The Illinois Safe Schools Alliance ( the Alliance ) held its annual fundraiser, the Alliance Brunch, at the Chicago Cultural Center Oct. 6.
This is the sixth year the Alliance has held the event to honor organizations and individuals who have fought for safe and healthy learning environments for LGBTQA youth throughout the state of Illinois. Hundreds of supporters attended the event.
"We've accomplished so much, but there is a lot of work left to do. All youth, whether they go to a school with 50 people or 500 people deserve an inclusive, affirming, and caring learning environment. Trans youth, LGBTQ youth of color, and LGBTQ youth with disabilities are often the kids now facing the most challenges and violence," Anthony Papini, the Alliance's executive director, said.
The brunch gave the Ally of the Year Award to the University of Illinois at Chicago's College of Education for its research on anti-LGBTQ language among youth and the incidence of bias-based bullying in schools. Katya Mazon, a recent graduate of Walter Payton College Prep, received the Activist of the Year Award for her efforts to organize youth, strengthen gay-straight alliances, and advocate for polices supporting gender non-conforming students in Chicago Public Schools. Mazon is the youngest recipient of the award.
"It's amazing that these people who are so amazing see something amazing in me. I feel very honored," Mazon said.
Illinois state Sen. William Delgado was the event's keynote speaker, speaking of his commitment to supporting safe schools as well as his efforts to advance legislation that limits the number of school expulsions, particularly for minority students and students who identify as LGBTQ. He also spoke of the important role that LGBTQ youth have to play now and in the future.
"This movement will not be complete until we elect many of the youth leaders here today. These youth continue to raise the bar in me and give me another reason to struggle, another reason to fight," Delgado said.
At the brunch, members of the Alliance's Youth Committee also spoke about the empowerment they felt in working for change alongside similarly situated peers and allies.
"Being a part of the Alliance made me so proud of who I am that the day I got involved I came out to my parents that night," Zach Sowle, a high school junior from the Chicagoland area, told Windy City Times.
