Sarah McBride is a leading LGBTQ rights figure in Delaware – and nationally. But when she first came out to her parents as transgender, her parents had mixed emotions.
Her mother Sally felt like she was losing her only child because of her shift in identity.
“When Sarah first came out to us, we knew very little about what it meant to be a transgender person," McBride said. "And through education, it was so helpful to us to try to understand who she wanted to be and her true authentic self.”
That’s why it’s become her mission to educate others about LGBTQ issues – leading a support group for parents of transgender children.
She saw a screening of the film Gender Revolution at the National Geographic Society in Washington, D.C. – she knew she wanted to bring it to the First State.
“Things are changing so much in terms of gender and the gender spectrum and the fluidity of that spectrum, and most people don’t understand," McBride said.
McBride sees the film as an educational tool to educate people about the challenges specific to LGBTQ Delawareans.
A panel discussion following the free film screening - moderated by Sarah McBride - also aims to educate.
It will feature several panelists like Karla Fleshman, who runs an LGBTQ mentoring initiative for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Delaware. She says many aren’t aware of the unique mental health needs of LGBTQ youth.
“They are at a higher risk of self harm," Fleshman said. "And they’re at a higher risk of self harm because they’re at a higher risk of bullying, they’re at a higher risk of not being supported for who they are.”
Fleshman sees mentorship as a key resource in helping address these issues - and works to pair LGBTQ students in Delaware with an LGBTQ mentor.
There are 15 pairs in the First State so far.
The free screening of Nat Geo documentary Gender Revolution takes place at 6:30 pm Thursday at Wilmington’s Cab Calloway School of the Arts.
Panelists will include:
Lisa Goodman - co-president of Equality Delaware
Brett Herb - Gender Therapist with Christiana Care
Karla Fleshman - LGBTQ mentor with Big Brothers, Big Sisters
DeShanna Neal - parent of a teen transgender daughter and Transactivist
Devin Brymer - Senior at Newark High School
Another screening is taking place Tuesday at the Rehoboth Beach Film Society’s Cinema Art Theater, starting at 7 p.m. Tickets for that showing are $5.
