NEWS treasure coast Photo via Pxhere.
Treasure Coast ‘Dancing with Pride’ To Benefit Suicide Prevention
Denise Royal
T
he Treasure Coast Bowling Club is sponsoring a dance for the LGBT communities on Oct. 5 from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. People living from Vero Beach to Hobe Sound are encouraged to attend. “Our LGBTQA Bowling league is one weekly event that has been growing since its inception in 2015,” said David Axton, President, TCBowling Club. “Because there are no wholly gay venues or nightclubs, we decided to hold an event (a dance) so that for one magical night, the LGBTQA community could unite and have a good time.” DJ Chris from Next Level DJs and Entertainment will play music from the 70s, 80s, 90s and today. “He is sure to get people off their feet and to the dance floor all night long,” Axton said. In addition to proceeds from ticket sales, there are numerous donated items up for raffle, including local community theatre shows, a brand new 40 inch Smart TV, works of art, household baskets, beauty baskets, and much more. The event will raise funds for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. “We decided on this, because each of us on the Board of TC Bowling Club have been personally touched by the self-inflicted death of someone they know or love,” Axton
said. “We need to try to prevent further victims and get the awareness out there, as well as the message that life WILL get better with age.” According to Save.org, Asian American, African American, Latino, and Native American people who are LGB attempt suicide at especially high rates. More than 40 percent of trans adults said they had attempted suicide, in one study. The same study found that 61 percent of trans people who were victims of physical assault had attempted suicide. LGB young people who come from families that reject or do not accept them are over 8 times more likely to attempt suicide than those whose families accept them. According to Florida’s Department of Children and Families, suicide was the second leading cause of death for individuals within the 25-34 age group in 2017; similar to the national ranking of 2016, and the third leading cause of death for individuals within 15-24 age group. Advance tickets $15 or $20 at the door. Seating is limited. If you’re unable to attend, but want to support, you can still purchase tickets for the event. More information and tickets are available at www.TCBowlingClub. com.
If you go:
What: Dancing With Pride Benefit When: Oct 5 from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Where: Polish American Club, 343 SW Prima Vista Blvd, Port Saint Lucie 10.2.2019 •
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