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Introduction GSA Network Staff Youth Council Governing Board Jobs/Internships FAQ
Gay-Straight Alliance Network is a youth leadership organization that connects school-based Gay-Straight Alliances (GSAs) to each other and community resources. Through peer support, leadership development, and training, GSA Network supports young people in starting, strengthening, and sustaining GSAs and builds the capacity of GSAs to:
1. create safe environments in schools for students to support each other and learn about homophobia and other oppressions,
2. educate the school community about homophobia, gender identity, and sexual orientation issues, and
3. fight discrimination, harassment, and violence in schools.
• grown the network of GSA clubs in California from 40 clubs to over 650 clubs (representing nearly 50% of the state's high schools);
• provided training and support to over 8,000 youth activists and organizers across the state;
• played a leadership role in grassroots organizing for the passage of ground-breaking, statewide legislation, AB 537: The California Student Safety and Violence Prevention Act of 2000 which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity;
• achieved a critical victory as plaintiff in the first lawsuit filed under AB 537; the three-year settlement agreement required the Visalia schools to enact sweeping reforms including mandatory teacher and student trainings.
GSAs draw on the courage of LGBT youth and the commitment of straight allies working in partnership to build bridges, change school climates, and reform school policies. Strong, well-supported GSAs can have a major impact on the education environment and possess the power to transform individuals, school cultures, and educational institutions. All of our work with students focuses on leadership development and activism that prioritizes building alliances not only across sexual orientation and gender identity lines, but also across race, ethnicity, and class lines, and our resources and trainings are designed to facilitate alliance-building. Our programs benefit our constituents in three critical ways:
1. Ending Isolation through Building GSAs: Our GSA support programs help students start school-based GSAs, clubs that have proven to be vital support systems or "safe zones" for enhancing the well being of youth suffering from isolation, harassment, discrimination, and violence.
2. Developing Leaders: Our networking and leadership training programs develop youth leaders capable of effecting positive change in their schools and communities.
3. Making Schools Safer: We help student organizers learn how to educate teachers and student peers to reduce slurs and work with the school administration to implement school policies that prevent harassment and violence.
Our overall strategy for fighting homophobia and transphobia in schools is to work with grassroots, youth-led groups, and GSAs, empowering them to educate their school communities, advocate for just policies that protect lgbtq youth from harassment and violence, and organize in coalition with other youth groups across identity lines to address broader issues of oppression. Our organization is led by youth because we believe that youth have the power to create solutions and lead the fight against homophobia and transphobia. Representatives from GSAs around California serve on the organization's Youth Councils in Northern California, the Central Valley, and Southern California. Youth Council members make decisions about GSA Network's programs, plan and present at conferences, and lead trainings such as our regional GSA Leadership Trainings and summer GSA Activist Camps. Representatives from each Youth Council serve on the GSA Network Governing Board.
In October 1998, the Gay-Straight Alliance Network became a fiscally sponsored project of The Tides Center which gave us status as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization and allows us to receive tax-deductible donations from individuals and organizations. In 2008, GSA Network became incorporated as its own 501(c)3 non-profit organization.
Carolyn Laub is the founder and director of the Gay-Straight Alliance Network. She writes, "I wanted to start this organization, not only because I understand from personal experience how empowering it is to fight back against homophobia and transphobia, but also because I believe that LGBTQ and straight ally youth are leading an emerging youth movement--community-driven with multi-issue political organizing happening across the lines of race, socio-economic status, gender, and sexual orientation, which have been obstacles in other social justice movements."
Danielle Askini, National Program Manager
Danielle Askini hails from all over. European born and raised, Danielle transitioned from male to female while in high school in Southern Maine. She worked tirelessly as a youth educator and activist to change school climate through GSAs and particularly focused on educating both the straight and LGB communities about the needs of Transgender youth. She is a former foster youth, who worked for a number of years with other foster youth to change state and federal policies affecting young people in the child welfare system. She is a successful graduate of a pilot program in Maine to waive in-sate tuition for youth-in-foster care, a law she helped pass. She obtained her MSW from the University of Southern Maine where she also went for her undergraduate education in social work and gender studies. Her work in University and out has focused on ending discrimination against LGBT young people, rights for youth-in-care, ending hate crimes, immigration rights, and HIV education within the Transgender community. Before coming to GSA Network Danielle worked in Seattle at Verbena Health as a Transgender Health Coordinator, a nationally unique position. Danielle spends her spare time writing, surfing, and traveling to and from Sweden and Netherlands to visit her partner Simon and extended family. She loves the color light blue, studying foreign languages, and queer/trans theory. You are most likely to find her at H&M or IKEA on the weekends soaking up every last bit of Sweden she can.
