More than 100 teens recently gathered at the Los Angeles LGBT Center in West Hollywood for a conference with the intention of making them all feel welcome and safe.

“I was really surprised how friendly and open everyone was,” freshman Gabrielle Lashley said. 

The beginning of the annual Models of Pride: Leadership Institute on Feb. 28  was held in the center’s auditorium and was co-hosted by Kevin McLowsky, associate director of the Center’s Children, Youth & Family Services, and Mike Freeman, who oversees the Center’s Community Action Network. They both took turns discussing how the center was a safe haven for young members of the LGBT community who had been shunned by their families and how the community as a whole can fight to take action in ensuring that more places like the center become a reality.

“Fifty years ago, a place like this didn’t exist,” McLowsky said.

A total of 10 schools were invited to the conference, which lasted around seven hours. Everyone who came was greeted with open arms and took part in several different workshops where they talked about problems with the young LGBT community, such as the increased chances of them ending up at bars and succumbing to substance abuse. 

They also took part in activities that revolved around said topics. One of those included taping pieces of papers to people’s backs and writing compliments on those papers as a part of the self-love and self-care workshops, which was a big hit with the kids who participated. Those who attended were also treated to breakfast and lunch, which was served at the center.

“A few people said something about me I never noticed before and I thought that was interesting,” freshman Ashley Harrison said. “I found out about self-worth and how others see me in comparison to how I see myself.”