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In this issue of GSA Network News, you'll find:
1. OHMY Conference on March 2nd
2. Upcoming GSA Leadership Training: San Diego
3. Queer Youth Winter Ball (Walnut Creek)
4. Queer Youth-A-Palooza and Drag King Contest (SF)
5. Events/Groups from Lambda Youth Project in Hayward
6. Monthly Coffeehouse Meetings (Bay Area)
7. Sonoma County LGBTQ Conference
8. LYRIC Talkline Recruiting Listeners (Bay Area)
9. Join the Unity Jam Steering Committee (Bay Area)
10. DiversityWorks Summer Institute (Bay Area)
11. Vital Signs Zine
12. TGIQ Youth Internship Available
*********************************************
1. OHMY Conference on March 2nd
The sixth annual Overcoming Homophobia Meeting for Youth (OHMY) Conference is coming up this weekend!
*** Saturday, March 2, 2002
*** 9:00am - 5:00pm
*** Horace Mann Middle School
3351 23rd St., San Francisco
OHMY is a FREE, youth-led conference for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer, questioning, and straight ally youth dedicated to fostering safe schools and youth activism. The conference is open to all youth and allies, with a focus on middle school and high school. Adult allies and teachers are welcome!
To register for OHMY, go to http://www.gsanetwork.org/ohmy. We will be accepting pre-registrations until noon on Friday, March 1st. You are also welcome to register at the conference.
If you're interested in volunteering at OHMY, contact Emilie at 415-552-4229 or mailto:emilie@gsanetwork.org.
OHMY is sponsored by GSA Network and LYRIC and SFUSD.
Questions? E-mail mailto:ohmy@gsanetwork.org or call 415-552-4229 and ask for Emilie.
*********************************************
2. Upcoming GSA Leadership Training: San Diego
Wanna learn how to improve your GSA?
Wanna meet other people fighting homophobia?
Wanna learn about AB 537 and how to get it implemented in your school?
Come to the San Diego GSA Leadership Training!!!
The training is absolutely free. We provide breakfast and lunch!
Saturday, March 2nd.
3777 4th Ave., San Diego, Ca 92103.
10 am - 6 pm.
For more information, contact CC Sapp at 323.662.3160.
*********************************************
3. Queer Youth Winter Ball (Walnut Creek)
the QUEER YOUTH WINTER BALL is this Friday!
remember the event if free - there will be a DJ - and dress is whatever you like
open to all lesbian, gay, bi, trans, questioning and straight ally youth and young adults.
DATE: March 1, 2002
TIME: 8:00 to 11:00 pm
LOCATION: United Methodist Church (open and affirming) 1543 Sunnyvale Ave in Walnut Creek
TRANSPORT: There will be a shuttle from Pleasant Hill BART every hour on the hour (will wait for 15 minutes)
FOR MORE INFO: contact Adam Kahn or Myriam Rahman at (925) 687-8844 x304 or 307 or e-mail <mailto:myriamrahman@hotmail.com or empowerq@hotmail.com>myriamrahman@hotmail.com or empowerq@hotmail.com
(in collaboration with the GSA Network, Pacific Center, and the Rainbow Community Center)
DRIVING DIRECTIONS:
from Oakland/Berkeley:
take Highway 24 East
Merge onto Highway 680 North
Take the Treat/Geary exit
Keep left at the fork in the ramp
turn left onto Treat BLVD.
Turn slight right onto North Main Street
Turn left onto Sunnyvale Ave.