Jackie Downing, Development and Communications Manager
Jackie grew up in Massachusetts, where she started a Gay-Straight Alliance at her high school in 1998. A graduate of Oberlin College, Jackie's work history includes nonprofit fundraising, special event organizing, communications, volunteer coordination, direct action and group facilitation (she has led workshops in nonviolent communication, conflict resolution and anti-oppression since 1999). Before joining GSA Network, Jackie was the Co-Director of World Bridges, a youth empowerment organization in Oakland, CA. Jackie is a long-time member of SOA Watch, an international human rights organization, where she has promoted accessibility, diversity and multicultural change. She also works with legendary Chicana activist and educator Betita Martinez. Jackie is the recipient of the 2001 Howard R. Swearer National Student Humanitarian Award which is given annually to five U.S. students in recognition of outstanding grassroots humanitarian work. Jackie lives in Emeryville with her partner, Anita Anderson and their mischievous cat, Oliver.
T. Aaron Hans, Advocacy Program Manager
T. Aaron Hans joins the GSA Network after 6 years of teaching at California State University Monterey Bay. An FTM genderqueer activist who hails from the East coast, T. Aaron has previously served as Program Director of the Billy DeFrank LGBT Community Center (San Jose, CA) and Youth Director of the Sexual Minority Youth Assistance League (SMYAL; Washington DC). T. Aaron has a long history of education and advocacy for LGBTQ communities having worked with anti-violence groups, emergency personnel (Fire, Police, and EMS), HIV/AIDS organizations, colleges and universities to ensure inclusion, recognition, and safety of LGBT people. T. Aaron has degrees in Human Development and Family Studies from Pennsylvania State University and Social Justice Education from the University of Massachusetts and enjoys using that training to lead the advocacy programs of the GSA Network. An avid sea kayaker, sci-fi enthusiast, and self-described Mac addict, T. Aaron lives in the bay area with partner Tania Mitchell.Joey Hernandez, Southern California Program Associate
Joey Hernandez started with GSA Network as an Intern in 2008. He is a 3rd Year student at UCLA majoring in Sociology with a minor in LGBT Studies. Involved with the LGBT community, Joey contributes to the UCLA community at large by participating in multiple student groups. During his first year, he co-founded the reinstated UCLA Chapter of Delta Lambda Phi, National Social Fraternity for Gay, Bi and Progressive Men. He stays close to the LGBT community as Chair of Mishpacha, the Jewish LGBT group at UCLA. Joey is the personal assistant for the UCLA LGBT Campus Resource Center's Director and the intern for the Assistant Director. Furthermore, he works with the UCLA administration as the Student Representative for the LGBT Center's Advisory Board while also a holding a position on the UCLA LGBT Student Organization Leadership Council. Away from the queer community, Joey is also Co-Chief-Staff for the General Representative 3 of the Undergraduate Student Associated Council, sits on the Multi-Interest Greek Council and Jewish Leadership Council. Joey plans on finishing up his undergraduate work at UCLA and then going to a masters program in Student Affairs to eventually become an assistant director or director of a campus LGBT center. Joey grew up in Santa Ana, California and graduated from Saddleback High School where he was a leader in the GSA.
Kiely Hosmon, Northern California Program Coordinator
Kiely is extremely excited to be back at the GSA Network and to work with all the fabulous youth leaders. She has previous experience in anti-racist, feminist, and queer organizing from her high school and college days. In fact, Kiely, in 2001, founded her GSA at Santa Teresa High School in San Jose, CA. Kiely received her BA from UC Santa Barbara in Womyn's Studies and LGBTQ Studies and her MA from SFSU in Womyn Studies. Her MA thesis was titled "That Doesn't Happen Here": Addressing Racism in California Gay-Straight Alliances. Kiely has no desire to go back to grad school (ever!) and is perfectly happy working with LGBTQA youth on a daily basis.
