Workshop focusing on gay youth

STROUDSBURG — The Diversity Education Program of Rainbow Youth Northeast Pennsylvania will be sponsoring “Beyond the Rainbow Flag: Understanding LGBTQI Issues,” on Friday, April 9, at the Stroudsmoor Country Inn, in Stroudsburg. This all day workshop, featuring Eva Goldfarb, Ph.D., L.H.D. (hon), will focus on issues faced by the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, questioning and intersex (LGBTQI) youth. Rainbow Youth NEPA, a nonprofit, volunteer organization, has been providing support to LGBTQI youth in Monroe and Pike counties for over seven years. “Youth are coming out as lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans-gender, and questioning at younger ages than ever before. As a result, they are more challenged than ever,” explained Michelle Zuccarini, Rainbow Youth board member and workshop coordinator. LGBTQI youth are 4-5 times more likely to experience severe depression and 2-3 times more likely to attempt suicide than other young people. A reported 97% of all students report regularly hearing homophobic remarks and 28% of LGBTQ high school students drop out of school because of harassment. This workshop and Dr. Goldfarb will provide relevant information and promote awareness and sensitivity in our schools, thus facilitating a safe school environment for LGBTQ students. Dr. Goldfarb, a Professor of Health Education at Montclair University, will lead the day’s activities geared toward educators, counselors, and health care professionals, addressing such topics as sexual orientation, gender identity, heterocentrism and homophobia, and provide strategies for assisting LGBTQI youth in educational settings. Although geared for professionals, all are welcome to attend. A limited number of scholarships are available. For more information and to register for Beyond the Rainbow Flag: Understanding LGBTQI Issues, go to www.rydiversityeducation.org .