Student Workshops

The Alice Austen House teaching artists will share student work produced in the photographic based GSA program. Students will have the opportunity to ask questions and consider nominating their GSA for this program.

Using an amalgam of sketch and short-form improv games such as "Yes...and" and "The Movie Title Game", this workshop will provide some beginning improv skills as a means to tell individual and collective stories about identity, gender and sexuality.

Through the exercises, participants will come to understand how to establish the Who, what, where of a scene, using monologue for improv and creating "comedic characters" as a safe projection to express themselves.

The aim of the workshop is not to teach participants how to be funny, but how to connect with peers through humor as a means of building social supports and higher order coping mechanisms through a relaxing game.

Participants will be able to identify improv skills to help them connect with others through humor.

Participants will express chosen character symbols utilizing artistic expression.

Participants will see how each of their individual identities when combined into a cooperative collaboration can create empowerment, comfort and support.

In this interactive workshop, we will focus on the role of friendship in creating supportive environments and encouraging healthy relationships. First, we will discuss the signs of an abusive relationship and the hallmarks of a healthy relationship. We will together build skills around how to support a friend going through a hard time, including mental health and relationship struggles. Using the framework of love languages, we will talk about how to offer comfort or advice to a friend, strengthening our ability to show up.

Eric Marcus, creator and host of the Making Gay History podcast, draws on his decades-old audio archive of rare interviews with LGBTQ champions, heroes, and witnesses to history to bring the history of the LGBTQ civil rights movement to life through the voices of the people who lived it. The 60-minute program (45-minute presentation, 15-minute Q&A) includes audio clips from interviews with both the well-known—including trans icon Sylvia Rivera, civil rights champion Bayard Rustin, straight ally Dear Abby—and the long-forgotten—including Lisa Ben, Perry Watkins, and Vito Russo.

In 2016, the National Park Service established Stonewall National Monument, a site to celebrate LGBTQ+ history/culture and to honor the memories of Marsha P. Johnson, Sylvia Rivera, and the countless others who fought for LGBTQ+ rights during the 1969 Stonewall uprising. In this session, staff from National Parks Conservation Association (who led the campaign to establish the Monument) will draw upon the actions of the Stonewall uprising participants to inspire the next generation of LGBTQ+ advocates. In this workshop, participants will learn how to speak up for causes important to them and how to advocate for LGBTQ+ representation.

This workshop will feature both parents and LGBTQ+ individuals talking about their personal experiences of coming out from both sides of the conversation. Attendees will hear about approaches to coming out, both good and bad, and have the opportunity to ask questions and have dialogue about issues they would like to discuss.

From our 2021-22 School Program, this workshop explores the rich history and culture of the ball scene. Through discussion, videos, and activities participants will learn the origins of ball, interact with ball terminology, and play along as judges of a virtual walk. High school students may attend the same workshop during Workshop Session #2 at 11:00 a.m.

From our 2021-22 School Program, this workshop is designed to create a safe space for members of GSA clubs to get to know one another. We highlight an element of queer culture, make space for a discussion of LGBTQ+ identities, and then take part in a group share about what makes each of us unique. Middle school students may attend the same workshop during Workshop Session #2 at 11:00 a.m.

This interactive workshop was created to teach participants the basics of HIV. They will learn about what HIV is, how it's spread, how to get tested, and what kind of prevention and management options are out there for them. This workshop uses polls and an interactive slideshow to engage participants.

A drag performer from DSH will be joined by Mor Erlich, creator of Sez Me. the acclaimed LGBTQ+ web series for all ages, and The Dragtivity Book, an educational tool for engaging kids in conversations about gender and identity. This interactive workshop includes story time, a screening and discussion of a short Sez Me segment, an exercise from the Dragtivity Book, and an opportunity for kids and adults to ask questions about drag, identity, and gender expression.

The New York City Commission on Human Rights' Youth Bystander Intervention workshop covers different strategies for intervention that youth can utilize if they witness an incident of discrimination, bias, or harassment. Participants will learn the difference between a bystander and upstander, different types of conflict, best practices for de-escalating a situation, and how to assess the safety of themselves and others before utilizing any intervention strategy.

Need some quiet time? Need a virtual hug? Want to talk with a parent from outside your day-to-day? Come spend this hour with some parents of LGBTQ+ people. Hang out and chat about what's on your mind whether it's growing up LGBTQ+, coming out, parents & family, or something else entirely. Hosted by parents from PFLAG NYC, this is an unstructured, safe virtual space for students who feel like they need a place to talk with supportive parents.

Come to this workshop to learn more about the rights of LGBTQ youth to be safe and respected in school! We will discuss topics ranging from rules about what clothes you wear, the use of affirming name and pronouns, access to spaces that are designated "for boys" and "for girls," harassment and bullying, and more! We will also provide some resources in case you or your friends who are part of the LGBTQ+ community are being treated unfairly because of your sexual orientation or gender identity and expression. There will be time to ask us questions or you can come speak with us at Legal Aid's virtual meeting room.

From our 2021-22 School Program, this workshop is designed to create a safe space for members of GSA clubs to get to know one another. We highlight an element of queer culture, make space for a discussion of LGBTQ+ identities, and then take part in a group share about what makes each of us unique. High school students may attend the same workshop during Workshop Session #1 at 10:00 a.m.

From our 2021-22 School Program, this workshop explores the rich history and culture of the ball scene. Through discussion, videos, and activities participants will learn the origins of ball, interact with ball terminology, and play along as judges of a virtual walk. Middle school students may attend the same workshop during Workshop Session #1 at 10:00 a.m.

In this workshop, we will explore how and why toxic masculinity is the root cause of sexism, heterosexism, homophobia and transphobia, thereby making it the root cause of abuse in LGBTQIA+ relationships. There will be interactive parts of this presentation, inviting young folx to engage as active participants.

Do you know your rights? Come join Teens Helping Each Other for a workshop on knowing your basic health rights! We’ll be sharing resources specifically for LGBTQ+ youth, sharing ways to advocate for yourself, and how to navigate barriers to care!

Topics will include finding an LGBTQ+ inclusive provider, using safer sex tools, STI testing services, PrEP & PEP & counseling services.