The New Haven Pride Center’s Panels & Conversations Series was created in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic as a virtual town hall space for the community to come together, share ideas, and explore the issues, experiences, and perspectives that are not being adequately addressed in the broader LGBTQ+ community. Through this intersectional work, the Center strives to elevate the voices of the most marginalized and raise awareness around issues and experiences that often go overlooked.
The 2020 panels & conversations were curated by the Center’s programming team which included Max Cisneros, Patrick J Dunn, Juancarlos Soto, Miranda Rector, and ala ochumare.
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2020 Panels & Conversations
Queer Black Feminism, Pt. I
May 21
This in-depth panel and discussion centers Black Queer Feminist voices throughout Connecticut. We will discuss BQF with a focus on Connecticut, our drawbacks and advantages living in Connecticut along with the intersections of race, patriarchy, religion, small business, healing and social justice organizing and so much more. Our panelist will provide a particular wealth of information as they represent some amazing intersections of Black Queer Feminism, from small business ownership to healing and social justice organizing.
This panel features perspectives from Kamora Herrington, Farron Harvey, Ashleigh Huckabey, and Kerry Ellington.
Latino/a/x & COVID
May 27
This panel explores the impact and intersectional relationships surrounding the Queer Latinx community and the effects of COVID-19. We will specifically be focusing on Trans Health and Queer Undocumented Folks (both unemployed and in detention) and what actions we can take now.
This panel features perspectives from Mia E. Lozada, Jurg W. J. Oggenfus, and Luis Rios.
LGBTQ+ Women in Politics, Part I
May 27
Women are represented at less than 30% for almost all elected offices in the United States. LGBTQ+ women, especially transgender women and women of color, are represented even less.
That’s why we at the New Haven Pride Center believe it’s essential to highlight LGBTQ+ women in politics, especially those serving us in the state of Connecticut. This panel series and discussion will highlight LGBTQ+ identified women and femmes in various areas of politics in the State of Connecticut. The event is open to people of all gender identities to come and learn. Young women are especially encouraged to attend to meet and network with the panelists!
Organizing During COVID: How to Make a Difference from a Distance
May 31
Join us for a conversation exploring how community organizers and activists who are on the ground making a difference during COVID-19. Whether it’s through raising funds for mutual aid, connecting organizers virtually to have greater impact, or taking on systematic oppression these organizers are not stopping their work because of the pandemic.
This panel features perspectives from Ahmad Abojaradeh, Sarana Nia, and Anthony Barroso.
Right to Play: Standing up for Trans Athletes
June 14
Join us for a conversation exploring the experiences of transgender athletes in recreational and professional sports. In light of the Justice Department’s recent decision to exclude transgender athletes from sports in high schools, which is in direct opposition to Connecticut state law requiring that high school sports clubs be inclusive of individual students’ gender identities, the Center is excited to explore how sports can be inclusive of transgender athletes and debunk misinformation about inclusion creating unfair advantages.
This panel features perspectives from Karleigh Webb, Dr. AJ Eckert, Jay Potter, and Raven Matherne.
Identity, Power, and Hope: A Reflection on Advice from the Lights
June 15
Join us for a conversation between members and affiliates of the Yale Pediatric Gender Program in a reflection on this year’s NEA Big Read selection, “Advice from the Lights” by transgender poet Stephanie Burt. Panelists will discuss identity development, the idea of identity as a journey versus an endpoint, and feelings of power and powerlessness across various identities. We will end with a discussion of hope, and how to engender hope in youth in our current socio-political climate.
This panel features perspectives from Jillian Celentano, Naomi Libby, MD, Rebecca Miller, Ph.D., October Mohr, and Christy Olezeski, Ph.D.
Bi+ Talks: A Conversation with Zachary Zane
June 30
The New Haven Pride Center sits down with Bi+ advocate and writer Zachary Zane to discuss and explore topics around the Bi+ identity, offer advice, and take your questions.
Zachary Zane is a Brooklyn-based columnist, sex expert, and activist whose work focuses on sexuality, lifestyle, culture, and the LGBTQ community. He currently has a sex advice column at Men’s Health titled “Sexplain It” and a relationship column at Queer Majority titled “Zach and The City.”
