Allies Need Allies: 2014 SMYAL Fall Brunch

Permanente physician Sangeeta Iyer, MD, and NBC’s Wendy Reiger (@nbcwendy) (View on Flickr.com)

SMYAL (@SMYALDC) supports and empowers lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) youth in the Washington, DC metropolitan region. Through youth leadership, SMYAL creates opportunities for LGBTQ youth to build self-confidence, develop critical life skills, and engage their peers and community through service and advocacy. Committed to social change, SMYAL builds, sustains and advocates for programs, policies and services that LGBTQ youth need as they grow into adulthood.

Kaiser Permanente Pride of Mid-Atlantic States (@KPMidAtlantic) was a sponsor again this year at the gold level, with a lot of support from Kaiser Permanente Center for Total Health (@KPTotalHealth). The best part is seeing the physicians, nurses, and therapists who are committed to the health of the LGBTQI youth (and all humans) in our community be visible to those they care for. And really vice versa. That’s what allies need allies means.

SMYAL celebrates its 30th year this year. As Wendy Reiger pointed out, the first SMYAL center was unmarked – it had to be to protect the people it served. Thanks for coming a long way, SMYAL, and Washington, DC, USA.

Ted Eytan, MD