September 26, 1997

WASHINGTON, D.C.?Youth Pride Alliance is inviting all metro-area youth and their supporters to join them in organizing the second annual Youth Pride Day, which will take place in Spring 1998. Everyone who would like to help shape next year's event should come to the Sexual Minority Youth Assistance League (SMYAL) headquarters in D.C. at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, October 9th for an organizational meeting.

The first-ever Youth Pride Day, held on April 19, 1997 in Dupont Circle, attracted over 900 attendees from as far away as North Carolina, Tennessee, and Kansas for an entertaining and often moving day of nationally- and locally-known speakers, musicians, and testimonials from gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered and straight youth.

Organizers now hope to build on that success for Youth Pride Day '98 and are seeking participation from the local community, especially its younger members. 'We are committed to making this event by, for, and about youth,' said Chris Dyer, YPA chair.

The purpose of this first meeting is to get participant feedback about Youth Pride Day '97 and solicit volunteers for entertainment, publicity, fundraising, speaker recruitment, and other aspects of next year's event.

Youth Pride Alliance, which sponsors Youth Pride Day, is a coalition of individuals and organizations interested in promoting youth pride in the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered community of the DC metro area and bringing issues affecting these youth to the attention of the community as a whole.

SMYAL is located at 408 7th Street in SE Washington, one block from the Eastern Market Metro station. For directions, call YPA at (703) 518-0631.