Carolyn Laub, Executive Director
Carolyn Laub is the Founder and Executive Director of Gay-Straight Alliance Network. Carolyn received a 4-year fellowship from the Echoing Green Foundation in 1999 that helped launch GSA Network. In 2000, she was honored as one of the first U.S. recipients of the international Ashoka Fellowship, a 3-year fellowship that supports her work as a social entrepreneur. Carolyn was a leader of the grassroots youth effort to pass the California Student Safety and Violence Prevention Act of 2000 (AB 537), an historic law that prohibits discrimination based on actual and perceived sexual orientation and gender identity in California schools. She co-founded the Make It Real Project, a youth-led statewide initiative to implement AB 537. In 2001, Carolyn served on the California Department of Education's AB 537 Advisory Task Force. In 2002, she co-founded the California Safe Schools Coalition, which is dedicated to the full implementation of AB 537. Carolyn has co-led the coalition since its inception and helped author the coalition's groundbreaking report, Safe Place to Learn: Consequences of Harassment Based on Actual or Perceived Sexual Orientation and Gender Non-Conformity and Steps for Making Schools Safer. Prior to starting GSA Network, in 1997, Carolyn created Outlet, a support program for LGBTQQ youth living on the San Francisco peninsula. Additionally, Carolyn was the Director of the AIDS Prevention Program at the Mid-Peninsula YWCA where she developed innovative HIV prevention curriculum and published her research documenting the link between gender ideologies and adolescent sexual risk-taking behavior. She currently serves on the Board of the Transgender Law Center. Previously, she has served on the Board of Directors of Bay Area Young Positives, KQED's Community Advisory Panel, and Stanford Pride, the Stanford University LGBTQQI alumni club. Carolyn graduated from Stanford University in 1995 with a BA in Cultural Anthropology with a focus on the social construction of race, gender, and sexual orientation in the U.S.
Daniel Solis , Southern California Program Coordinator
Daniel E. Solis is a native of Los Angeles, California. As the gay son of Salvadorena/o immigrants, Daniel has long been aware of the complicated nature of struggles for justice. Coming out in high school, Daniel helped to co-found the first Gay Straight Alliance at his school and successfully worked to reduce homophobia in teachers, administrators and students. Building on these early experiences in organizing, Daniel became active in anti-war and anti-racism organizing during college. Using a creative mix of protests, negotiations, and theater, Daniel led a coalition of students and faculty to force Antioch College to adopt a comprehensive Racial Discrimination Prevention Policy, the first step in successfully creating an anti-racist institution. Upon his return to Los Angeles from Ohio, Daniel has focused his work on supporting youth of color in their educational development and empowerment. He has worked with Central American high school students at Belmont and Polytechnic High Schools in preparing them for successful lives after high school, as well as providing enriching educational experiences to Latina/o middle school students in the northeast San Fernando Valley. Recently, Daniel worked to increase youth participation in electoral politics by organizing voter registration drives and voter education campaigns in the Inland Empire region of Southern California. Daniel is excited to be working with the GSA Network in strengthening and expanding the diverse activism of queer youth in Southern California. Daniel received his B.A. in Cultural and Interdisciplinary Studies from Antioch College in 2006. He is currently completing his M.A. in History with a concentration in American Studies from Claremont Graduate University.
Alexander Tran, Central Valley Program Associate
Alex joins GSA Network through the AmeriCorps program, Public Allies. Alex is from Seattle and just graduated from Pomona College, where he was a Queer Questioning Allied Mentorship Program (QQAMP) Mentor, a staff member of the Women's Union, and a fierce environmental justice advocate. While at Pomona, he supported queer peers in coming out, co-organized a speaker session around the gay blood ban by the Red Cross, and mobilized Pomona College students to participate in the LA Prop 8 Protests initiated by Join the Impact. Alex is very excited to join the amazing team at GSA Network and knows he will learn so much from the amazing youth activists of Northern California's GSAs. In his free time, Alex enjoys exploring the incredible art and music scene of San Francisco, hiking, camping, tennis, tae kwon do, and eating cupcakes!
