The Inside Scoop
July 2019
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Thank you for reading Youth Pride, Inc.'s July edition of
The Inside Scoop!
Within you will read about our upcoming Gala, Trans and Gender-Diverse Mentoring program set to kick off in October, and the Benefit Night Flatbread Company is hosting for us next month!
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Eat for a cause, and have your dinner give back to YPI! Join us for a benefit night at The Flatbread Company located at 161 Cushing St. in Providence; off of Thayer St. Every small flatbread pizza sold on Tuesday, August 20th between 5-9pm will raise $1.75 for YPI; every large flatbread will generate $3.50!
YPI staff and board members will be present to chat with folks and provide information on our organization, programs and services. A pizza-inspired banner created by our staff and youth, with different identity flag pins multi-purposed as toppings, will also be on display in the restaurant now until our benefit night. So make sure to check it out!
We would also like to extend a huge thank you to Amy Manchester, manager of Flatbread Company in Providence, for inviting us to participate in this wonderful and generous event!
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YPI Gala Registration Opening Soon
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Registration for YPI's 25th Anniversary Gala is almost here! Happening October 10th at Skyline at Waterplace in Providence, our guests will enjoy live music, cash bar, three course plated meal, awards, valet parking, and beautiful views of Providence and the Woonasquatucket River Basin. We look forward to celebrating with our friends and allies!
Links to registration will be posted on our website, social media platforms, and listserv in the coming weeks. Sponsorships and other packages will be available for purchase. All proceeds will go directly to YPI's programs and services for our youth.
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Trans and Gender-Diverse Mentoring Programing
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We are so excited to partner with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Rhode Island
to launch a mentoring program for Transgender and Gender-Diverse youth! Several years ago YPI began plans for a mentoring program and received an overwhelming amount of volunteers interested in being Mentors and Mentees. Unfortunately, due to a lack of staff and other mitigating factors the project was placed on hold and never seen through to fruition. Being able to provide mentoring to our youth in partnership with BBBS will allow the program to reach its fullest potential and provide the support needed by so many LGBTQ young folks.
We're still looking for "Littles" and "Bigs".
To sign up, check out
BIGSRI.org
or contact their Program Coordinators at 401.921.2434 ex. 101.
The program is set to kick off in October with interviews, selection, and pairing happening in September. BBBS is taking the reins on this program, so all questions should be directed to them.
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OUTspoken is YPI's Leadership Program designed to give youth the opportunity to develop their personal storytelling ability by learning about their different identities and how they can impact their community with that knowledge. This group of peers will explore gender, the environment, sexuality and the intersections of our many other identities.
The summer session will run from 07/27/19-08/20/19, 1-3:30pm in our space at 743 Westminster St. Providence, RI 02903. The program is FREE for folks ages 13-24, and includes snacks, lunches, and transportation RIPTIX to get here and home.
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Monthly Spotlight
Gregory Tumolo and Bryan Manni
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Youth Pride, Inc.'s Basic Needs Pantry has never been better. Over the past several weeks we have received a steady flow of donations ranging from food, to school supplies, to fuzzy flip-flops! YPI would like to thank Gregory Tumolo and his husband, Bryan Manni for these donations and everything they have done to encourage others to donate.
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Several weeks ago Gregory visited YPI and took a tour as part of his application process to serve on the YPI Board of Directors. The tour of the space includes a stop in our Basic Needs Pantry which provides food, clothing, school supplies, and toiletries to our youth on a weekly basis. Gregory felt the the pantry needed some restocking and upon his arrival home after the tour, he mentioned to his husband, Bryan, he wanted to purchase food and clothes for the pantry.
Bryan works in the Currency Management department in Citizens Bank's Operations Center in East Providence. The day after Gregory's tour, Bryan told his colleagues about the visit to YPI and the couple's intention to purchase items for the pantry. Within a very short period of time, word spread through management and Bryan was soon organizing an approved food and clothing drive for the Operations Center on behalf of YPI's pantry!
Since the drive began, YPI has received two full car loads of donations. Gregory predicts at least another two car loads in the weeks ahead. Our pantry has never looked more stocked and inviting, and it is thanks to Gregory, Bryan, Linda Manni, Alysha Brock, and all the other wonderful Citizen's employees who donated and were part of this endeavor. Thank you all so much for giving back to our youth!
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RI Parentage Law Not Passed - Requires Further Study
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Rhode Island is one of the last states to adopt legislature that outlines/protects parentage for same-sex families or families using assisted reproductive technology such as in vitro fertilization (IVF). As previously covered in the March 2019 edition of
The Inside Scoop,
Rhode Island has proposed Rhode Island Parentage Bills H5706 and H5707 which aim to update the original legislature from the 1970's to clearly identify
how parents who have children using IVF or surrogacy can establish parentage.
Currently,
same sex couples can a
dopt a child conceived through assisted reproduction, but they would "need to go through a home study, put a notice in the paper advertising for the donor to come forward if they want to claim the child, and then...go to court to get a declaration of adoption." Recently, a same sex couple in RI faced similar problems and made the news.
