Madison, Wisconsin – Proud Theater, in collaboration with Outreach LGBT Community Center, Trinity United Methodist Church, PFLAG-Madison, and the First United Methodist Church of Madison will be holding its first annual LGBTQ+ intergenerational conference on Saturday, March 12, 2016, at First United Methodist Church, 203 Wisconsin Avenue, in Madison, Wisconsin, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

‘Connections: Building LGBTQ+ Relationships’, is a conference designed to bring together multiple generations of the LGBTQ+ and allied communities with the express purpose of building positive bonds between community members of all ages through interactive activities and creative sharing. A laid back day of fun and interactive activities, Connections is designed to bring people together on many different topics and will explore the intersectionality between LGBTQ+ generations, actively promoting mutual understanding and sharing between all who attend. Lunch and snacks will be served throughout the day to those that have pre-registered.

Brian Wild, Executive Director of Proud Theater, developed the idea of an intergenerational conference for the LGBTQ+ community through his work with the youth of Proud Theater. “I realized that, aside from the mentors of Proud Theater, many of our youth had no real connection to the generations that preceded them,’ Wild stated, ‘Likewise, I really started thinking about how much I have learned from the youth over the years, and felt that older members of the LGBTQ+ community could not only share their stories and History with our young people, but would also gain valuable insight and inspiration from the incredible lives and work our youth are currently doing to propel LGBTQ+ equality forward. We all need role models, no matter how young or old we are.”

Caroline Warner, LGBT Senior Advocate for the Outreach LGBT Community Center and Connections committee member agreed, adding “What better way to be supportive of our LGBT youth than to interact with them.”

Registration for ‘Connections’ will begin on Monday, January 25, 2016, and registration forms can be requested by sending an email to [email protected]. Space is limited, and the event is asking for a suggested donation between $5 and $20 dollars. Ramp parking is available, however parking at the church is reserved for those special with mobility needs. Event organizers are also looking for additional volunteers to assist the day of the conference. If interested in volunteering or becoming a sponsor, inquiries can be sent to the reservation email address.

For more information on ‘Connections: Building LGBTQ+ Relationships’, visit www.proudtheater.org, or contact Proud Theater Executive Director Brian Wild at [email protected], or at 608-222-9086. Tax-deductible donations to support the event can be sent to: Proud Theater, PO Box 6306, Monona WI, 53716, or made via PayPal through the Proud Theater website. All donations for the event should be specified when submitted.