January is National Mentoring Month
What is a mentor? The Oxford Dictionary defines it as “an experienced and trusted adviser.” Whether we’re mindful of it or not, we all have had someone in our lives who has helped us transform into the individual we are today. Mentors are all around us. They are our parents and friends, co-workers and supervisors, television personalities, and even top 40 musicians. Their importance in our lives is something we often overlook, but without their presence we are simply basic human beings.
January is National Mentoring month and is a time to reflect on those who have inspired us, but also to help bring about change in the lives of others. Established in 2002 by the Harvard School of Public Health and the National Mentoring Partnership, National Mentoring month is about fostering positive change and development in the lives of America’s young people. The next generations of LGBT leaders are upon us, and it is our duty to act as their mentors to ensure that they receive the knowledge and support necessary to continue the fight for equality.
At first glance Emmett Patterson appears to be just another student at American University’s Washington, D.C. campus. However, passing him off as just another sheep in the crowd would be discounting this sophomore Gender and Sexuality studies major of all the achievements he has made thus far.
At only 19-years-old, Patterson has accomplished more than most students his age can attest to. Patterson, who identifies as a trans* man, was named the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network’s (GLSEN) Student Advocate of the Year in 2011. A Pittsburgh native, he founded Trinity High School’s Gay-Straight Alliance — the first of its kind in Washington County.
He currently attends American University where he serves as the director of the university’s LGBTQA student group’s Trans Advocacy Project, and is a full-time intern at the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force.
Patterson’s journey wasn’t an easy one. While growing up in Southwestern Pa., his high school did not offer protections from discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. He was bullied and even assaulted, but then…a spark. Patterson met Dr. Mary Jo Podgurski, a sex educator,
humanitarian and co-founder of Washington County Gay-Straight Alliance.
“I really look at her as the start of my activism career,” Patterson said. “She
worked with a lot of marginalized communities in Washington County, and I think that she was really the one that got me into it.”
Patterson recognizes the importance for LGBT young people like himself, to
have mentors within the LGBT and Ally community. “I never really met an out trans person until I was in college, and I remember when I was in high school I was coming out feeling like I was the only one and that there was no hope for me,” he recalled.
For those who may feel uncomfortable reaching out to someone for help or support as a mentor, Patterson recommends looking to LGBT organizations for help.
“I think it’s all about reaching out to the top. Reach out to the National Center for Trans Equality, reach out to all these big organizations because you’ll be surprised that there might be someone close to you that you know,” he said. “It’s always about putting yourself out there, specifically
in social justice places where it’s not necessarily as volatile if you come out.”
Many educational institutions and non-profit organizations offer mentoring programs or empowerment groups where LGBT young people can find fellowship and support. Locally, Dreams of Hope works to empower LGBT and allied teens to spread awareness through the creative and performing arts.
The University of Pittsburgh’s Rainbow Alliance and Carnegie Mellon University’s ALLIES groups hold social and educational events within their student communities. Many public and private high schools throughout the region have student led gay-straight alliances, the GLCC holds programming for youth on Friday’s from 7-10 p.m.
“It’s really important to have figureheads who are out and trans and very proud and successful in their activism,” Patterson said. “But, I think it’s almost more important to have someone right there with you, because when I started meeting people who had already been through what I had, I
instantly felt more empowered to do things, I felt like I had a place, and for once I felt normal.”
Younger generations can put themselves out there and find friendly mentors through their experiential learning and extracurricular activities, but as a whole we should actively seek to become mentors in our daily lives. Assisting a non-profit organization with adolescent volunteer work, providing informational interviews to young LGBT’s seeking employment or professional growth, using your office’s after hours socials to connect with young employees and interns, participating in community outreach and scholarship programs to provide assistance to homeless and displaced youth, and attending benefits or donating to organizations that promote
youth leadership and activism are just a few of the many ways you can participate.
Whether you are a mentor, decide to become one, or support others who do, you can play a vital role in making this year’s National Mentoring month a success within the LGBT and allied community. All it takes is a little extra time and patience, a willingness to share knowledge and inspire growth, and a genuine ability to stand up, step out and take the lead.