Sara Watson and Anna Ford used Watson’s egg, with sperm from a donor, to impregnate Ford who carried and delivered the baby. Watson was not allowed to sign the birth certificate and has to go through months on interviews, home visits, and appointments to legally adopt the child even though they are biologically related.
H5706 streamlines all of those requirements, and only mandates some paperwork, keeping families together from the start.
The House Judiciary Committee heard testimony Wednesday, March 20th on the bills and th
e state Senate passed the Uniform Parentage Act 35-to-0 on June 6th. Since then
Family Court Judge Michael Forte has raised concerns over the bills and requested that the House conduct a study commision before enacting or vetoing the bill; some individuals are confused as Forte didn't raise these concerns earlier while the bill was in the House. While Forte agrees that RI "
need[s] legislation on surrogacy and the creation of modern families" he wants the bill to take Family Court into consideration along the way as "
This very complex bill was developed by a committee that did not include anyone from the Family Court. This bill obviously affects the Court and the best interest of children. Keeping us out of the process has led to a great deal of confusion."
Advocates are hopeful next year will bring the passage of the bills.
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#LGBTSTEMday Promotes Visibility and Support to LGBT+ STEM Workers
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According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics employment in STEM fields, an acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, is expected to grow 13% by the year 2022. Currently, there is a trend of LGBTQ individuals, as well as women and People of Color (PoC), being underrepresented in STEM fields or more likely being on the receiving end of hostile working environments.
Exploring the Workplace for LGBT+ Physical Scientists,
a recent report by the Institute of Physics, Royal Astronomical Society and Royal Society of Chemistry found that of the 1,025 respondents 28% reported they considered leaving their job occasionally and 20% of all Trans respondents reported they considered leaving their job often. Despite the instability of LGBTQ individuals in STEM fields, there are several organizations and individuals promoting the field and assisting anyone who is interested in STEM succeed.
Pride in STEM
is a UK based organization whose goal is to "raise the profile of LGBT people in STEM as well as to highlight the struggles LGBT-STEM people often face."
Pride in STEM
puts on a variety of events throughout the year, but one of their newer and more noteworthy events is LGBTSTEM DAY, their coined
International Day of LGBTQ+ People in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths
held annually on July 5th since 2018. The day serves t
o
recognize, promote and support those in STEM fields who also identify as LGBT+, thus providing visibility for the community. The hashtag
#LGBTSTEMday was heavily utilized on LGBTSTEM DAY; search for it on social media platforms to read stories and see photos from other LGBTQ STEM workers!
Fun Fact:
July 5th was selected as LGBTSTEM DAY as it can be written as ‘507’ (day, month) which is, in nanometres, the wavelength of the color green featured in the rainbow flag and is representative of nature. Or, more likely in the USA, the date can be written‘705’ (month, day) which is the wavelength of the color red, representing life!
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Mission:
Youth Pride, Inc. is dedicated to meeting the unique needs of youth and young adults impacted by sexual orientation and gender identity/expression while working to end the homophobic and transphobic environments in which they live, work and play.
Values:
LEADERSHIP:
YPI is committed to creating the leaders of today. Youth voices drive our process, and we seek to develop the leadership skills necessary both within the organization and outside of it.
AFFIRMATION:
YPI believes all youth must be affirmed for who they are and how they express themselves. We are committed to making that a reality in all of the environments in which young people live.
COMMUNITY:
YPI believes building strong connections is essential to youth success and empowerment. We strive to create a caring, respectful and diverse community of young people and adults.
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Your tax-deductible donation helps YPI continue to do the important work we do in accordance to our mission. Your gift would be directly investing in our state's LGBTQ youth so that they may have a chance to share their gifts and light with the world.
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Our Programs and Services
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Youth Pride, Inc. serves over 700 Rhode Island LGBTQ youth and their straight allies a year through a variety of programs and services.
Our Center, located on Westminster Street in Providence, primarily serve as a drop-in and programming space, and is currently open to youth ages 13 to 23 on Tuesday and Wednesday from 3-8pm and Thursday from 3 to 5. Youth ages 9 to thirteen are welcome at our exclusive 13 and under drop-in time on Thursdays from 5-8 pm. All YPI Center services and activities are free to youth. YPI youth get to attend events, workshops, cultural, educational, social, and wellness activities at YPI and around the state.
Our center is home to a Basic Needs Pantry, open to youth in need of food, clothing, toiletries, and school supplies. We offer one on one counseling with in-house clinicians. Our clinicians facilitate and supervise three peer-support groups.
YPI also offers support to those who work with youth through policy and advocacy, and by providing professional development workshops and technical assistance to service providers and educators.
For more information on getting involved with YPI as a volunteer or if you or someone you know is in need of our services, contact [email protected]
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If you have a story you feel should be included in an upcoming newsletter, email [email protected]
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