Look for the entrance to the United Methodist Church on your left
From Martinez, Rodeo, Pinole
take Highway 4 east towards Stockton
take the 680 exit toward San Jose (south)
take the Gregory Lane exit toward monument BLVD
Keep left
Turn right onto Monument BLVD
Turn left onto Contra Costa BLVD
Contra Costa BLVD becomes North Main Street
Turn right onto Sunnyvale Ave
Look for the entrance to the United Methodist Church on your left
(if you would like you can also just get off on the Treat/Geary exit
but you will have to take a left off the exit onto North Main and then
take a u turn when you get to Treat so you will be going the right direction
on North Main. Then you will take a left onto Sunnyvale Ave and the church
will be on your left)
*********************************************
4. Queer Youth-A-Palooza and Drag King Contest (SF)
Queer Youth-A-Palooza & Drag King Junior Contest
At the *new* SF LGBT Community Center Center
1800 Market Street, San Francisco
Friday, March 8, 2002
6pm - 1am
Free, Donations accepted
Youth take over The Center for the blow-out party of the year!
Mixed Fruit Word Jam with special guest the Deep Dick Collective.
Five chill lounges including Tarot, Saint Mitcho's Craft Zone, Drag-a-Rama Room and the Drag King Lounge.
A dozen DJs.
*********************************************
5. Events/Groups from Lambda Youth Project in Hayward
Lambda YA! -- A Support Group for LGBTQ young adults and friends,
ages 18-25. 1st and 3rd Thursdays each month, 6:30-8:30pm, at Project
Eden, 22646 Second Street, Hayward, Corner of "C" and Second Streets,
park in back and go in Project Eden door.
Lambda Youth Social Nights -- Social and support gatherings for LGBTQ
youth and friends, ages 25 and under, 2nd and 4th Friday nights,
6:30-8:30pm, at Lighthouse LGBTQ Community Center, 1217 "A" Street,
Hayward, Corner of "A" and Second Streets, next to "A" Street Cafe.
Park
across the street in Bank of America parking lot.
Lambda Youth Groups -- Weekly support group for LGBTQ youth and
friends, ages 25 and under. Every Tuesday night, 7-9pm, at Project
Eden,
22646 Second Street, Hayward, Corner of "C" and Second Streets, park
in
back and go in Project Eden door.
Bay Area GAY PROM Youth Planning Meetings -- alternate Tuesdays,
6pm, at Lambda Youth Project at Project Eden, 22646 Second Street,
Hayward. Drop in or call ahead to see what dates the meetings
are.
510/247-8217
For more information about any of these Lambda Youth groups, contact
Christina Cappelletti at 510/247-8217 or info@gayprom.org.
*********************************************
6. Monthly Coffeehouse Meetings (Bay Area)
ARTISTS * TEACHERS * HEALERS * ORGANIZERS
A monthly get-together of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Two Spirit, Trans, Queer and Questioning people of all racial, ethnic, and economic backgrounds 25 and under.
When: February 26, 2002
from: 6.30 pm - 8.30 pm
Place: Bearded Lady Cafe,
14th Street between Guerrero and Valencia
****
Organizers * Artists * Teachers * Healers * PEOPLE OF COLOR...
Come Kick it with other Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Two Spirit, Trans, Intersexed, Queer and Questioning People of Color 25 and under.
Saturday March 9th, from 4.30 - 6.30pm,
at the Jahva House Cafe,
on Lakeshore Avenue in Oakland
For more information about these events, call Ana at LYRIC:
(415) 703-6150, x 21.
*********************************************
7. Sonoma County LGBTQ Conference
Building Equity in Our Schools:
Sexual Orientation, Family, and Gender
When: March 15th
Where: Cooperage Hall, Sonoma State University
Time: 4:00pm - 7:00pm
Gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered members of school communities experience homophobia and heterosexism on a daily basis. Meet with teachers, parents, students and others to explore strategies to address these issues.
Objectives:
* Create greater awareness of the experience of being, or living in
relationship with, a gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender or questioning
(GLBTQ) student, teacher, or parent in K-12 schools.
* Discuss the ways in which schools reflect the dominant homophobic and heterosexist ideologies and how that negatively impacts GLBTQ and straight students and faculty.
* Create greater awareness of the interlocking nature of social oppressions.
* Offer tools that may be used to challenge these oppressions and create more equality and social justice for all students, teachers, and parents.
