GLSEN Leadership Awards & Benefit Party
The Hudson Valley Chapter of GLSEN - the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, honored nine Westchester residents at the organization’s Annual Benefit Party at 6 p.m. on June 7 in the Asbury Hall of the Memorial United Methodist Church in White Plains.
Named a “GLSEN 2003 Leader” were Diana Ceja, Jessica Feinman, Mandy Gersten, Dan Gullery, Alec Holmes, Aliana Marino, Nicholas Mendoza, Amy Montilli, and Nicholas Ponton. Except for Gersten, all are active leaders in their high school’s gay-straight alliances. Gersten is a teacher at Bronxville High School and is the advisor to that school’s gay-straight alliance.
The Annual Benefit Party celebrated a successful year for the Hudson Valley Chapter of GLSEN, the leading national organization working to end anti-lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) bias in K-12 schools. The chapter has more than 100 active members in six counties who help support work done by teachers and students in area schools, organize conferences, and assist schools doing teacher-training.
“A Summer Evening of Friendship and Celebration” was the theme of the benefit, which was held this year at the Memorial United Methodist Church. The church’s new LGBT Covenant Group arranged for the use of the facilities.
The students are all seniors about to graduate from their high schools: Diana Ceja, Port Chester High School; Jessica Feinman, John Jay H.S.; Dan Gullery, Ossining HS; Alec Holmes, Horace Greeley HS; Aliana Marino, Somers HS; Nicholas Mendoza, Yorktown HS; Amy Pontilli, Somers HS; Nicholas Ponton, Westlake HS. Mandy Gersten teaches math at Bronxville H.S. and advises that school’s gay-straight alliance.
Many high schools have gay-straight alliances – 24 in Westchester alone. The groups can help change the climate of a school and make it safer for all students. Gay-Straight Alliances help reduce anti-gay violence, harassment, and discrimination by educating the school community about homophobia and by encouraging a greater degree of understanding from students and school personnel. The groups also give gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, questioning, and heterosexual students a safe place to discuss their feelings and fears related to sexual orientation.
Several area shops donated merchandise and services to support GLSEN’s Annual Benefit Party and for the Gift Raffle. Among them are A.C. Moore, Yorktown; Country Willow, Katonah; Holbrook Cottage, Briarcliff Manor; Jacob Burns Film Center, Pleasantville; Living Lessons, Larchmont; Crowne Plaza Hotel, White Plains; Vision of Tomorrow Salon and Spa, Larchmont; Club Fit, Jefferson Valley; The Pizza Gourmet Restaurant, Mamaroneck; Trader Joe’s East, Scarsdale; Needless Necessities, Larchmont; Madison Abstract, Scarsdale, Food Emporium, Dobbs Ferry, Freedom House Bed and Breakfast, New Hampshire, Hannaford Market, Kingston, Heavenly Sense, New Windsor, L’Image Salon, Mamaroneck, Phyllis Victor Gifts, Mamaroneck, PIP Printing, White Plains, Sarlin Opticians, Mamaroneck, Solo Cleaners, Mamaroneck and Stop and Shop, Larchmont.