Workshop Details for the Virtual LGBTQ Youth Convening 2021

May 15: Mental Health and Support

Title Description Audience Presenter(s) Organization
Supporting Victims of Sexual Assault This workshop will explore the resources and support available to victims/survivors of sexual violence through Waymakers — Orange County’s only rape crisis center. We will also discuss how Waymakers’ sexual assault advocates help in navigating those barriers specific to the LGBTQ+ community. Lastly, we will discuss how friends & family can help support a loved one who has experienced sexual violence. Youth/Students, Parents/Families, Teachers, Administrators, General Community Nicole Zárate (she/her) Waymakers OC
Families of Color: Accepting our LGBTQ+ Loved Ones In this workshop we will discuss the journeys, challenges and victories that various parents/family members have had when it comes to embracing, loving, and learning from their family members who identify as LGBTQ+. Each family is different, and each family has ties to a culture/upbringing that unfortunately, most of the time is not going to be accepting of an individual who identifies as LGBTQ+. We will discuss topics such as: What was the biggest lesson you learned when your loved one came out as LGBTQ+? What advice would you give to other individuals that are going through a similar situation? What tools and resources did you find most helpful? What barriers or misconceptions prevented them from loving and embracing their loved ones? In addition, we will also discuss how folx can create stronger connections within their families and the LGBTQ+ community they are a part of. Youth/Students, Parents/Families, General Community Jonatan Gutierrez (he/him) Family Panel with La Familia
Gender Transition Preparedness Transgender is a broad umbrella term for people whose gender identity, expression, or behavior is different from those typically associated with their assigned sex at birth. Gender transition is a very personal process, and there is no one way to be transgender. This workshop provides information about navigating gender transition, steps to take when coming out, and general knowledge to help the transgender youth and parents to understand this process. Youth/Students, Parents/Families, Teachers, Administrators, General Community Jorge Juarez-Lopez Radiant Health Centers
Intersectionality x Mental Health The workshop will be structured as a conversation on how to reach help from professionals in relation to how identities impact the social well being and mental health of those who identify as LGBTQIA+. The workshop will also aim to present the different identities that contribute to one’s identity as a whole and its ties to mental health.

Professor Alvarez has shared an activity we find may help the participants understand the importance of intersectionality in our everyday lives. She also sees this workshop will be more impactful as a conversation to allow youth to facilitate their conversations and present their experiences in exploring their identities and the effects they found it reflected on their mental health.

Youth/Students, General Community, LGBT youth, young adults, and allies Dr. Nadia Alvarez (she/her) & Leslie Quezada (they/she) CSU Fullerton’s Psychology Department
Building Communication with Your LGBTQ Teen Talking to any teen can be difficult: learning how to communicate with your LGBTQ teens and understanding their world presents an entirely new set of challenges. In this highly interactive workshop, explore how the influences of a hetero-centric communication style can effect your conversations with your teen, learn tools to bridge the gap, and build awareness of the needs of your LGBTQ teen. Parents/Families, Teachers, Administrators John Sovec (he/him) Gender Odyssey
Building Self-Worth as Queer Asian Americans Join us to discuss the intersections of being queer and Asian Americans, as well as mental health issues that are common at these intersections and how they appear. We will also workshop how we can build up our self-worth to cultivate resiliency and encourage pride in both our queerness and Asianness. Youth/Students, Parents/Families, Teachers, Administrators, General Community Nikki Oei (she/her) Orange County Asian Pacific Islander Community Alliance

