EQUALITY FORUM 2004 EXPLORES ISSUES FACING GLBTQ YOUTH

7th Annual Jim Wheeler International Youth Panel

Equality Forum 2004 examines current issues facing Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning (GLBTQ) youth during its annual forum April 26 to May 2 in Philadelphia. The 7th Annual Jim Wheeler International Youth Panel will be held on Saturday, May 1 at 1 p.m. at the Prince Music Theater, 1412 Chestnut Street. Moderated by Benjie Nycum, co-founder of Young Gay America, the panel includes high school youth activists Ashley Olsen (WI), Lauren McCray (DE), Shawn Burke (NJ) and Ryan MacCarrigan, a freshman at Columbia University.

The youth panel was named in memory of Jim Wheeler, a talented young artist and poet who took his life in 1997 after experiencing horrific homophobia. In 2003 Equality Forum produced the documentary JIM IN BOLD, directed by PBS award-winning filmmaker Glenn Holsten. The film weaves Jim's story with footage from a Young Gay America road trip and includes interviews with gay youth from across the country.

Susan Wheeler, Jim's mother, will attend the panel, which is open to the public free of charge.
Also of interest to GLBTQ youth are two regional programs on Saturday, May 1 at Temple University Center City, 1515 Market Street. HAVEN, Lehigh Valley's largest GLBTQ youth organization, presents a workshop titled "Coming Out Young" at noon which explores the issues that GLBTQ youth face during their personal and public coming-out process. The Mazzoni Center, an organization located in Philadelphia which identifies, advocates and supports the well-being and physical and mental health needs of sexual minorities, presents a workshop titled "That's So Gay!" at 1:30 p.m. which is geared towards educators and youth peers on addressing and responding to anti-gay language and harassment.

Both workshops are open to the public, free of charge.

The Attic Youth Center sponsors the Upstairs/Downstairs youth party on Saturday, May 1 at 8 p.m. at the William Way Community Center, 1315 Spruce Street. Geared towards 15- to 23-year-olds, the party features music, live performances, poetry slam and other festivities. Admission is $5.

Equality Forum 2004 is April 26 to May 2 in Philadelphia. For more information call
215-732-3378 or visit www.equalityforum.com.

Equality Forum is the largest regional, national and international Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender (GLBT) civil rights forum, working to create understanding about homophobia and its multifaceted impact on individuals, families and society. Each year, in addition to promoting and discussing GLBT organizations and issues, Equality Forum highlights a Featured Nation and explores that country's GLBT culture, social issues and advancements in civil rights. Equality Forum embraces a number of projects throughout the year, including the production of the documentary films Gay Pioneers and JIM IN BOLD.

Equality Forum is a nonprofit and 501(c)(3) organization headquartered in Philadelphia, the site of some of the earliest gay civil rights protests.

Saturday, May 1
7th Annual Jim Wheeler International Youth Panel
3 to 4:15 p.m.
Prince Music Theatre, 1412 Chestnut Street
Open to the public free of charge.

"Coming Out Young"
Noon to 1:15 p.m.
Temple University Center City, 1515 Market Street, 3rd floor, Room 314
Open to the public free of charge.

"That's So Gay!"
1:30 to 2:45 p.m.
Temple University Center City, 1515 Market Street, 3rd floor, Room 314
Open to the public free of charge.

Upstairs/Downstairs Youth Party (Sponsored by the Attic Youth Center)
8 p.m. to 1 a.m.
William Way Community Center, 1315 Spruce Street
Admission: $5