True Colors Workshop Guidelines

Thank you for your decision to propose a workshop for True Colors XVII: Focus on Our Families which will be held on Friday, March 12 and Saturday, March 13, 2010 at the University of Connecticut, in Storrs, CT.

Listed below are the guidelines for the True Colors workshops. Please read the guidelines below before you complete workshop proposal form.    

Proposal Deadline: 
Friday, December 11, 2009

Be sure you are ready to fill out all of these sections the first time you enter the site because you can’t get back to the form once you submit it.

Workshop Topics may encompass any aspect of lesbian, gay, bisexual, same gender loving, transgender, intersex, queer, questioning, or ally issues specifically, or within a broader social justice context (i.e. multi-issue organizing, anti-racism, anti-discrimination, etc.)

Want to present a workshop but need an idea?  Check out our wish list!

The proposal form includes the following sections:

• Workshop Title (Workshop titles are really important!  Many participants choose a workshop selection based solely on the title.)
• Workshop Summary (150 words maximum.) This description will be included in the conference guide.
• Audience: Activist Institute, College, General, Jr. High, High School or Professional - Click here
• Preferred workshop days/times:
  • Workshop choices include:
    • Single (75 minute),
    • Double (2.5 hours),
    • Full Day (4 Hour),
    • Two Day workshop (8 hour)
• Workshop Agenda with timeline
• Workshop Goals and Objectives
• Presenter information including:
  • Name, address, phone, email for each presenter
  • A short biography for each presenter (maximum of 75 words)
• True Colors reserves the right to change session length and target audience based on the needs of the overall program.

I have read the guidelines and am ready to
submit a workshop proposal

Workshop Wish List

Activist Institute Workshops (submit)

Audience:  Youth and Adult

Workshop Examples:

• Planning for a succesful direct action
• Ideas for creating change in your school or community
• Turning apathy to action
• How to successfully lobby your legislator
• Nuts and bolts of grassroots organizing
• Developing activism on your campus
• Dealing with backlash
• Learning from our queer activist history
• Turning protest into power
• Creating a multi-issue social justice organization
• Anti-racism for queers 

College Only (submit)

Audience:  College age students, approximately 18-24 years old

Workshop Wish List:

• Impact of media on body image, behavioral or relationship choices
• Starting and maintaining a GSA on campus;
• Working with conservative school cultures;
• Coming out to your roommate;
• Being political on campus;
• Fighting a culture of apathy with activism;
• Negotiating safer sex, etc.

General Workshops (submit)

Audience:  Youth and Adult

Workshop Wish List:

• Queer Spirituality
• Personal Coming Out Stories with Q&A
• Re-Constructing Masculinity
• Creating Effective Youth Adult Partnerships
• The Nuts and Bolts of Running and Maintaining a GSA
• The Rights of LGBTQ Youth at School;
• Exploring Transgender Concerns
• What is Intersex?
• Born Gay? A look at biological factors
• Exploring and Developing Your Creative Self
• LGBT Leaders of Color Speak Out
• Cross-national relationships;
• Queer Theory

Jr. High School (submit)

Audience:  Youth, approximately 13-16 years old

Workshop Wish List:

• Icebreaker and ‘getting to know you’ activities that help youth make friends and meet people during the day
• Body image
• Healthy relationships (how do you know when you have one and when you don’t)
• Basic Q+A – what does it mean to be ‘questioning’? How does someone know if they are LGB? What does the T mean?
• How to be an ally
• Telling your friends or parents that you might be LGB or T 
• Activity based workshops such as dance, drumming, art, theater games, performance art are also welcome

High School (submit)

Audience:  Youth, approximately 16-19 years old

Workshop Wish List:

• Body image
• Impact of media on body image, behavioral or relationship choices
• Negotiating abstinence or safer sex
• Starting or maintaining a GSA or great GSA activities
• Running a day of silence, no name calling week or other educational activities at school
• Healthy and unhealthy relationships
• Facilitated discussions on identity specific topics (such as youth of color who are also LGBT, Trans youth only; Being Bi; Caribbean LGBT; Managing Machismo: Gay and Latino, etc.)
• Dealing with homophobic students, faculty or staff
• Activity based workshops such as dance, drumming, art, theater games, performance art are also welcome.

Professional Best Practices Workshops (submit)

Audience:  Adult Professionals, graduate students

Workshop Wish List:

• Model LGBT inclusive lesson plans (English, Social Studies, History, Civics, Sociology, Human Services, etc.)
• Creating safe and affirming classrooms
• Bully Free Classrooms
• Hands-on Skills for Interrupting Intolerance in various settings (classroom, hallways, gym, group homes)
• Substance abuse reduction strategies that are effective with LGBTQIA youth
• Policy or programming models of inclusion within a group home setting
• Meeting the health care needs of transgender youth
• Developing support in middle schools
• Round table discussions targeting specific audiences
• Balancing personal values with professional responsibilities;
• Gay – nature or nurture;
• International issues (immigration, cross-national relationships, etc.) 
• Working with Families of LGBT youth
• Working with Families of LGBT youth of color

I have read the guidelines and am ready to
submit a workshop proposal