CAMBA launches 2017 multimedia campaign to promote family support of LGBTQ youth
New York City First Lady Chirlane McCray joined with citywide leaders and CAMBA to kick off Project ALY's fall marketing campaign to spread messages of acceptance for LGBTQ youth.
Last Friday, CAMBA was joined by New York City First Lady Chirlane McCray to launch CAMBA's 2017 marketing campaign to promote parental and familial acceptance of LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning) youth. This initiative, called Project ALY (Accept LGBTQ Youth), is run with funding from the New York City Health Department. Now in its fifth year, Project ALY works to promote parental and familial acceptance of LGBTQ youth, increasing self-esteem and self-worth and decreasing risk of future health or mental health problems including HIV infection and substance abuse. 

“Parental and societal acceptance for LGBTQ children plays a critical role in a child's mental and physical health and has been shown to dramatically decrease their risk for depression, HIV infection and substance abuse,” said Joanne M. Oplustil, President and CEO of CAMBA/CAMBA Housing Ventures. “CAMBA is proud to act as a leader in creating a healthier city for our young people as we prominently display these messages of acceptance for LGBTQ youth throughout Brooklyn.”
CAMBA gathered with city leaders on the steps of Borough Hall to kick off Project ALY's fall marketing campaign.
Project ALY, which began in 2013, promotes acceptance through educational workshops for parents, community groups, and agencies; the development of role model stories, highlighting the stories of parents and family members who have developed greater acceptance for their LGBTQ youth; and through a social marketing campaign that includes online advertising and ads on bus shelters throughout Brooklyn.

“Parents and caregivers are our first teachers and protectors--but that is not always the case for many LGBTQ young people, whose families struggle to accept their identity. I commend CAMBA for stepping up with this new campaign to help parents better understand and appreciate their children as they are. Prominently displaying messages that promote acceptance will help parents of LGBTQ young people and our communities to be more accepting and affirming," said First Lady Chirlane McCray, who leads the NYC Unity Project.

Project ALY’s 2017 campaign will, for the first time, run in Spanish as well as English. More information on the campaign and resources for parents, family members and youth is available at www.camba.org/ProjectALY. You can join in as well: Follow @ProjectALYCAMBA and use #ProjectALY to share your own story of support.
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