* Encourage people to become advocates and allies on behalf of GLBTQ students, teachers and parents and others experiencing social oppression.
For more information:
Krista McAtee kdkristamc@netscape.net/ Virginia Lea (707) 664-2186
*********************************************
8. LYRIC Talkline Recruiting Listeners (Bay Area)
Do you want to help people? Are you lesbian/gay/bi/trans/queer? Are you 23 or younger? Want to learn valuable listening and job skills? Want to make friends? Want to become a part of a dedicated queer youth community in the San Francisco Bay Area? Join the LYRIC Youth Talkline! No experience necessary, we will train you. Training covers peer counseling, listening skills, crisis intervention, HIV, STDs and safer sex, racism and oppression, transgender identities, suicide, violence and abuse, and other topics that are affecting queer youth communities today. Deadline to sign up is March 25; training begins on April 4.
Call Holly or Basha at 415-703-6161, x23 or email Holly at holly@lyric.org.
*********************************************
9. Join the Unity Jam Steering Committee (Bay Area)
Unity Jam is a yearly, one-day youth health conference, sponsored by HIFY (Health Initiatives for Youth) that is planned, coordinated and implemented by Bay Area young people. The Youth Steering Committee is a group of 8 young people that make all the decisions regarding the actual event, and this is what we're currently accepting applications for. Any youth between the ages of 13 and 24 are eligible to apply for a position on the Steering Committee; the deadline for these applications is next Friday, March 1st 2002.
The Steering Committee will be responsible for deciding what the conference will have (for example, determining the theme of the event, the workshop topics, entertainment, where the conference will be, when the conference will be). Last year Unity Jam's theme was "You(th) in Focus: Mind, Body, Soul," and the day was jam-packed with: workshops ranging from queer awareness to family issues, representatives from over 40 different community organizations that came to table and provide resources, KMEL Jams, who dee-jayed during lunch, and an open mic at the end of the day with spoken word performances from some incredibly talented Bay area youth. What this year's Unity Jam looks like is entirely up to you! This is your opportunity to have your voice heard and to address the health issues that you think are important for young people!
If you're interested in applying to be on the Steering Committee, please email mailto:ahmed@hify.org for an application. Questions? Call Yas at 415.274.1970 ext.22.
*********************************************
10. DiversityWorks Summer Institute (Bay Area)
DiversityWorks is proud to announce its third annual Summer Institute for youth, aged 13 to 20. This six-week program brings diverse young people together to dialogue about issues of power and oppression and to develop skills and knowledge so youth can effectively address oppression in their lives and in their communities. The Summer Institute will include workshop topics such as storytelling, spoken word, popular theater, community organizing, goal setting, and many others.
The Summer Institute will run from July 1st through August 11th, 2002. The 25-30 participants will spend approximately thirty hours a week (9:30AM-4:00PM on most days) engaged in interactive workshops aimed at community building, consciousness raising, skill building, and taking action. Twice a week participants will be interning at a non-profit organization in San Francisco or Oakland. The Summer Institute will also feature a 3-day camping/wilderness experience, a 2-day retreat, and group service learning projects.
There is no fee for participation and all participants receive a stipend of $600 upon completion of the program. Additional work/study opportunities are also available.
The Summer Institute will be held in downtown Oakland. Applications are due April 15, 2002 and will be available for distribution in late February. You may request an application by emailing andreanac@diversityworks.org, calling 510-540-7008 or downloading one through our website at www.diversityworks.org.
Interviews will be held in late April and early May and applicants will be notified by the middle of May.
Anyone interested in the Summer Institute is encouraged to call DiversityWorks at 510-540-7008. We would be happy to send out past participants to speak with groups of young people and make available materials describing all of our programs.