Julia Valle, Central Valley Program Associate
Julia joins GSA Network through the AmeriCorps program, Public Allies. Born and raised in Empire, CA., Julia is excited to be working in her home community, the Central Valley! With some feminist and LGBTQ activism work in college, she is ready to continue her activism work through GSA Network. She received her BA in International Relations and Global Studies from the University of the Pacific, which makes her a global nomad. Julia has lived and studied in Italy and hopes to work in the international sphere so she can put her awesome languages skills to the test!
Geoffrey Winder , Administrative Manager
Geoffrey is an activist returning to CA (with his family of 2 cats 2 humans) from NYC. An experienced GSA activist Geoffrey re-started his high school GSA in Davis CA in late 90s. Working with GSA Network and the GSA/queer youth movement at the turn of the century was the catalyst for the development of his academic studies. He studied Globalization and Change Theory at NYU's Gallatin School for Individualized study. As an activist he worked in the anti-war, global and social justice movements in NYC. He has served in three other administrative management positions, both in the private and non-profit sectors; however, the struggle, hegemony and counter-hegemonic narratives are never far from his thoughts. He's particularly interested in the developing counter-capitalist and post-Empire narratives that are emerging in the global 21st century social justice movements. He's elated to be able to offer his organizational and management experience to continuing the work of a movement that inspired him, and more over to an organization that has and is working towards a broader vision of justice and equality for the future.
Ariel Bustamante, SoCal Program Intern, Los Angeles, Fall 2009
Ariel has grown up all over the Los Angles area from as far south as Whittier to as far north as Tujunga. Her "multi-ethnic, panny womyn" identity has exposed her to many sides of society. Having a Chiricuahua-Apache, Mexican, Swedish, and English background has also provided her with a rich mix of cultural traditions in her upbringing. A daughter of a grassroots anti-nuclear and feminist activist, she has participated in activism since an early age. She's been involved in environmental, animal rights, social justice, education, counter-recruitment, peace, and anti-Bush regime movements aside from her work within the LGBTQ community. Her work with GSAN started her freshman year at Glendale High School, and she is now her club's president. Her goal is to be able to unite the very conservative community through education and promoting universal tolerance. She also wants to work on getting district policies to be inclusive of all those who identify under the LGBTQ umbrella. Outside of GSA Networks, she's also been involved with founding her school's Roots & Shoots club, volunteering at the L.A. Zoo as well as being the official mascot, and leading her school's colorguard team. She's also an amateur photographer and enjoys photographing her dogs and cats as well as botanicals. Many animals have been taken under her wing from time to time, as she has fostered countless strays. She's still unsure of what she wants to do, but hopes to pursue a career in forensic pathology/anthropology, animal husbandry, and/or politics and activism. The least she hopes to do is make a positive difference and contribution to society through her passion for so many causes.Anthony Deitrich, Central Valley Program Intern, Fall 2009
Anthony Dietrich is from Goose Creek, SC and now lives in Fresno, CA. Anthony is a graduate from Goose Creek High School in 2006. He wants to learn what he can from his internship to take back to South Carolina to be able to help LGBTQ youth in his home state. Anthony is a former member of the US Army. He is a local LGBT Activist in Fresno, CA and also volunteers with Fresno Pride Festival & Parade. In his spare time Anthony likes to enjoy the company of his friends whether its going out or staying in.
Kevin Torres-Franco, Advocacy Program Intern, San Francisco, Fall 2009
***BIO COMING SOON***
Contact the GSA Network Board via email: board@gsanetwork.org
Allan Acevedo
Allan Acevedo is a youth field organizer from Mexico and raised in San Diego. After coming out at 13, he quickly became involved with his community. He served as president of a GSA for three years. When he graduated from high school, he was president of three clubs including the GSA and Amnesty International. Allan served on GSA Network's Southern Youth Council and sat on the steering committee for Queer Youth Advocacy Day. He was also a Coordinator for the Gay, Lesbian Straight Education Network (GLSEN). He has planned an annual summit with the local GLSEN chapter for the past four years. After graduating, Allan was awarded a 2007 Point Foundation Scholarship to study Political Science at San Diego State University. Allan is the Outreach Coordinator at the on-campus Pride Resource Office; an officer for the Green Love Sustainability Board; a member of the External Affairs Board of Associated Students; and a Staff Columnist for the Daily Aztec. In 2007, he interned with the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force and was named by Out Magazine as one of the 100 Men and Women of 2007. He currently serves as president to the Stonewall Young Democrats of San Diego and was recently elected as a delegate to the California Democratic Party State Convention.
