About the HISD Pride Summit

The HISD Pride Summit empowers, instructs, and fosters a community for HISD lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer high school and middle school students. The summit offers a unique opportunity for participants to experience a sense of identity and belonging, and to develop skills for self-care, advocacy, and leadership.

• Free registration

• Sessions geared towards Middle and High School students

• Sessions for parents and caregivers

• Community resources

• Networking

• Much more!

Schedule

10:00 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.  Opening Ceremony and Keynote

10:45 a.m. - 12:25 p.m   Breakout sessions

 Middle School:

 Session 1: How to Build a GSA

 Session 2: Owning Your Voice: Student Panel

 Session 3: Self-Care and Social Justice

 High School:

 Session 1: Self-Care and Social Justice

 Session 2: How to Build a GSA

 Session 3: Living Out Loud: LGBTQ+ Professionals Panel

 Parents/Caregivers: 

 Session 1: LGBTQ+ 101

 Session 2: Self-Care and Social Justice for your LGBTQ+ student

 Session 3: Living Out Loud: LGBTQ+ Professionals Panel  

12:25 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.    Closing: Overview, takeaways, and networking

Sessions

How to Build a GSA

In this session, LGBTQ+ students will learn how to start a GSA on their campus. This session will provide support for students who identify as LGBTQ+ and struggle finding their true self and to become leaders in their school community to educate others about gender identity, sexual orientation and the LGBTQ+ community.

Self-Care and Social Justice

In this session, LGBTQ+ students will discuss self-care strategies and social justice. This session will provide students the opportunity to learn how to navigate self-care while working towards LGBTQ+ equality. 

Self-Care and Social Justice for your LGBTQ+ student

Self-care is a revolutionary act that sustains queer communities and the ongoing fight for equity and justice for marginalized people. In this session, participants will define and break down barriers to self-care, and provide an opportunity for participants to reflect on their own needs for self-care while learning how to best support their LGBTQ+ youth and resources available to them. 

Owning Your Voice- Student Panel

In this session, middle school LGBTQ+ students will be able to hear from high school LGBTQ+ students as part of a panel. This panel will provide an opportunity for mentorship and community as students dig deep in a safe and supportive environment as they identify and own the experiences that make us who they are.

Living Out Loud: LGBTQ+ Professionals Panel 

In this session, students will hear from various professionals about life after high school. This panel will provide an opportunity for students to network and connect with LGBTQ+ professionals as they share their experiences navigating from high school into adulthood while bringing your authentic self into the workplace and everyday life.

LGBTQ+ 101

Parents and ally adults play a crucial role in creating a safe and supportive environment for LBGTQ+ youth. In this session, participants will learn about a variety of topics related to the LGBTQ+ community that will help them gain a deeper understanding of LGBTQ+ experiences.

Confidentiality & Creating a Safe Space to Access Zoom

We recognize and understand that not everyone has a safe and affirming home life, and that it may be a challenge to attend this summit from where you live. Below are some tips to make your virtual summit experience safer and to help protect the confidentiality of attendees: 

• Consider using earbuds or headphones

• If possible, join us from a room or space in your house that is in a quiet place away from other people

• Use a free virtual background on Zoom

• Mute your microphone when you’re not speaking to limit background noise and the voices of other people who may be in your house.

• Learn more at Confidentiality & Creating a Safe Space

Zoom Resources

• How to create a Zoom account

• How to rename yourself or change your photo and add your pronouns

• How to reduce the background noise on Zoom