*********************************************
11. Vital Signs Zine
VITAL SIGNS
Check out Vital Signs, a bi-annual zine by HIFY (Health Initiatives
for Youth). It is filled with informative articles and images as well as
fiction and poetry by Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, & Questioning
youth. Recent issues have addressed topics such as drugs, sex, latex, body
image, bi-phobia, and access to health care.
Write, make art, or take pictures for Vital Signs. The next issue of Vital Signs is going to be about ACTION. What's that mean? Activism, taking control of your life, being active, making choices, anything but being a passive observer. We want your stories, drawings, poetry, photographs, and ideas. Vital Signs is for youth and by youth so it can't happen with out you!
If you want to receive Vital Signs call: 415-274-1970, x 26/e-mail: puborders@hify.org
If you'd like to submit work to Vital Signs (or ask questions about doing so) call Mia at 415-274-1970, x17/e-mail: thompson@hify.org
*********************************************
12. TGIQ Youth Internship Available
WANTED:
Transgender/Transsexual/Genderqueer/Intersex/Questioning (TGIQ) Youth
Aged 12-25 for paid intern position @ Youth Gender Project!
10 HOURS/WEEK, $12/hour, work in our San Francisco LGBT Community Center
office or in our downtown Berkeley office!
Responsibilities include: Youth Outreach, especially to young trans women of color and intersex youth, Training (all kinds of folks about TGIQ youth issues), Genderblast! Conference organizing, Office Work, Materials Development, and more, depending on your interests. Youth of color, MTF youth, intersex youth, disabled youth, low-income youth and youth under 18 especially encouraged to apply.
Apply to:
Youth Gender Project
PO BOX 5755
Berkeley, CA 94705-0755
YouthGenderPro@aol.com
510-665-9234
More about Youth Gender Project:
Youth Gender Project is a youth/adult partnership using a peer-based
model to empower and support transgender, transsexual, genderqueer, intersex
and gender-questioning (TGIQ) youth and young adults of all cultural, ethnic
and racial backgrounds. YGP is dedicated to fostering gender and cultural
diversity and equity, and to creating social and institutional change through
the education of all those who work with, or make decisions about the lives
of, these youth and young adults.
In this issue of GSA Network News, you'll find:
1. OHMY Conference on March 2nd
2. Upcoming GSA Leadership Trainings: L.A. and South Bay
3. Save the Date - GLBT Skate Night (Clovis)
4. Gay Youth Skate Night (Bay Area)
5. YLP Steering Committee Meeting (Bay Area)
6. Rights On! Conference (SoCal)
7. Urban Chaos, Queer Spaces and Other Places (Bay Area)
8. CD Release Party for CYWD (Bay Area)
9. Announcements from WireTap Magazine
10. Black Like This (SF)
11. Project Director Sought for San Francisco Anti-Racism Project
12. GLBT Writing Contest (Bay Area)
13. PAID Computer Training (Bay Area)
14. Lee Dubin Scholarship for People with LGBT Parent/s
15. NEWS: School Board OKs GSA in Clovis
16. NEWS: Gay Teens Ignored by High School Sex Ed Classes
*********************************************
1. OHMY Conference on March 2nd
The sixth annual Overcoming Homophobia Meeting for Youth (OHMY) Conference is coming soon!
*** Saturday, March 2, 2002
*** 9:00am - 5:00pm
*** Horace Mann Middle School
3351 23rd St., San Francisco
OHMY is a FREE, youth-led conference for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer, questioning, and straight ally youth dedicated to fostering safe schools and youth activism. The conference is open to all youth and allies, with a focus on middle school and high school. Adult allies and teachers are welcome!
To register for OHMY, go to http://www.gsanetwork.org/ohmy.
If you're interested in volunteering at OHMY, contact Emilie at 415-552-4229 or mailto:emilie@gsanetwork.org.
OHMY is sponsored by GSA Network and LYRIC and SFUSD.
Questions? E-mail mailto:ohmy@gsanetwork.org or call 415-552-4229 and ask for Emilie.
