The Hudson Pride Foundation hosted an educational symposium Wednesday evening at Space 360 in Hudson, NY. All Columbia County school districts were

invited to attend.

HPF kicked off the event with information about the various programs and support groups that the Foundation is now offering to the community. There is an event tailored for every type of group. Currently, HPF offers a Youth Discussion Group, a Men’s & Women’s Group, a Special Guest Speaker Series, as well as plans to begin a PFLAG Group & a Senior LGBT Group.

Curran Streett, Program Director for the Capital Pride Center in Albany then spoke

at length about various school programs that have been implemented in the Albany area schools that focus on key issues faced by all schools today such as bullying & LGBT violence. Successful programs like GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network), Safe Space Programs, Tolerance Lessons for all students, teachers and administrators, and teaching students & teachers how to be a good witness & a positive bystander have been put into place at several Capital area schools.

Christopher Argyros, Transgender Rights Organizer with the Empire State Pride Agenda then spoke about the challenges schools face with recognizing, supporting, and accommodating transgender students.

This event underscored the importance and absolute necessity of fostering a mutually positive working relationship between the LGBT support resources, such as the Hudson Pride Foundation, the Capital Pride Center, and the Empire State Pride Agenda and all middle schools and high schools in the Hudson Valley & Capital Regions.