Msg fwd by:
The Coalition for Safer Schools of NYS, PO Box 2345, Malta, NY 12020
Email to: saratogany@aol.com

"The Actual or Perceived GLBT Student Protection Project"
=========================================================

To Scouting For All Supporters

Please distribute to your local, national and international meidia.

Scouting For All
PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release
Contact: Christopher Dyer
(202) 884-7433 (work)
(202) 588-8008 (home)
(202) 253-0957 (cell)

Thousands of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning Youth to Gather in Dupont Circle for the 4th Annual Youth Pride Day Celebration

On February 14, 2000 (Washington, DC) Organizers of Youth Pride Day 2000 announced plans for the 4th annual Youth Pride Day in Washington, DC. Youth Pride Day 2000 will take place on Saturday April 15, 2000 from noon to 5 pm in Dupont Circle Park. This event is one of four of its kind throughout the country.

Organizers anticipate that thousands of youth and their allies will come to the event to hear entertainers and speakers. The three goals of the day are to promote awareness of the issues facing gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth, increase visibility, and to promote pride. Close to two thousand attended last year's event.

In addition to announcing the date of the event, organizers named Steven Cozza, co-founder of Scouting for All, and Romaine Patterson, founder of the Angel Action Network, as keynote speakers for the day.

Steven Cozza, 14, is a civil rights activist who founded a group to protest the Boy Scouts of America policy of discrimination against gay and bisexual men from serving as scoutmasters or participating as scouts. "We picked Steven because of his outstanding advocacy for the gay community," stated Youth Pride Day 2000 Director Christopher Dyer, "He truly demonstrates the qualities that the Boy Scouts attempt to instill and is an honored ally of our community."

Romaine Patterson, 21, is a friend of the late Matthew Shepard whose brutal murder served as a wake-up call for the nation. In an effort to combat the anti-gay antics of the Rev. Fred Phelps, whose followers picketed Shepard's funeral and the murder trials, Patterson founded the Angel Action Network, an organization for peaceful demonstration. "Romaine is a talented community activist who used creativity and compassion to combat hatred and ignorance," commented Michelle Kucerak, Vice President of the Youth Pride Alliance. "Her actions have inspired other youth around the country to stand up to bigotry."

The mission of the Youth Pride Alliance is to celebrate the dignity and courage of all youth as they discover their identities as gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, or straight; and challenge society to stop the hate, violence, fear, isolation and denial. Every young person deserves to live, love, and be loved. For further information about Youth Pride Day 2000 contact the Youth Pride Alliance at (703) 518-0631 or via e-mail at youthpride@youthpridedc.org or check out their web site, http://www.youthpridedc.org.

From: COZZAHIVED@aol.com
Date: Thu, 17 Feb 2000 23:31:42 EST
Subject: PRESS RELEASE Scouting For All

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