May 22: Education

Title Description Audience Presenter(s) Organization
Flavored Tobacco’s Impact on LGBTQ+ Youth Big tobacco has been targeting minorities and underserved communities for decades through developing enticing flavors, strategic advertisements, and attending and sponsoring events. We debunk vape myths such as how unsafe they actually are and how much nicotine they actually contain. We also break down how the tobacco industry has been explicitly targeting the LGBTQ+ community, especially LGBTQ+ youth, and how flavored products have negatively impacted them. Youth/Students, Parents/Families, Teachers Atticus O’Daniel (theythem) LGBTQ Center OC – Flavored Tobacco
Trans 101/102 In this presentation we will discuss terminology used within and about the transgender community. You will come away with the tools needed to learn how to use gender neutral pronouns, how to make spaces more inclusive, and how to be an ally to transgender & intersex young people. Youth/Students, Parents/Families, Teachers, Administrators, General Community Brit Cervantes (they/them) UCI Diversity Clinic
From Condoms to Consent: Sex Education and Resource for All This presentation aims to inform youth on the resources available to help them protect their health and bodies. We will focus on tools for preventing STI transmission and pregnancy as well as how to navigate consent conversations. This by youth for youth presentation hopes to create a safe space for young people to access sex education topics in a way that feels inclusive and accessible. The Peer Educators hope to break down barriers to talking about sexual health so that attendees can feel comfortable and confident. We hope that everyone will leave with new information and resources that they can use in their day to day life. Youth/Students, General Community, This presentation is intended for students and young people, but others are welcome to join. Courtney Bramstedt (she/her) and Youth Leaders Planned Parenthood of Orange and San Bernardino Counties
Queering Banking Basics An overview of banking topics including Savings, Credit and budgeting. This is an open dialogue, so the presentation is geared to go where the conversation leads. We can go as in depth on any of the categories presented as the participants want. Youth/Students, Parents/Families, General Community John Olson (he/him) US Bank
Restorative Justice 101 In this workshop we will explore the why and the what of Restorative Justice with an emphasis on Restorative Justice in Education. We will define restorative justice, explore a restorative practitioner mindset, and review different techniques used to build relationships and respond to conflict and harm in those relationships. Youth/Students, Parents/Families, Teachers, Administrators, General Community Marco Ortega (he/him) OC Human Relations
Archives and Art: Documenting the Self through Zines In this workshop participants will learn how to make a zine. We will explore how zines and art can serve as ways to celebrate the self, document experiences, and voice your perspective on the world around you. As a group we will brainstorm topics/themes for our zines, and then spend the rest of our time together immersed in creating our individual works of art. Participants are encouraged to bring a pencil, paper, and scissors to the workshop. Feel free to use other arts supplies you have on hand like colored pencils, crayons, picture and/or word printouts and glue. Youth/Students, Parents/Families, Teachers, Administrators, General Community Krystal Tibbet (she/her) UC Irvine’s Special Archives Collections
Positive Embodiment In this workshop participants will receive an overview of the pillars of sex positivity. Body positivity will set the foundation for group discussion about the development of body positivity and its impacts on teen’s social, mental, and physical development. Participants will leave will tools to develop and maintain sex and body positivity. Youth/Students, Parents/Families, Teachers, Administrators, General Community Shanae Adams (she/they) The Effing Foundation
Charting Out Success: How to Use Google Sheets to Help GSA/Youth Organizers Tips and tricks on Excel and Google Sheets to use in your everyday life as an empowered youth. Come learn how to leverage spreadsheets for your personal and professional needs! From budgets to schedules to trackers–we will provide an interactive learning experience that equips you with skills and confidence to create any project-based spreadsheet your future self will ever need. This workshop is beginner-friendly, we will be doing a quick tutorial and then providing you with the opportunity to replicate the process yourself. Youth/Students, General Community Melissa Dominguez & Ali Chen LGBTQ Center OC/PwC