Alex Adsit
***BIO COMING SOON***
Barak Ben-Gal, Treasurer
Barak Ben-Gal, Vice President of Finance at SupportSoft, Inc., has been a member and the Treasurer of the GSA Network Board since 2007. Barak first heard of the GSA Network when he worked at Ashoka and read Carolyn Laub’s Ashoka Fellow profile; subsequently, he met Carolyn as part of his work at Oakland Unified School District, and after a few coffee meetings with Carolyn (and a realization of their shared passion for charts of accounts and making sure that the organization was set up for financial success) it was inevitable that he would agree to join the Board. Prior to his work at SupportSoft, Barak was the Senior Director of Change Management for Yahoo's global Operations Finance organization, where he helped institute new systems, processes, and standards across the company's financial operations in 27 countries and 4 continents. Before joining Yahoo, he served as the Budget Director for Oakland Unified School District, where he helped bring the District back to fiscal solvency and created a new student-based allocation system that is currently being replicated nationwide. Previously, Barak served as the Director of Strategic Planning for Mediaplex, Inc. and was a management consultant with LEK Consulting. In the social venture field, Barak has been awarded the Broad Residency in Urban Education, served as a Board Fellow with Full Circle Fund, and as a Project Entrepreneur at Ashoka. He has a BA in Economics from Harvard University , an MBA from Stanford's Graduate School of Business and an M.Ed from Stanford University 's School of Education.
Ariel Bustamante, Vice-Chair
Ariel has grown up all over the Los Angles area from as far south as Whittier to as far north as Tujunga. Her "multi-ethnic, panny womyn" identity has exposed her to many sides of society. Having a Chiricuahua-Apache, Mexican, Swedish, and English background has also provided her with a rich mix of cultural traditions in her upbringing. A daughter of a grassroots anti-nuclear and feminist activist, she has participated in activism since an early age. She's been involved in environmental, animal rights, social justice, education, counter-recruitment, peace, and anti-Bush regime movements aside from her work within the LGBTQ community. Her work with GSAN started her freshman year at Glendale High School, and she is now her club's president. Her goal is to be able to unite the very conservative community through education and promoting universal tolerance. She also wants to work on getting district policies to be inclusive of all those who identify under the LGBTQ umbrella. Outside of GSA Networks, she's also been involved with founding her school's Roots & Shoots club, volunteering at the L.A. Zoo as well as being the official mascot, and leading her school's colorguard team. She's also an amateur photographer and enjoys photographing her dogs and cats as well as botanicals. Many animals have been taken under her wing from time to time, as she has fostered countless strays. She's still unsure of what she wants to do, but hopes to pursue a career in forensic pathology/anthropology, animal husbandry, and/or politics and activism. The least she hopes to do is make a positive difference and contribution to society through her passion for so many causes.
Nik Castillo
Nik Castillo is a California born and California raised Transqueer identified Chapina (Guatemalan) activist. He has lived all over California and seen everything there is to see. He’s all about destroying the walls, tearing down binaries, and eliminating systems. His passion drives him, keeping him strong in this fight for equality, always speaking for those who have been silenced and working to get everyone’s voice heard. When he’s got spare time, he loves to make music and beats, “Without music there’s no hope and without hope there’s no life”. A DJ by night and Activist...well at all times, Nik likes to describe himself and his community as the “past, present, and future.” Learning from the past, living in the present and always preparing for the future.
