PRESS RELEASE: GLSEN Maryland Announces Get Active 2022 Youth Summit
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEApril 11, 2022. Media Contact: Greg Brightbill,
GLSEN Maryland, chapter@md.glsen.org 301-471-1037
GLSEN MARYLAND ANNOUNCES GET ACTIVE 2022 YOUTH SUMMIT
Flier
BALTIMORE, MD - GLSEN Maryland and Unmatched Athlete with the support of Under Armour, are thrilled to announce "Get Active", the 2022 Annual GLSEN Maryland Youth Summit. The free event for high school youth will be held on Saturday, May 28th from 10am to 4pm, at UA House at Fayette (1100 E Fayette St, Baltimore, MD 21202). LGBTQ+ youth and allies of high school age are invited to sign up at https://bit.ly/glsenmd22
This year's theme is "Get Active." This event is an opportunity for LGBTQ youth and allies to connect with young leaders across the state of Maryland, with each other, and with local community leaders to network, build relationships, share knowledge, and develop plans for creating change in local communities. This event features keynote speakers and educational workshops.
The Youth Summit is student-focused, leadership and education for LGBTQ2A youth and allies with networking opportunities, sports and fitness. GLSEN Maryland is thrilled to work with Unmatched Athlete and Under Armour's Unified Leadership Team.
About GLSEN
GLSEN Maryland is a chapter of GLSEN, a national organization fighting for every student’s right to a safe, supportive education. GLSEN Maryland is a grassroots initiative, working locally in our community to ensure safe schools for all students, regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity. There are 43 Chapters around the country doing this important work.
Our chapter supports students and educators locally, organizes around LGBTQ-affirming public policy, plans teacher trainings, and hosts events for students, educators, parents, and allies. Chapters like ours play an important role in bringing GLSEN’s programs and visions to right where we live, work, and learn. While some chapters have full-time or part-time staff, most are entirely volunteer-based. We're always looking for new volunteers to help us ensure safe schools for all students.
About Unmatched Athlete
Founded in July 2020, Unmatched Athlete’s mission is to encourage LGBTQ+ youth and allies ages 5-18 to participate in sports and fitness. Unmatched's biweekly pickup games are held at fields and gyms across the Baltimore-DC corridor, and serve as a dedicated weekend space for youth to play sports and have fun, without mental or physical hindrances. Unmatched’s sports and fitness activities include seven sports; i.e. Basketball, Climbing, Soccer, Flag Football, Track, Volleyball, Ultimate Frisbee; and dance as a fitness activity.
Olanrele Oni, President of Unmatched Athlete writes "Creating a space for LGBTQ+ youth and student athletes to compete and enjoy all the benefits sports has to offer is imperative. For too long, queer people have felt either misrepresented or discouraged to participate freely in sports, and as a result, have developed negative feelings regarding their experiences. We are eager about the prospect of changing that narrative by creating an environment where LGBTQ+ youth can feel comfortable and encouraged to engage in sports and fitness."
Unmatched Athlete invites schools to activate the framework policies and practices offered in “Changing the Game: The GLSEN Sports Project” toolkit, including the national chapter's "On the Team" 2010 report on equal opportunity for transgender athletes. Unmatched Athlete and GLSEN are excited to activate what may be in written policy at-large, but is not yet visible in practice.
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