May 29: Advocacy and Empowerment

Title Description Audience Presenter(s) Organization
Accessible Advocacy Joey is a partially blind woman and a proud member of Youth Empowered to Act. She advocates for Disability pride and accessibility. Joey graduates from California State University, Fullerton in May with a Bachelor’s in American Studies and a Bachelor’s in Communication with an emphasis in Public Relations. Youth/Students, General Community Joey Hernandez (she/her) Youth Empowered to Act
Exposing Big Tobacco: An LGBTQ+ Health Justice Issue In this workshop we will unpack the relationship between Tobacco use and the LGBTQ+ Community. We will also learn how Big Tobacco companies target and prey on marginalized populations, such as the LGBQ+ community, to get us addicted and profit off of us. We deserve resources and support, not addictions and disease. Join us to learn more about local resources to support folx in quitting and shifting their relationship to Tobacco, and how young people can get involved in local tobacco prevention advocacy. Youth/Students, Parents/Families, Teachers, Administrators, General Community Atticus O’Daniel (they/them) LGBTQ Center OC
Intersectionality, Identity & Expression Understandings of sexual and gender identity have expanded beyond traditional binaries, yet we know little about adolescents’ appropriation of identity labels across diverse communities. In a mixed-methods study of adolescents recruited from lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) spaces in California communities differing in support of sexual and gender diversity, seven patterns emerged: (a) frequent use of nonbinary gender identity labels (23.9% of survey sample), especially in high-support communities; (b) greater comfort among adolescents assigned female at birth (AFAB) with diverse gender expression, which informants attributed to pressures to conform to compulsive masculinity for boys; (c) frequent use of plurisexual (60.8%) and asexual (9.9%) labels, especially among those AFAB, and discussion of online settings as a resource; (d) intersectional patterning of “queer” to describe sexual identity (12.4% of survey sample), with White youth in high-support communities signifying an intellectual/political stance and non-White youth in low-support communities using queer as an umbrella term; (e) resistance to labeling and ambivalence about labels due to intra-community dynamics; (f) labeling challenges among boys of color; and (g) challenges with stigma, sexualization, and violence for transgender and nonbinary youth. Findings highlight how contemporary adolescents engage with and challenge received conceptions of gender and sexuality and how this process is shaped by intersectional identities. Youth/Students, Parents/Families, Teachers, Administrators, General Community Elisabeth Sheff (she/her) The Center for Positive Sexuality
Torrell Foree CSU Fullerton African-American Resource Center
Know Your Rights: LGBTQ Student Rights in CA Public Schools This workshop will provide an overview of LGBTQ student rights in California public schools and when and how young people can assert them. Topics may include names and pronouns, school records, dress codes, outing/privacy rights, accessing bathrooms and locker rooms, LGBTQ inclusive history and sex ed, confidential medical care while at school, and much more! Youth/Students, Parents/Families, Teachers, Administrators, General Community Ariana Rodriguez ACLU of Southern California
Music Empowerment Melissa will share their experience as an out queer creative entrepreneur and educator over the last thirty years. There will be a Q&A session. Youth/Students, Parents/Families, Teachers, Administrators, General Community Melissa Ferrick N/A
“Queer-ers”: A LGBTQ+ Professional Panel Interested in gaining insight on different professional environments through the lens of LBTQ+ allies and individuals? Come join queer and allied panelists and our facilitators as they navigate through today’s workplace climates. Through this workshop, you will learn about a variety of different careers as well as understand how these panelists make “pride at work” through their advocacy for culture change in their community and workplace. Ultimately, we hope that you will leave this experience feeling empowered by these stories and informed by different perspectives across various fields!

Featuring: Chi Sum Ngai and Kaleena (Coffee Project NY), Kebone Moloko (Queer Women in Business + Allies), Adrianne Marshack (Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP), Rachelle Markham (Wellness Lactation), Morgan Woosley (UCLA, Gender Studies), and John Olson (US Bank)

Youth/Students, Parents/Families, Teachers, Administrators, General Community Dan Pham, Vivian Pham, & Zoë Haigler Youth Empowered to Act
Advocacy through Community and Education In this presentation, we will discuss how Equality California creates opportunities for advocacy. Then, we will explore how everyone can create their own opportunities for advocacy in whatever capacity they can in their local community. Youth/Students, General Community Wendy Anguiano Equality California