Gay youth from across Vermont will gather in Burlington, on Saturday, to mark the annual Youth Pride Day. It's an opportunity for them to celebrate with friends and this year there's a surprise in store.
The day kicks off with a conference on forming gay-straight alliances in school. Then gay youth and their supporters will parade down Church Street, and end with a speakout at City Hall.
"I think people often miss out on the youth, kind of the youth experience, these are people that are growing up here and they need an opportunity to kind of like create their own community and that can be difficult in a rural place," explains Katherine Betzer, Outright Vermont's director of health and wellness.
For many gay youth, pride is an opportunity to let their hair down and just have fun with their peers.
"It's about being me. Just, you know, coming out and walking in front of people and greeting people and telling them it's okay to tell them that I'm Shamoi and I'm gay, and I think that's fun," says Shamoi Elmes, an 18-year-old from Vergennes.
Gay Youth Mark Pride Day
WCAX, VT
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