*********************************************
2. Upcoming GSA Leadership Trainings: L.A. and South Bay
Wanna meet other people fighting homophobia?
Wanna learn how to improve your GSA?
Wanna become a leader?
*** Join us for one of our upcoming GSA Leadership Trainings! ***
Learn how to facilitate a meeting, make your GSA more inclusive, and build coalitions with other students.
All GSA Leadership Trainings are FREE. Breakfast and lunch are provided.
Los Angeles:
Saturday, February 23th -- 10:00am - 5:00pm
the Village at Ed Gould Plaza
1125 N. McCadden Place, Los Angeles
(co-sponsored by GSA Network and LA Gay and Lesbian Center)
Limited space is available for the Los Angeles Leadership Training.
Please RSVP your group or as an individual. For more information or to
register, contact CC Sapp at GSA Network at 323.662.3160 or mailto:cc@gsanetwork.org.
South Bay:
Sunday, February 24th -- 9:30am - 4:00pm
Billy DeFrank Center
938 The Alameda, San Jose
(co-sponsored by GSA Network and the Billy DeFrank Center)
For more information about the South Bay Leadership Training, contact Emilie at 415.552.4229 or mailto:emilie@gsanetwork.org.
*********************************************
3. Save the Date - GLBT Skate Night (Clovis)
Sunday, March 24th from 8:30-10:30pm
at CalSkate in Clovis
Join members of the GSA Network and the Central California Alliance for skating, food (bring money) and fun!
$8 per person. FREE to the first 20 students who register.
Call Diana at 559-442-4777 to register or for more information.
*********************************************
4. Gay Youth Skate Night (Bay Area)
go is pleased to announce our next fun and fabulous social event for lgbtqq and straight ally youth aged 14-20.
Gay Youth Skate Night!
Tuesday, February 26th
6 pm - 8:30 pm
FREE*FREE*FREE*FREE*FREE
At Chrissy Field Building 649, on Mason Avenue
(call Troy at 666-9604 for directions)
bring your own skates or blades or borrow a pair of ours for an old school skate jam with great music, free food, good company, and lots of fun!
Shuttle from Washington High School (Room T5) 600 30th avenue between anza and balboa at 6 pm
* if you are an adult ally planning to come with a group of youth please rsvp to meredith fenton at 750-8554 or mere@gopride.org *
*********************************************
5. YLP Steering Committee Meeting (Bay Area)
Wednesday February 20, 2002 -- 6-8pm
LYRIC -- 127 Collingwood St. in SF
Young, Loud and Proud, LYRIC's annual Leadership Conference will be forming its steering committee for the 2002 conference, the date set for July 19 and 20, 2002. Come join peers and friends in getting the 2002 conference off the ground!
For more information, contact Ana (ana@lyric.org).
*********************************************
6. Rights On! Conference (SoCal)
Rights On! --> A conference for administrators, teachers, counselors, and students about implementing AB 537, the Equal Access Act, and Title IX.
Come learn about the rights and protections afforded LGBT students, and develop strategies for making your school safe!
Saturday, March 16, 2002
9am - 1:15pm
FREE!
The Village at Ed Gould Plaza
1125 N. McCadden Place
Los Angeles, CA 90038
Keynote Speaker: State Senator Sheila James Kuehl, author of AB 537
Who may attend? Any administrator, teachers, counselor, or student from any public school in Southern CA (limit one adult staff and one student per school).
The training is limited to 30 adults and 30 students. Pre-registration is required.
For more info or to receive a registration form, contact Gail Rolf at
213-625-6411 or e-mail mailto:project10@hotmail.com.
Sponsored by Friends of Project 10 and the LA Gay and Lesbian Center. GSA Network staff will be presenting.
*********************************************
7. Urban Chaos, Queer Spaces and Other Places (Bay Area)
Urban Chaos, Queer Spaces and Other Places
A benefit for Paper Tiger TV, New Neutral Zone and Fierce!
