DALLAS (YFT) — GLSEN has chosen Youth First Texas member Hai Duong, among hundreds of applicants, to participate in the national 2009 Safe Schools Advocacy Summit to be held in Washington, D.C. on March 21.

According to a press release from GLSEN,  participants were hand-selected from across the country in which each have demonstrated superior leadership skills in the LGBT community, live in a key legislative district, and have shown an interest in legislative advocacy.

Hai Duong, 18, is an active member of the LGBT community. He has participated and organized numerous events for the Richland College GSA.

“I am hoping to learn to effectively communicate with the government,” Duong said.

“I want to be able to have a voice — to matter. I want to bring back skills that I can use that will benefit not only me, but the rest of society.”

The SSAS is dedicated to teaching youth about the legislative process, lobbying, and methods on delivering effective messages brought upon legislation, and on organizing advocacy groups within their own region on a more national level. The youths attending the summit will visit Capitol Hill to meet with policy makers in their districts and participate in a Q&A session.

GLSEN has chosen 18 youth and 18 adults to participate in the event.