rachelle Lee Smith. Exuberance! captures the uniqueness, vitality and pride of GLBT youth across North America.

The weekend is jam-packed with activities for youth, starting with the world premiere of the documentary film JIM IN BOLD by award-winning filmmaker Glenn Holsten, created in collaboration with Young Gay America, PBS and MTV. The film will premiere on Friday May 2 at 9:00 PM at The Kimmel Center. Titled after a poem by Jim Wheeler, the young man in whose memory the annual National Youth Panel is named, JIM IN BOLD explores the profound impact of homophobia on GLBT youth. Wheeler was a gay teen and gifted poet whose suicide was driven by homophobia.

JIM IN BOLD's world premiere precedes the National Role Model Award, presented at 10:00 PM to Mike Glatze and Benjie Nycum, co-founders of Young Gay America (YGA). Through their website, www.younggayamerica.com, and over 75,000 km of road trips, YGA has connected GLBT
youth worldwide with powerful, life-affirming messages. Their JIM IN BOLD National Youth Tour produced more than 67 hours of footage of GLBT youth included in JIM IN BOLD, and hundreds of their photographs were selected to be part of Equality Forum's Exuberance! exhibit. The National Role Model Award ceremony includes tributes by Broadway actors from The Laramie Project, musical salutes by American Idol 2002 finalist Jim Verraros and Munich's Gay Schwuhplattler.

The fun for youth continues at the Exuberance! Youth VIP Party which begins at 10:30 PM at The University of the Arts. Amid the Exuberance! photographs, GLBT youth can meet photographers Rachelle Lee Smith, Mike Glatze and Benjie Nycum. They will have an opportunity to be photographed by Young Gay America and have their story recorded for submission on www.younggayamerica.com.

Saturday brings the Jim Wheeler National Youth Panel, a forum exploring current issues among GLBT youth. Moderated by Benjie Nycum of Young Gay America, panelists include Elizabeth Wheeler, the sister of Jim Wheeler; American Idol 2002 finalist Jim Verraros; Young Gay America organizer Scott MacPhee; Derek Henkle, who successfully sued his school district for failure to protect him against harassment; and Simon Wist, a 17-year-old apprentice at Cologne's leading gay travel agency.

Regional and national organizations will host Saturday programs such as Creating Effective Youth/Adult Partnerships presented by the National Youth Advocacy Coalition; Making Schools Safe for Youth and Tell Me the (Whole) Truth: School Supplies to Get Real Sex Education presented by Lambda Legal Defense & Education Fund; GLBTQ Families, presented by Mountain Meadow; and Monsters Under the Bed: New Millennium Safer Sex Technique, presented by Life-Zone.

Equality Forum will host a special Youth Party on Saturday evening beginning at 10:00 PM at Chrome. Expressly for the 16 to 21 year old crowd, this event will feature The Advocate coverboy Matt Beierschmitt of MTV's True Life: I'm Coming Out, American Idol's Jim Verraros and photographer Rachelle Lee Smith with DJs Chris Costanzo and John E.

Since its founding in 1993, Equality Forum has become the world's largest annual gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) symposium and festival. It has expanded from a three-day conference of 15 regional organizations to a full week of events featuring international, national and regional leaders on a broad range of compelling issues. With 76 programs and social events presented by 95 regional, national and international non-profit organizations, Equality Forum is the most in-depth program of the emergence of a vibrant international GLBT community and its civil rights aspirations.

For further information, call 215-732-3378 or visit the website at www.equalityforum.com.

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