Second Youth Pride Conference in Naples to focus on LGBTQ support

A chance for LGBTQ youth to explore LGBTQ-related issues facing them is what the organizers of the annual Youth Pride Conference hope to provide.

The event takes place Saturday at the Naples United Church of Christ, where a room for this pride event has been privately rented and has no affiliation with the church.

This was the case last year when they were also met with pushback from the community.

“I think we know from the threats and the harassment that we have gotten that they certainly would be met with some unsafe circumstances,” said Youth Pride Conference Director Daniel Shaw.

For the second year, the group plans for more pushback.

In March 2022, the first-ever Youth Pride Conference was held to empower and educate LGBTQ kids ages 12 to 18 on issues like mental health and religion.

“To see these students and the way they’re finally able to be themselves, that’s why we do this,” said Shaw during that first event.

Shaw said the event inside the Naples United Church of Christ was intended to create a supportive and safe place for LGBTQ kids, but some people didn’t see it that way.

“We are protesting something because we believe people are in danger,” said Fred while protesting the event last year.

One year later, the event will happen again and feature topics like transgender healthcare, queer arts, and even highly-controversial issues like book bans.

“We’re taking the whole notion that LGBTQ youth are controversial and accepting that premise. I refuse to accept that. There is nothing controversial about LGBTQ youth and their identities, absolutely nothing,” said Shaw.

With the possibility of more protests and safety concerns surrounding the LGBTQ community, the focus of Saturday’s event will be all on support.

“These students are fearful. So yeah, there is a lot of fear surrounding this event. But it’s not my fear. It’s not the fear in the community. It’s the fear that these students face every day in their lives. And it’s not right. It’s not fair,” Shaw said.

In 2022, critics hated the idea. Protesters held signs outside the doors to the church. That won’t stop organizers from holding a second Youth Pride Conference.

“We had a lot of negative backlash within the community. But in reality, those were just the loudest voices. Those were not by any means majority. The overwhelming amount of support that we received last year alone, and much less this year, is overwhelming, overwhelmingly for good,” said Shaw.

He said the event would take place at the same church. Senior Minister David Greenhaw said it’s no problem. “We’re an open and affirming congregation, which means that the long history of gay and lesbian misuse, dismissal has been wrong in the life of the world. And it’s time for some of us to say there’s a place at the table and to change the way we do it.”

Conference Coordinator Olive Saunders said, as proven in politics and protests, not everyone is so welcoming.

“To be honest, it also makes me petrified. It makes me a little bit concerned for my future as a queer youth. (edit) it’s something that I have to do for queer youth because they deserve fundamentally, you know, to feel safe, comfortable, happy so they can flourish just like any other kid,” said Saunders.

To make sure everyone attending feels safe, Naples police will be on hand.