Description
LIVE OUT LOUD connects LGBT youth to out, professional role models who provide positive examples, share information and experience about successful LGBT persons, and what pathways helped to live an enriched and productive life. Its mission: "To empower, energize and enable Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Youth to live the life of their dreams through the celebration of the richness and diversity of our shared experience, the visibility of role models and the dissemination of information." Since 2001, LIVE OUT LOUD programs, all free of charge, have reached more than 6,000 New York City students through panel discussions, speaker bureaus and a workshop series, which features LGBT men and women in the New York area whom are excelling in their lives and careers, and want to volunteer to share their stories with LGBT youth. Programs usually are held in the afternoon when the school day has concluded or as part of an after-school program. In addition, our programs have been held at area universities with sponsorship of campus clubs, organizations and/or departmental forums as well as high school general assemblies, where attendance can exceed more than 200 students. Programming In keeping with its mission, LIVE OUT LOUD has four (4) strategic areas in which it focuses: After school panel discussions; a speaker bureau; PSA Workshops; and scholarships. 1. An after school panel discussion series about men and women in the New York gay community who are excelling in their lives and careers and who volunteer to share their stories with LGBT youth. 2. Speaker Bureau program where individual speakers address school assemblies of 100 to 200 students with regards to their personal journey's including coming out to themselves, their families, friends, coworkers as well as their career path. 3. PSA (Public Service Announcement) Workshop - a 3 hour workshop where students develop youth-produced media projects relevant to LGBT youth & their issues, develop and nurture sustained relationships between youth & out LGBT role models & provide youth opportunities to contribute to the community. 4. $2,500 individual university scholarships to area high school seniors who demonstrate a strong capacity to 'Live Out Loud' themselves, who are making strides in the LGBT community, both on and off campus, and are active in their school's GSA, if possible. LIVE OUT LOUD cooperates extensively with peer organizations addressing LGBT youth issues in order to complement, rather than duplicate, efforts in the New York metropolitan area to address these challenges. Examples of partner organizations are: SAFE SPACE, Washington Irving High School, Stuyvesant High School and the GLOBE YOUTH Center in Brooklyn. From the beginning, LIVE OUT LOUD has served to motivate accomplished and successful adults in New York's thriving and multi-faceted professional LGBT community to volunteer their time and serve as LIVE OUT LOUD Speakers in area schools, sit as a panelists on a variety of issues facing the youth community, and to serve as volunteers, spokespersons and presenters at LIVE OUT LOUD's annual spring scholarship gala. The high visibility of the volunteers has served a dual purpose consistent with the organization's mission: to inspire LGBT youth with the life stories of successful LGBT professionals; and to motivate youth to pursue their aspirations openly by connecting them to powerful and uplifting professional role models. Past entertainers and/or media persons who have volunteered time with LIVE OUT LOUD include: Tony award-winning actress Cherry Jones, Staceyann Chin, Paul Rudnick, Marc Shaiman, Dan Renzi (MTV Real World Miami), Anthony Rapp, Lea Delaria, John Cameron Mitchell and David Drake. Volunteer authors and journalists include: Eric Marcus, author of "Making Gay History"; Ann Northrop, host, "Gay USA Television"; Marcus Mabry, editor, Newsweek; Rose Arce, producer, CNN; Jonathan Capehart, Deputy Editorial Page Editor, NY Daily News; Mariana Romo-Carmona, author, "Living at Night"; and Hal Rubenstein, Fashion Director, IN STYLE Magazine. Prominent LGBT activists featured in our programs include: Cathy Renna, News Media Director, GLAAD; Matt Foreman, Executive Director, The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force; Pauline Parks, co-chair, NY Association for Gender Rights Advocacy. These high-profile individuals have helped LIVE OUT LOUD quickly become one of the most visible new LGBT programs in New York City. The company has gained media exposure and partnerships with news entities such Gay City News, the Advocate, Gay USA, Metrosource Magazine, Cargo Magazine, MTV, HBO, Showtime, New York Blade, NEW YORK 1, and others.
