Masculinities and Queer Youth

During this class, we will dig deep into what the word “masculinity” means and how positive or negative masculine influences can affect those around us (our community). We will focus on what machismo means and how it effects LGBTQ+ youth and their development into adulthood. Furthermore, we will have some fun with role play. The goal is to discover healthy ways to approach real life situations when it comes to encountering machismo and to identify ways to be a positive masculine influence.

Trainers:

Chiino Rios – Chris Rios, known in his community as Chiino, is a 30 year old queer Latino who was born and raised in Springfield, MA. Chiino is a performing artist, LGBTQ+ community advocate, and CEO of a national financial educational and literacy business. Having spent most of his teenage and adult life working with young people and folks who identify as LGBTQ+, Chiino knows how important it is to have these discussions and says he is both humbled and grateful to be part of this ongoing work.

James Arana is a social worker, community organizer, and group facilitator with 35 years of experience working in the U.S. and internationally through the Men’s Resource Center, Men’s Resources International, and MERGE for Equality, as well as other organizations, to prevent violence and promote dialogue across race, class, and gender.