LGBTQ+ Women in Politics, Pt. II
July 31
Women make up a small fraction of government and political campaign work, and LGBTQ & BIPOC women even less so. What needs to happen to change this? How can we represent not just ourselves but our communities and our issues? How can we take action within a system meant to keep us out? Join us for a panel centering LGBTQ women in politics as we tackle these questions and more.
Trans y Latina: Una Conversación con Rihana Ferrera Sanchez
El centro comunitario para la comunidad LGBTQ+, conocido como el New Haven Pride Center platica con la activista y personaje política Rhiana Ferrera Sanchez para hablar sobre su experiencias como una activista transgenero y el estado de la comunidad LGBTQ+ en Honduras. También hablaremos sobre la violencia basada en género, los crímenes de odio contra la comunidad LGBTQ+, y la discriminación de Sexoservidores y Trabajadores Sexuales. Esta entrevista será moderada por Max Cisneros, Oficial de Programas Latinx del Centro. .Esta conversación será en español, pero también aceptamos preguntas para Rihana en inglés.
LGBTQ+ Youth Intersectionality
August 31
The youth experts on our panel have the lived experiences of navigating these intersections in a world that seeks to silence their voices deeming them irrelevant. This is in addition to condemnation that LGBTQIA+ folks face that they are wrong or morally corrupt.
These youth experts discuss not only how they navigate these intersections but the work they do to disrupt the many stereotypes against young queer folks. They will also discuss how they help other young folks thrive in these spaces despite marginalization.
This talk is moderated by ala ochumare, the Center’s Youth Program Officer.
Trans Talks: A Conversation with Chris Mosier
September 1
Join us as we continue our exploration of trans-inclusive athletic programming as we sit down with professional athlete Chris Mosier, the first transgender athlete to qualify for the Olympic Trials in the gender they identify.
This talk will be moderated by Out Sports writer and community organizer Karleigh Webb.
¡Se llama trabajo!
October 20 | 6:30p (ET)
En esta conversación vamos a analizar el impacto del comercio sexual en las experiencias de inmigrantes LGBTQ por toda Latinoamérica y examinaremos los resultados y las soluciones. Esta conversación será en español.
Gen Z on Queerness
October 23 | 4:30p (ET)
Join us for a special youth-led panel featuring members of Generation Z as they discuss and explore concepts of intersectionality, identity, and queerness.
Young Folks & Politics
October 24 | 1:00p (ET)
2020’s election will be here before we know it. It’s not just the folks who will be casting ballots who will be affected by the results of this election. Young people in America have just as much to worry about as the folks who are “voting age.” Sometimes even more. Join us in a panel that centers young queer folks’ voices, where we share not only opinions about why we should vote but also open a discussion on the lowering of voting age to 16 as well as other hot button issues when it comes to youth voting rights, such as what would it look like if younger folks had a stake in the decision of where federal funding should go.
Queer Indigenous Communities: Exploring Sexuality and Gender Diversity and the Effects of Colonization
To better grasp the history of the relationships between Queerness, Indigenous experience, and Pride we must first recognize the history of the space we all now share. But as it was said during New Haven’s Virtual Pride 2020 kick-off earlier this year, “Recognition is not Reparations. Recognition is not Justice…it is only the beginning.”
In that spirit, we will continue this conversation with Queer Indigenous voices from occupied lands of the east and of the west. We will educate folks about the history of native tribes, some that have had as many as ten gender identities while other tribal communities had none.
We will also explore the forgotten history of queer indigenous experiences, including the damaging socializations that English and Spanish colonizers violently impose on indigenous communities, which LGBTQ+ / Latinx / other marginalized groups still suffer from to this day.
We Want to Do More Than Survive: A Love Letter to Trans Youth
December 20 | 2:00p (ET)
This panel is a visual love letter to trans youth from trans youth meant to inspire and honor trans lives. The holidays aren’t always the easiest for folks whose homes aren’t always safe physically or emotionally. While this resonates for most queer folk, this space centers the trans youth perspective, trans voices and trans bodies. These young experts will be sharing their stories of resilience and love for themselves and their families both born and found. This will be a space of joy and laughter and of course tips and ideas from young folks for young trans folks. Join us as we grow our families with honor, vibrancy, and joy.