Ray Delgado, Chair
Ray Delgado has worked as the Communications Manager at the James Irvine Foundation since October 2006, helping Irvine's grantees shine the spotlight on the issues they are tackling to provide better opportunities for the people of California. Prior to joining the Foundation, Ray served as Assistant Editor and University Governance Reporter for the Stanford News Service at Stanford University. Prior to working at Stanford, Ray was a reporter for the San Francisco Chronicle and the San Francisco Examiner, where he wrote extensively about education and local and state government issues. A native of the Los Angeles area, Ray graduated from the University of Southern California with Bachelor of Arts degrees in Print Journalism and Political Science. Ray has served as a volunteer for the Shanti Project, helping provide companionship for people living with HIV and AIDS. He also served as president of the Northern California chapter of the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association for six years, helping the chapter build a steady foundation of funding support and to honor noteworthy Northern California journalists for their work in support of the community. Ray has lived in San Francisco for more than 13 years and his hobbies include softball, tennis, cycling, dancing, and cooking.
Lea Gee-Tong
Born and raised in the East Bay, Lea Gee-Tong is a high school senior at Marin Academy (MA). At MA, she is the co-leader of the Gay-Straight Alliance club which over the past two years, has hosted many meetings, including a teacher panel for National Coming Out Day and speakers on topics about faith, religion, sexuality, and gender identity and transition. In collaboration with other Identity, Equity, and Leadership groups on campus, Lea helped organize MA's Bay Area wide social justice conference, Uncensored: Conversations We're Not Having. At Uncensored, she has co-facilitated workshops on heterosexism and the gender binary system. She first became involved with the Gay-Straight Alliance Network in the Fall of 2006 after attending her first Youth Empowerment Summit (the YES Conference). Seeing other high school students on stage inspired her to become an intern, Youth Council Member, and YES Conference organizer for GSA Network. In May of 2008, she had the opportunity to attend GAYLA/QYAD, where she had the amazing opportunity to speak at the same microphone as State Senators Mark Leno and Sheila Kuehl. She is super excited to be on the Governing Board! Apart from LGBTQ related activism and activities, Lea loves playing and listening to all types of music, spending time with family and friends, and discovering new and delicious food.
Lisa Hurwitz, Secretary
Feeling marginalized at her Los Angeles high school and seeking a solution to the lack of dialogue regarding LGBT related issues within her community, in her freshman year Lisa found hope for change in the prospect of a GSA club. Lisa's interactions with GSA Network have been hands down some of the most positive and powerful ones she's had in her life so far. Her involvement with GSA Network has also been highly influential, as it greatly helped her to realize her passion for social justice work. Lisa is most sincerely grateful for the opportunity to serve as Vice Chair of the GSA Network board which she has been a part of since 2006. She takes pride in GSA Network's cutting edge youth empowerment model, knowing that without it she, among thousands of others statewide, wouldn't be the organizers and leaders they are. Lisa goes to school in Washington state and is a member of The Evergreen State College class of 2012. In her spare time Lisa likes to keep active by indulging in college life, cafeteria buffet style. She also enjoys jogging.
Karen Jackson
***BIO COMING SOON***
Michael Kyle
***BIO COMING SOON***
Alex Liu
Alex grew up in the San Jose suburbs, got his undergraduate degree in toxicology at UC Berkeley, and currently lives in the Castro, helping develop oncology medication in the toxicology department at Genentech. He worked on the LYRIC Youth Talkline and the GLBT National Help Center for three years, answering calls and listening to queer youth from around the country. Currently, he works on community outreach for the Out and Equal group at Genentech and on the leadership team of the San Francisco chapter of Marriage Equality USA, as well as playing on the SF Gay Softball league. In his free time he enjoys powering through seasons of television shows, traveling, trying to be a journalist, and stepping out onto the dance floor.
Michael Mahoney
Michael Mahoney joined Genentech in 2001 and is currently the Associate Director of Meeting & Convention Services. In that role, Michael directs the activities of three managers and eleven planners. Prior to joining Genentech, Michael worked as a district sales manager for Aventis Pharmaceuticals (now Sanofi-Aventis) managing a team of 10-15 sales representatives and was responsible for top-line goal in excess of $30mm in a variety of therapeutic areas. When away from work, Michael is involved in a several charitable groups and serves on the board of directors for GSA Network, focusing much of his efforts on fund-raising and special events. Prior board service has included The Academy of Friends (1993-2005), The Taproot Foundation (2005-2007), and the Northern California Chapter of MPI (2005-2006). Michael lives in San Francisco with partner of 15 years whom he was married to this summer in a surprise, July 4th wedding (guests were surprised, not the grooms)! Their other pursuits include travel, great movies, politics, entertaining, and their two very active golden retrievers, Zach and Scout.
