GLSEN, Metropolitan Community Churches Partner To Bring Educator Trainings to Cities Across the U.S.

New York – GLSEN, or the Gay Lesbian & Straight Education Network, announced its partnership today with Metropolitan Community Churches (MCC) to bring GLSEN’s Teacher/Educator Training Workshops to additional cities across the United States. The Teacher/Educator Training Workshop seeks to give allies in education a more in-depth understanding of how to address anti-LGBT bias in their schools and to make them safer for all students, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.

"The Teacher/Educator Training Workshop program is a tremendous resource developed to provide hands-on training experiences for educators and our allies in education," said GLSEN’s Founder and Executive Director Kevin Jennings. "We are delighted to bring this training to additional cities throughout the U.S. and excited by the tremendous response from educators and youth service providers."

The first joint training program in March reached capacity and was an overwhelming success. Future dates and locations include:

Aug. 25-26 – MCC of Greater New Orleans, New Orleans
Sept. 15-16 – Church of the Trinity, Sarasota, Fla.
Sept. 22-26 – MCC Austin at Freedom Oaks, Austin, Texas
Oct. 14 – City of Angels MCC, Los Angeles
Oct. 20-21 – Valley Ministries MCC, Stockton, Calif.
Nov. 3 – Resurrection MCC, Houston

"We know that teachers, counselors and administrators often do not intervene in incidences of anti-lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender name-calling and harassment," said MCC’s Executive Director Dr. Cindi Love. "Sometimes educators simply do not know what to do; through these trainings we want to encourage, enlighten and empower them to make change."

Rev. Pat Bumgardner, who initiated the MCC and GLSEN partnership, added, “One of the most vital things any faith community can do is to bring GLSEN’s Teacher/Educator Training Workshop to your area. It will make our schools safer; educators desperately need the information this workshop provides."

To learn more about scheduling a Teacher/Educator Training Workshop in you area, contact TOT@glsen.org. To register for one of these trainings, please visit www.mccchurch.org/glsen-mcctraining.

About GLSEN
GLSEN, or the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, is the leading national education organization focused on ensuring safe schools for ALL students. Established nationally in 1995, GLSEN envisions a world in which every child learns to respect and accept all people, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression. For more information on GLSEN’s educational resources, public policy and public education work, student organizing programs, research or development initiatives, continue to visit www.glsen.org.

About Metropolitan Community Churches
Metropolitan Community Church (MCC) is a Christian denomination practicing ecumenical and interfaith leadership as an official observer of the World Council of Churches. MCC operates in 26 countries and in 237 cities in the United States. Founded in 1968 by Reverend Dr. Troy Perry, Metropolitan Community Church had the first publicly proclaimed ministry of welcome to GLBT people. www.MCCchurch.org