On April 1, WAGLY welcomed three LGBTQ+ elected officials for an interactive panel discussion. Peer leaders introduced the panel, which included Melrose school committee member Lizbeth DeSelm; State Representative Natalie Higgins; and OUT MetroWest’s former executive director, State Representative Jack Lewis. Holyoke city councilor Jossie Valentin was scheduled to appear but had to miss the event due to illness.
Each panelist shared their own LGBTQ+ journey and fielded questions from youth participants on topics ranging from coming out and non-binary state IDs to reproductive rights and gerrymandering.
We’re so grateful to these elected officials for sharing their stories with us. As public figures, their visibility encourages civic engagement among LGBTQ+ young people.
(l-r: Natalie Higgins, Jack Lewis, and Lizbeth DeSelm)
