The Project for Deeper Understanding panel discussion on Thursday is about binary gender identification. The conversation will be led by teens from Park City High School’s Gay Straight Alliance along with current and former Teen Council members. It will be moderated by a district teacher who has been involved in social justice and educational equity training. KPCW will live stream the panel discussion on their Facebook page.
Pastor Charles Robinson is the founder of the Project for Deeper Understanding. He says the decision to bring the topic of binary gender identification to the forefront has to do with realizing they’ve never had a panel discussion that targets young people.
“So, the question put forth in the room was what will happen if we had an evening dedicated to young people and we let the young people plan it and kind of lead it. And so, that's what happened. We got some young people together and this is the topic they came up with and it will be not only an exchange of ideas among young people, but it will also be an educational event for parents.”
Park City High School student and Teen Council member Morgan Pinkney will be on the panel.
“I think this is just a really good opportunity for students to be able to have like a safe space to communicate with people and sort of share experiences. And it's a really great opportunity also for parents and community members if they don't know a whole lot about gender and all the new terms to sort of learn, and be able to understand, more what kids are going through-I guess these days, well all people, but it's sort of more predominant now than it was like 20 years ago.”
Planned Parenthood of Utah Education Director, Annabele Sheinberg says pronouns are an important piece of gender identity.
“We want to open up space for folks to let us know what their pronouns are. And so, for example we may have non-binary youth. We do have some non-binary youth on the panel who choose they them pronouns. And there are far more pronouns that I can get into here. However, we will have a little interactive activity about pronouns, kind of an educational piece led by our Safe at Schools Trainer, Bo Owens. I think that will be helpful to everybody to help set the stage for a conversation.”
Sheinberg says the research shows that millennials have very different perspectives on gender.
“Absolutely different than folks our age. And so, it's really, I think a great opportunity to listen and learn and also get some questions answered. So, I know that Morgan and I were talking and he's hoping that educators come, right? That teachers come from the community to learn more about how to support their students. And when I first talked to Charles about this, one of the things Charles said is that you know, this is a way for us to learn how to show respect, right, for people because we haven’t been taught what these different ways of expressing gender is about and we can support folks in being who they are."
There will be resource tables set up and Sheinberg says she hopes some of the representatives will join the dialogue.
“Having a table with the Mama Dragons who are parents who support their LGBTQ plus youth. We will be having ACLU of Utah. We will have equality Utah. Also Connect, also Valley Mental Health. So, we really do hope that it does serve as a support and opportunity for folks who are looking to learn more and to know how to support their family members.”
The Project for Deeper Understanding is Thursday from 7 to 9 pm at the St. Luke’s Episcopal Church on Silver Springs Road in Snyderville.
