Empowering You & Your LGBTQ Community: A Program of the Utah Pride Center

An interactive and in-depth series of six-week workshops focused on gaining knowledge, building skills,

& strengthening relationships. If you’re looking for stimulating conversations, this will be the place 

Held in the Middle Meeting room at the Utah Pride Center, these groups are open to all sexual orientations/gender identities. Cost is $15 for the first or second three-week module. Scholarships are available on request. Participants are asked to commit to the first three sessions and/or the last three, and join the first or fourth week. Co-facilitators will be Deanna Rosen, LCSW; Jeanna Jacobsen, MSW; Joshua Bytendorp; & Julia Mackaronis. These workshops were co-created by Lee Beckstead, PhD, & Jordan Rullo, MS.

September 3, 10, 17, 24, October 1, 8 2009 (Thursdays 7:00-8:30); Facilitated by Deanna & Joshua

Living As A Minority: Loving Yourself In A World Where You Are Different.No matter how well adjusted we are, we each experience nagging feelings of inadequacy and self-doubt. It is inevitable in a society that tells us that we are not okay who we are. This workshop will go in depth to help you enhance the relationship you have with yourself, strengthen your ability to manage discrimination and conflict, and live with a sense of self-assurance and worth. This workshop is designed to empower you to move from being victimized and merely surviving to thriving in a community where you are different. To register or for more information on this workshop, contact Joshua at 801-573-1194 or .

October 22, 29, November 5, 12, 19, December 3, 2009 (Thursdays 7:00-8:30); Facilitated by Joshua & Jeanna

Masculinity, Femininity, And All The Spaces In Between: Understanding Gender And Gender Roles And How It All Affects Your Life. Masculine, Feminine, Butch, Femme, Queen, Fairy, Bear. What are the ingredients in this blender of gender? Who decides? What if our gender isn’t congruent with our genitals? We are all affected by the gender we portray and told we are supposed to portray, some of us more than others. This workshop will focus on exploring our gender identity, how gender roles help and hurt us, and how we can learn to love our own and others’ gender expression.

January 4, 11, 25, February 1, 8, 22, 2010 (Mondays 6:00-7:30); Facilitated by Julia & Deanna

Coping Strategies & Dealing With Stress In Our Lives.This workshop will focus on providing you with the knowledge and skills to find dry land during stormy weather. We will explore your current coping skills and coping patterns, what works and what isn’t working, and add to the ways that will keep you surviving and thriving in times of stress.

March 8, 15, 22, 29, April 5, 12, 2010 (Mondays 6:00-7:30); Facilitated by Julia & Joshua

Say What? Communication and Power Dynamics in Relationships. Do you sometimes feel like you are shouting and no one can hear you? Or maybe you are mute because there’s no one there to listen? This workshop will focus on how to be heard and how to hear others with reciprocity and without frustration. We will also explore the power dynamics that manifest in communication and how to effectively maneuver the verbal tug of war.

April 29, May 6, 13, 20, 27, June 3, 2010 (Thursdays 7:00-8:30); Facilitated by Jeanna & Joshua

Sexuality And Intimacy: It Does A Body And Soul Good. If you loved me, you would . . . Ever feel like sexuality and intimacy are attached to issues of control, love, acceptance, and validation? How is your relationship with sexuality and your body? This workshop with help you expand your possibilities around loving and being loved, gain awareness of your sexual needs and motivations, and learn skills to expand your sexual empathy for yourself and others.

June 14, 21, 28, July 12, 19, 26, 2010 (Mondays 6:00-7:30); Facilitated by Deanna & Jeanna

Where is God in all of this? Enhancing Spirituality & Reconciling Conflicts.Ever seen the protestors at the PRIDE festival and Dyke March? Messages such as “God Hates Fags” plastered in red letters across a picketing sign. No matter how each of us may try to ignore these messages, they inevitably resonate in our psyches whether you believe in a Higher Being or not. Many reject religion but feel a void regarding spirituality. This workshop will focus on how to deal with hateful messages both inside and outside yourself and expand your sense of spirituality and clarify your ethics and purpose of life. How to develop a sexual spirituality or a spiritual sexuality will also be discussed.