Bay Nguyen
***BIO COMING SOON***
Melissa Ong
***BIO COMING SOON***
Brian Richardson
***BIO COMING SOON***
Trent Rodriguez
***BIO COMING SOON***
Luis Roman
Luis, a Mexican immigrant, identifies as a proud Joto and Xicanista fom el este (East Los Angeles). As a child, Luis wondered why his family didn't travel to Hawaii during the summers like many families did in the media. This early questioning was the beginning of Luis' desire to undo all of the inequalities and privileges that exist in society. Understanding the systems that control power in our world - classism, racism, patriarchy and homophobia - has driven Luis in his GSA work both during and after high school. Luis revived the GSA club at Bravo Medical Magnet High School and rallied along side many queer-fabulous Bravo Knights to create a Pride Week on Campus as well as advocating for gender-neutral restrooms. With the aid of other groups on campus he was able to create a powerful culture of student activism that motivated his peers to walk-out, sit-in or use other non-violence tactics to advance social justice at school. Luis got involved with GSA Network after his school administrators threatened to censor his pro- LGBT equality articles in Bravo's student newspaper. Luis, realizing that much of homophobia and transphobia is a result of lack of awareness, decided to work with other youth in Southern California to educate people. He attends UC San Diego where he will double major in Ethnic Studies and Gender Studies. He aspires to one day be a college professor and continue preaching against American tyranny and bring to light the heterosexist, male-oriented, Eurocentric educational system that has failed many students. He also yearns to visit the ruins of imperialism in Africa and Latin America and continue educating people, because he believes that education is the key to freedom. As a Board Member, he hopes to empower youth in the fight against all systems of oppression. In his ideal world, all the youth would be able to think for themselves, explore for themselves, and be themselves.
Andrew Uehling
***BIO COMING SOON***
Youth Council
The Youth Council is responsible for making decisions about and guiding the program activities of the GSA Network. They set goals and establish priorities for the work of our organization. Youth Council members also represent the needs of GSAs and youth activists from the geographic region of California they represent.The requirements for joining the Youth Council include:
1. Involved in a GSA or LGBTQ-youth related group in your school.
2. Willing to commit to serve on the Youth Council for one year.
3. Interested in developing and suggesting ideas to strengthen GSAs and the GSA Network.
4. Committed to creating change for LGBTQ youth and fighting homophobia in schools.The GSA Network is accepting applications for new Youth Council members.
Apply Online!
Northern California Youth Council 2008-2009
Alex Adsit, Bishop O'Dowd High School
Michael Aiyar, Marin Academy
Molly Boyer,Sonoma Valley High School
Christine Clarke, Rosemont Highschool
Logan Cuevas, Oak Grove High School
Lyla Foley, Albany High School
Rudy Garcia, Richmond High School
Kiernan Gatewood, Davis Senior High School
Lea Gee-Tong, Marin Academy
Kris Hameister, Lick-Wilmerding High School
Haley Hibbs, Vintage High School
Piper Hoffman, Laguna Creek High School
Hiu Ly, Adrian C. Wilcox High School
Sara Muehlner, The Athenian School
Daisy Richardson, Richmond High School
Kortney Spillers, Sonoma Valley High School
Kris Switzer, North Gate High School
Le Tran, Oakland Technical High School
Alexis Wills, Rosemont High SchoolS
Ati, Metro Arts and Tech High School
Central California Youth CouncilMatt Allen, West Park Charter HSSouthern California Youth Council 2008-2009
Thalia Arenas, Madera HS
Martha Caballero, Madera HS
Randy Good, Central West HS
Andrea Helmns, Sierra HS
Jorge Hernandez, Central West HS
Karen Juarez, Parlier HS
Alisia Lopez, Madera HS
Chris Martinez, Central Valley Christian Academy
Jimmy Perez, Parlier HS
Miranda Quintana, Parlier HS
Jesse Rosales, Sunnyside HS
Blayke Smith, Clovis HS
Claudia Villapando, Madera HS
Clint Wells, Bullard HSAriel Lupton, Glendale High School
Bay Nguyen, Garden Grove High School .
