JASMYN, a nonprofit LGBTQ organization, will host a forum and panel at the Main Library as an open and safe space for LGBTQ youth and their family members.
The panel is the first of its kind, created by JASMYN to offer a safer place for those aged 13-23 to be able to tell their personal stories and share them with their parents, while staff provide support to the youth and families.
The event is set for 5:30-6:45 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 13. LGBTQ youth will be on the panel, but names of the panelists will not be released until the event to prevent a privacy breach in case any of the youths have not come out to their parents and faith leaders.
“It’s a really important event for parents to get to really know and support their children, since a lot of parents and faith leaders might not understand, and will be able to learn from the support group,” said Stephon Collins, family support coordinator at JASMYN.
The forum and panel will take place at the downtown library, a month after the cancellation of the Storybrook Pride Prom at Riverside’s Willowbranch Library.
The prom was canceled for security reasons, due to the inability to adequately provide safety for the teenagers with an expected capacity of 100 plus teenagers.
Currently, about 40 to 50 people are expected to attend the forum.
No additional security personnel will be at the event, and the security will be “standard” as it is any other day.
Collins, who is hosting the event, chose the library because of its central location and accessibility for the youth and their family members who might need public transportation.
While this is JASMYNs’ first event like this with the library, Collins doesn’t anticipate this will be the last time they partner together. He said they have planned a panel in October at the library.
JASMYN was not affiliated with the Storybook Pride prom, and Collins had no comment about the cancellation. He said he looks forward to a partnership with the library.
“JASMYN has a positive relationship with the library,” Collins said.
Chris Boivin, assistant director of the community relations and marketing at the library, said JASMYN has previously hosted multiple events at the library and anticipates that it will for a long time.
“JASMYN was actually founded 25 years ago in the Willowbranch Library,” said Boivin. “The forum and panel was planned around February and March, before the prom was planned.”
When asked about security concerns for this event, Boivin said he anticipates they will not have the same outcome as the Pride prom.
“The panel is a completely different event, and we do not anticipate any need for an increase of security or any protesters,” Boivin said. “Sometimes it just takes a while for plans to get executed.”
“The panel is a completely different event, and we do not anticipate any need for an increase of security or any protesters,” Boivin said. “Sometimes it just takes a while for plans to get executed.”
