Equality Florida to host Safe Schools event at Little Room Jazz Club

De Palazzo, state director of Equality Florida’s Safe and Healthy Schools program, will be the featured guest at Equality Florida Key West’s connection event 5 p.m.-7 p.m., June 29, at the Little Room Jazz Club, 821 Duval St.

Palazzo will update members and guests on the work Equality Florida is doing in classrooms across the state to create a culture of inclusion while countering the bullying, harassment, social isolation, and bigotry that dramatically increase risk factors for LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning) students. She is currently working with the Monroe County School District.

“The Safe and Healthy Schools program is close to my heart,” said Babs Wade, Key West development associate. “I find nothing more disturbing than hearing about gay and trans kids being constantly bullied at school and, in far too many cases, taking their own lives. The work De is doing saves lives.”

A woman holds a rainbow flag during the NYC Pride Parade in New York. Young Americans overwhelmingly say they support LGBT rights when it comes to employment, health care and adoption. That’s according to a new GenForward survey, which finds 92 percent of young adults support HIV and AIDs prevention, 90 percent support equal employment, and 80 percent support LGBT adoption. Across ethnic groups, large majorities of Americans aged 18 to 30 favor training police on transgender issues, government support for LGBT youth organizations and insurance coverage for transgender health issues. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)

The event, said Wade, is intended to raise awareness throughout the community of the work being done in Monroe County and throughout the state. It is not a fundraiser, she said. The Little Room Jazz Club is providing appetizers and there are 2-for-1 drink specials. Larry Smith will provide live music at 6 p.m. The event is open to the public.

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