Benigna Peraza, Huntington Park High School
Brandi Cooper, Carlsbad High School
Charisse Delk, Charter Oak High School
Chris Covington, Lakewood High School
Cynthia Schroder, I-Poly High School
Dora Craig, Granada Hills High School
Esteban Partida, Downtown Magnet High School
Glenna Colerider-Krugh, South Pasadena High School
Irving Orozco, Fremont High School
Isabel Perry, Oakwood Secondary School
Jose Salas, Morningside High School
Joseph Melech, Villa Park High School
Kimberly Nguyen, Rancho Alamitos High School
Leonor Bautista, Huntington Park High School
Lily Gotlieb, Cleveland High School
Lindsay Berkowitz, Carlsbad High School
Lizy Kurtz , Charter Oak High School
Luis Perez, Bell High School
Nik Castillo, San Andreas High School
Rebecca Gray, Malibu High School
Rebecca Seifert, Newbury Park High School
Richard Aviles, Foshay High School
Shane Bennet, Mojave River Academy
Teresea Ley, South High School
Zak Krevitt, Westlake High School
State Wide Advoacy Council
The GSA Network Statewide Advocacy Council is a diverse group of youth leaders from schools across California. As a member of the Statewide Advocacy Council (SAC) you will learn skills to become a stronger activist and work towards creating a safer climate across California for LGBTQ students and straight allies. You will get support to use your advocacy skills for your school, GSA and in your community.Members are also responsible for providing input towards the Advocacy Program including:
1. Advocacy related events like the GSA Advocacy & Youth Leadership Academy (GAYLA) and Queer Youth Advocacy Day (QYAD).
2. Advocacy campaigns like our new Curriculum Campaign and developing curriculum related to this campaign.
3. Providing input to guide GSA Network's larger Advocacy work with the legislature, and implementation advocacy.
4. Finally, members will represent the needs of GSAs and youth activists from their region.Applications are available by request from the Advocacy Program Manager, t. aaron hans
Statewide Advocacy Council 2008-2009
Michael Aiyar, Marin Academy, NorCal
Molly Boyer, Sonoma Valley HS, NorCal
Nik Cardona, All School, SoCal
Lea Gee-Tong, Marin Academy, NorCal
Haley Hibbs, Vintage HS, NorCal
Ariel Lupton, Glendale HS, SoCal
Vinny Orozco, John C. Fremont HS, SoCal
Luis Perez, , Bell HS, SoCal
Erick Porras, , El Monte HS, SoCalJob and Internship Openings
GSA Network currently has the following job and internship openings:
Interns: GSA Network is looking for interns, which are non-paid positions. As an intern, you will gain hands-on experience working for California's most dynamic LGBTQ youth-driven organization. You will gain invaluable insight about a mid-sized non-profit as well as GSA Network's particular organizational and organizing model. You will also learn a broad range of skills while providing program and/or administrative support. This is a great way to gain hands-on experience, build up your resume, and possibly get college credits. You may do a variety of tasks including outreach and technical assistance to high school and middle school GSAs, curriculum development, resource sheets and program material development, working on media or press work lobbying and policy support, event planning, individual donor fundraising, database systems and and many other exciting activities. Interns also have the option to participate in staff meetings thus ensuring their voices are heard and their opinions are valued. Each intern will have a supervisor who will be responsible for providing support, an evaluation, and a letter of recommendation upon the conclusion of the internship. For more information contact carolyn@gsanetwork.org or call Carolyn @ 415-552-4229.
For more information or for hard copies of our resource sheets, contact GSA Network:
Statewide Office: 1550 Bryant St, Suite 800, San Francisco, CA 94103, ph: 415.552.4229, fax: 415.552.4729
Central Valley Regional Office: 928 N. Van Ness Ave., Fresno, CA 93728, ph: 559.268.2780, f: 559.268.2786
Southern California Regional Office: 1145 Wilshire Blvd #100, Los Angeles, CA 90017, ph: 213.482.4021, f: 213.482.4027
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