The Say It Out Loud (SIOL) Conference planning is underway for 2023. The SIOL Conference has been around for 21 years and provides training and education to service providers, parents, and guardians to better serve and support individuals who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual (LGBTQIA+). We would like to gauge interest and invite youth coalitions who are implementing projects and programs that are LGBTQ+ focused to present, sharing the great work you’re doing. For example, Tumwater HOPES Coalition is interested in presenting their Youth-led Participatory Action Research (YPAR) project findings and process regarding the adequacy of sex education, including the experience from youth with sexual orientations and gender identities beyond the binary.

We would also like to invite youth groups to attend, learn from other coalitions, support LGBTQ+ young people in your community and make new connections! Each year on average there are about 400 attendees. We hope to have the date and location determined soon as well as available sponsorship opportunities supporting young people in attending.

More to come. If you have any questions, comments please reach out to Amanda at Lewis via email or by telephone at 360-628-1730.