Youth & Young Adult Events
Throughout the year, the LGBTQ Center OC’s Youth Program hosts a variety of different youth activities, field trips, and community events, such as: the LGBTQQ Youth Convening; “Color Me Equal” Youth Leadership Camp; Queer Prom; Lavender Graduation; Creating Change conference; Models of Pride conference; Noche de Altares; Orange County and Long Beach Pride; Orange County Trans Pride; “Dragdrogynous” Drag Show fundraiser; and more!
The Q Empowerment Lab (Starts on 9/20/21 through Spring ’22)
It’s never too late! In its commitment to ensure queer excellence, success, and joy, the LGBTQ Center OC’s Q Empowerment Lab offers opportunities for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (LGBTQ) youth and young adults through a two-part educational series focused on academic and career readiness and empowerment. Whether it is preparing for next steps after high school, heading to college, entering into the workforce, or taking a gap year, the Q Empowerment Lab will provide the tools, resources, and networking opportunities to support productive and healthy futures among LGBTQ young people.
College Prep Regisration: bit.ly/HE-21
Financial Literacy Registration: bit.ly/FE-21
OC Gender & Sexualities Alliances: Student Leadership Fall Summit (9/25)
Thank you for your interest to participate in the LGBTQ Center OC’s upcoming Gender and Sexualities Alliances Student Leadership Summit.
Youth leaders from Youth Empowered to Act of the LGBTQ Center OC invite Orange County students to participate in this interactive virtual event. This is a wonderful opportunity for Gender and Sexualities Alliance student leaders and members to network and connect, share club activities and ideas, and develop relationships with other campuses.
This event will take place on Saturday, September 25th from 11:00-12:30pm on Zoom. Please register to receive the Zoom invitation!
Register: bit.ly/GSA_21
Questions? Please contact:
Stephanie Camacho-Van Dyke (she/her/Ella), Director of Advocacy and Education
Queer Stories: National Coming Out Day (October 11th)
This National Coming Out Day, you are invited to share your coming out story!
Our stories are our power and the heart of who we are as LGBTQ+ people.
Through our stories, we can convey a message of resilience, empathy, and determination.
Each speaker will be given 5 minutes to share their story. Our hope is through our experiences, we can support one another and keep our history and culture alive.
Join us Monday, October 11, 2021 on Zoom from 7:00pm – 8:30pm PT.
For more information or questions, you can contact Ana Marson, Youth Programs Assistant at ana.marson@lgbtqcenteroc.org
You are welcome to share this link with your peers! bit.ly/QStories_21
Once you’re registered, the zoom information will be sent to you prior to the event date.
Queer Youth Oral Histories Project
We invite LGBTQ youth and allies ages 13-18 to participate in our Summer 2021 Queer Youth Oral Histories Project, a virtual workshops series on archiving queer and trans youth stories and histories. Participants will learn the process of gathering and preserving voices and memories, and why their significance. There is no cost to participate.
Volunteer and community services hours are available!
Starts Wednesdays, July 14th-August 25th
6:30-8:00 P.M.
Virtual meeting link to be sent after registration.
Registration: bit.ly/QYHP21
Color Me Equal: Leadership Camp (SUMMER EDITION)
The “Color Me Equal” Leadership Camp is a FREE leadership workshop series organized by youth leaders of Youth Empowered to Act, the LGBTQ Center OC’s youth leadership group, and LGBTQ Center OC staff.
We invite lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) youth and allies, as well as middle school/high school/college students involved with their Gender and Sexualities Alliances (GSA), to participate. Workshops involve active discussion and virtual activities to broaden leadership skills, resources, and toolkits, and to learn about restorative justice and substance use prevention through a queer and trans-inclusive lens.
Youth who live outside of Orange County are invited to participate!
Workshops meet Tuesday/Thursday from 5:00-7:00 pm Pacific Time on Zoom. Please register to receive the Zoom invitation.
