Youthopolis celebrates young and 'fierce' queer community

More than 100 youth community members arrived in Volunteer Park Friday night, braving the rain and cold to applaud queer youth activism.

Friday marked the 8th annual Youthopolis—a high-energy award ceremony and celebration honoring youth leaders in Seattle's queer community. The theme for this year's gathering was "It's Raining Queers."

Youthopolis was housed by the Seattle Asian Art Museum (SAAM) located at Volunteer Park and hosted by Sister Glo from the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, a queer rights advocacy group based in Seattle and San Francisco, Calif.

Sponsored by Mpowerment, a peer-driven queer youth branch of Lifelong AIDS Alliance that focuses on alcohol and drug harm reduction, HIV prevention, safer-sex promotion and sex positivity. Youthopolis has become an institution on Capitol Hill.

There are currently 10 Seattle University students serving on Mpowerment's Core Team.

Matisse Fletcher, senior international studies major, was one of the event coordinators for Youthopolis this year. This is her second year co-coordinating the event, along with University of Washington accounting major Tiffany Pham.

Fletcher and Pham worked for three months to plan the event. After finding the venue and finalizing contracts with both SAAM and Taste, the downtown Seattle Art Museum-operated café that catered the event,they found a DJ and a photographer for Youthopolis.

Fletcher, Pham and the rest of the Core Team designed and decorated the stage for the event and finally publicized Youthopolis on Facebook.

"The uniqueness and variety of our queer community shapes the event," Fletcher said. "People from all over King County and all walks of life attend."

Youthopolis has grown exponentially in the past years, Fletcher added, noting Mpowerment brought musical performances to this year's celebration.

For Jonathen Diego, senior sociology major and another Mpowerment Core Team member, this year's event marked his third Youthopolis in a row.

"Besides being an awards ceremony, it's a fabulous way for young queers to socialize, build community and be fierce together," Diego said.

Diego also said Youthopolis recognizes individuals who would never have been otherwise acknowledged in their community.

This year's musical lineup included Seattle U fan-favorite Sketch Echo, along with Aril & Fin and Team Gina. The event had tarot card readings, free food, henna tattoos, HIV/AIDS testing and education on safe-sex practices. One of the goals was to promote condom use for sexually active people, according to Fletcher.

Dancing and live musical performances drew many community members. The 100-person crowd was the event's highest turnout yet, according to the evening's host, Sister Glo.

"Youthopolis is a celebration for all queer youth," Pham said. "The importance of Youthopolis is to provide a safe environment where queers and allies can come together and just have fun."

Each year, Mpowerment tries to transform the event with a new theme, new winners and new performers. Fletcher equates the constantly changing feel of Youthopolis to Madonna reinventing herself.

Special guests this year included Sen. Ed Murray—who helped introduce and pass Washington's 2007 domestic partnership law extending rights to same-sex couples—and local transgender rights advocate Marsha Botzer, co-chair of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force.

Senior marketing major Jordan Sirlin won HIV Educator of the Year. This is his first award from Youthopolis.

"Youthopolis is important to me," Sirlin said. "But winning is not as important as being a part of such an incredible organization that provides support to queer youth."

Anyone younger than 22 can win an award at Youthopolis, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identification.

"Youthopolis will only get better," Fletcher said. "Like RuPaul, Youthopolis just gets better with age."

Carolyn may be reached at chuynh@suspectator.com