News Briefing

Help for the holidays

National LGBT agency The Trevor Project wants to ensure those struggling because of their sexual orientation or gender identity know they’re not alone this holiday season.

For LGBTQ youth, holiday stress may worsen depression and anxiety, which is why the agency recommends parents, friends and mentors stay especially involved and watchful.

The Trevor Project offers a free confidential 24-hour hotline for youth who may be considering suicide, or for those who believe they’ve seen warning signs of suicide in a young person, at (866) 488-7386. Local resources are also available at Hall Mercer Crisis Response Center at (215) 829-5433, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital at (215) 955-6000 and the William Way LGBT Community Center at (215) 732-2220.

For more information, visit www.TheTrevorProject.org

Town hall on Pa. LGBT issues

A coalition of pro-LGBT groups will host a town-hall meeting next month in Philadelphia to discuss the future of LGBT rights in the state.

The meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 10 at the William Way LGBT Community Center, 1315 Spruce St.

The ACLU of Pennsylvania, Equality Pennsylvania and the Human Rights Campaign launched the town-hall series last month to discuss tactics for advancing LGBT equality in the state.

Following the meeting, there will be an “Equality on the Rocks” social at 8:30 p.m. at Tabu, 200 S. 12th St.

Running for office?

Potential political candidates are invited to a seminar next month designed to help candidates navigate the ins and outs of the local election process.

Law firm Flaster Greenberg will host “Get Ready, Get Set, Run! Top 10 Legal Do’s and Don’ts for Political Candidates in Philadelphia” at 8 a.m. Jan. 11 at 1600 John F. Kennedy Blvd., second floor.

Attorneys Kevin Greenberg and Abbe Fletman, co-chairs of the firm’s government-relations practice, will conduct the non-partisan seminar. Topics include qualifying for the ballot, city and state disclosure requirements and campaign finance limits.

For more information or to register, visit www.flastergreenberg.com.

— Jen Colletta

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