Dear NYAC friends and allies,

Please distribute these press releases about NYAC's upcoming 4th Annual National Summit widely. Thank you!
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Press release on NYAC Summit

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:	CONTACT:
16 October 2000	Craig A. Bowman
	Executive Director
	1638 R Street, NW, Suite 300
	Washington, DC 20009
	202.319.7596 x15
	Craig@nyacyouth.org

Hundreds of LGBT Youth to Gather in Nation's Capital Before Election
Organizers Expect an Unprecedented Turnout

Washington, DC - Five hundred youth and adults representing dozens of communities nationwide will gather in Washington, DC Saturday, October 21st through Monday, October 23rd to discuss the critical issues facing lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) youth; and to educate decision-makers and opinion-leaders about their lives.

Participants in the National Youth Advocacy Coalition's (NYAC) Fourth Annual Summit will gather at the only national meeting focusing entirely on the mental and physical health needs and advocacy trends for LGBT youth.

The National Summit will take place at the Marriott Hotel at Metro Center, and will feature more than 60 workshops, panel discussions, and plenary sessions focusing on issues such as:Identity Politics and LGBT Youth; Research Issues and Needs; Youth Activist Networking and Community Organizing; Gender Identity Disorder and Youth; the Criminalization of Youth; Class and Body Image Issues; Family Issues; HIV/AIDS/STIs; and Mentoring.

"NYAC's Annual Summit is the most powerful gathering of LGBT young people and their allies in the country," said Summit Director M'Bwende Anderson. "Every year, we have been privileged to attract the most powerful youth leaders working on LGBT and social justice issues. And in this critical election year, interest in the Summit is phenomenal," she added.

The National Youth Advocacy Coalition is the only national organization solely focused on advocacy, education, and information affecting the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth. The purpose of NYAC's Annual Summit is to advance the field of services and advocacy for and with LGBT youth through the exchange of cutting-edge information and the development of local, state, and national advocacy strategies.

Unlike most national conferences, which focus on talking heads, NYAC's Summit can best be described as three days of think tank discussion on the key issues facing young people. Youth leaders from diverse communities bring their expertise to the table to create momentum and strategies for the larger LGBT movement.

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The National Youth Advocacy Coalition is the only national organization solely focused on advocacy, education, and information addressing the broad range of issues facing gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender youth. NYAC works to end discrimination against these young people and to ensure their physical and emotional well being. NYAC represents the interests of LGBT youth and the over 500 organizations nationwide providing support services to LGBT youth.
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Press release on NYAC Rally

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:	CONTACT:
16 October 2000	Craig A. Bowman
	Executive Director
	1638 R Street, NW, Suite 300
	Washington, DC 20009
	202.319.7596 X15
	Craig@nyacyouth.org

LGBT Youth Demand Greater Attention From Presidential Candidates
Young People Promise "A Generation of Impact"

Washington, DC -- Hundreds of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) youth will rally in Washington, DC's Lafayette Park on Sunday, October 22nd, to educate political leaders about their lives, and their efforts to improve conditions in their communities through activism and civic involvement. Rally speakers will include LGBT youth leaders from across the country and Washington, DC Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton.

The rally will be held in Lafayette Park, across from the White House (intersection of H Street and Madison Place in Northwest D.C.) from 4:30-6:30 p.m., Sunday, October 22nd.

The event's theme, A Generation of Impact, emphasizes the diverse roles LGBT youth are playing as community leaders of today, not simply the "leaders of tomorrow." Rally participants will stage a "coming out" action to promote LGBT youth visibility and activism, reading personal statements addressed to the next President of the United States and other elected officials.

"Young LGBT people are working in every part of this country to demand that their lives be recognized," NYAC Executive Director Craig Bowman said. "This rally will provide an opportunity for elected officials to hear from some of the most powerful youth in the country about the issues that are important to them," Bowman added.

In addition to speeches, the rally will feature performances by local musician Angie Head and the Philadelphia-based theater group "Thespians and Drama Queens."

The rally, organized by the National Youth Advocacy Coalition (NYAC), is one of several events occurring throughout the October 20-22 weekend as part of NYAC's Fourth Annual Summit. NYAC's Summit will bring together more than 500 LGBT youth, their advocates, and service providers to exchange cutting-edge resources, program information, and strategies for advocacy at the local, state, and national levels.

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The National Youth Advocacy Coalition is the only national organization solely focused on advocacy, education, and information addressing the broad range of issues facing lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth. NYAC works to end discrimination against these young people and to ensure their physical and emotional well being. NYAC represents the interests of LGBT youth and the over 500 organizations nationwide providing support services to LGBT youth.

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Bridges Project
National Youth Advocacy Coalition
1638 R Street, NW
Suite 300
Washington, DC 20009
Phone:202-319-7596
Fax:202-319-7365
Email:nyac@nyacyouth.org
Web:http://www.nyacyouth.org

The National Youth Advocacy Coalition (NYAC) is the only national organization focused solely on improving the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youth through advocacy, education, and information. NYAC's Bridges Project is the national clearinghouse of information on issues affecting LGBT youth. Bridges Project staff provide referrals, materials, resources and technical assistance to youth, advocates, educators, community members, policy makers, parents, and the media.

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