Tuesday, August 3rd: Welcoming and Exploring Our Identities
Thursday, August 5th: LGBTQ History and Student Rights
Tuesday, August 10th: Developing Your GSA; Campus/Community Activism
Thursday, August 12th: Youth Organizing and Restorative Justice
Tuesday, August 17th: Local and National LGBTQ Community Organizer Panel
Questions? Please contact:
Stephanie Camacho-Van Dyke (she/her/ella)
Director of Advocacy and Education
stephanie.vandyke@lgbtqcenteroc.org
714.953.5428 x 205
Registration: bit.ly/CME_21
Queers, Dears, & Peers: SUMMER EDITION
The LGBTQ Center of Long Beach and LGBTQ Center OC invite you to attend our speed-dating and friend-making event, Queers Dears and Peers!
We welcome lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (LGBTQ) folks and allies ages 18-29 to join us for a social, entertaining night to meet new friends, community members, and cuties.
Activities include: One-on-one and group-mixing break out rooms; introductions; getting familiar with the LGBTQ Center of Long Beach and LGBTQ Center OC; sharing social media; and more!
Date: Saturday, July 10th at 5:30-9:00 pm (On Zoom)
Questions? Please contact the event organizers:
Antonio “Nio” Lavermon (he/him), Transitional Age Youth Coordinator:
alavermon@centerlb.org
James Bacon (any pronouns), Young Adult Program Volunteer:
james.bacon@lgbtqcenteroc.org
Miguel Zamudio (he/him), Young Adult Program Volunteer:
miguel.zamudio@lgbtqcenteroc.org
2021 Virtual Lavender Graduation
The LGBTQ Center OC is excited to announce its 2021 Virtual Lavender Graduation ceremony to honor lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, and queer (LGBTQ) students and allies who are graduating from middle school, high school, or college. We are proud to announce Cox Communications as the key sponsor for this year’s event!
In the LGBTQ Center OC’s 5th year of hosting this event, Lavender Graduation is an annual event that acknowledges LGBTQ students and their academic achievements, accomplishments, and contributions at the LGBTQ Center OC, in their Gender and Sexualities Alliances and schools, and in the greater community. We welcome youth, students, parents, families, teachers, and community members to participate as audience members. Graduating students will be awarded with a certificate of recognition and lavender stole, which will be delivered by request or through pick up at the LGBTQ Center OC once the event has concluded.
This event will take place on Saturday, June 12th from 1:00-2:30 pm through Zoom.
Audience members and student grads who are interested in participating in this event must register for the event using this form in order to receive the Zoom link and information.
Please share with your friends and contacts: bit.ly/LAVENDER21
Questions? Please contact: stephanie.vandyke@lgbtqcenteroc.org
LGBTQ Youth Convening 2021
Dates: May 15, 22, and 29 from 11A – 1P PST
To Register: bit.ly/convening21
The LGBTQ Center OC is excited to announce its upcoming 2021 Virtual LGBTQ Youth Convening, a free multi-day online conference that is organized and led by youth leaders from Youth Empowered to Act, a coalition of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) student leaders and their allies devoted to gender, racial, reproductive, and restorative justice issues in Orange County.
This year’s theme is Intersect and Connect.
The 2021Virtual LGBTQ Youth Convening will take place over three consecutive Saturdays in May. Each conference session will have a dedicated theme of the day, focused on mental health and support; education; and advocacy and empowerment.
This event is open to all ages and backgrounds, such as but not limited to: youth, students, parents, guardians, families, school staff and administrators, counselors, professionals, and community members and organizers.
We invite the entire community—whether at the local, state-wide, and national level—to experience three webinars complete with influential speakers, workshop presenters, and organizations working to provide affirming practices to create inclusive and intersectional spaces for LGBTQ youth in Orange County and beyond.
We are excited to share that we will have special guest performances from local drag artists at the end of each webinar, as well as opportunity drawings for gift cards!