Friday Feb. 22nd
ATA, 992 Valencia St. @ 21st, San Francisco, CA 94110
tel. (415) 824-3890
7:30 pm - 12 midnight
all ages, $5-$10 (sliding scale)
refreshments available
email: spike00@pacbell.net
Schedule of events:
7:30 pm: dj Spike spins indie and punk sounds
8:00 pm: Introduction by Jacob Laurent and films screenings
10:00 pm: Spoken Word with Alan Reade, Seeley Questand Roger Pinnell.
10:45 pm: dj Jacob spins indie, electronica and punk Films:
FENCED OUT - West Coast Premiere!
(Paper Tiger TV/New Neutral Zone/Fierce, 2000, USA, video, color, sound, 20 min.)
This tape documents the fight for the Christopher Street pier - one
of the
only places in New York City where youth of color, low income, homeless
and
l/g/b/t/q youth can hang out. In the summer of 2000, fences were built
on the
spot where the kids congregated, for construction for a new state park.
Now
in the summer of 2001 most of the space has been taken over by this
development. Not only are city developers interested in "fencing out" the
kids, neighbors with apartments overlooking the water want these kids to
leave as well. The youth have noticed an increased police presence that
is not intended to keep them safe but as one officer stated quite bluntly
"you are lowering the property value". At first, upset that they will lose
the piers the producers of the documentary interview pierets about how
important the piers are in their lives. To further explore their connection
to the piers, the producers interview older l/g/b/t/q activists about the
history of the piers and its connection to the gay liberation movement
of the 60s. In turn they become more politicized and see how their struggle
to save their public space connects to a larger historical and social movement.
As the video comes to a conclusion, the young filmmakers' anger and sadness
about losing the piers develops into a plan of action to save them.
Produced by Paper Tiger TV in partnership with New Neutral Zone, a drop
in center for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered, two-spirited and questioning
youth and FIERCE a community organizing project for lesbian, gay, bisexual,
Two Spirit, transgendered and questioning (LGBTSTQ) youth in NYC.
*********************************************
8. CD Release Party for CYWD (Bay Area)
The Center for Young Women's Development will be holding a CD release party for their new spoken word CD, *She Who Dreams*
Febrary 28th, 7pm
2973 16th Street @ Mission
Muni 14, 22, 33, 35, 49
$3 at the door
Featuring:
Company of Prophets * DJ K-Smash * Loco Bloco * Ray and Crew * CYWD
Poets
Call 415-345-0260 for more information or childcare.
*********************************************
9. Announcements from WireTap Magazine
WireTap Magazine (www.wiretapmag.org) is seeking submissions for its online gallery!
Young artists can send us their photography, or pictures of their murals, sculptures, paintings, collages, or other forms of visual art, and they will see their work appear online alongside high-quality youth journalism.
What is WireTap?
WireTap Magazine (www.wiretapmag.org) is a project of the Independent
Media Institute. It is an independent information source by and for
socially conscious youth. It's an online community of thinkers, a
web portal that offers a great opportunity for young writers, artists,
and activists to share ideas and learn from each other. It is also
a medium through which young people can learn to challenge stereotypes,
express their views, and increase their awareness of issues affecting people
of their generation.
We update our site weekly, publishing original articles by WireTap contributing writers as well as providing links to stories from a variety of sources. We are currently seeking to expand our online gallery, and we'd love to receive submissions from you. Submissions can be emailed as .jpg or .gif files to risa@wiretapmag.org, or sent as photos by regular mail to:
Risa Okamoto, WireTap
c/o Independent Media Institute
77 Federal Street
San Francisco, CA 94107
Please direct inquiries to Risa Okamoto at (415) 284 1420 x328, or risa@wiretapmag.org.
****
"SAY WHAT?"
WireTap's Art and Writing Competition
Have you ever been censored, silenced, or told that your opinion doesn't count? Do you have a statement to make about freedom of expression? "Say What?" is your chance to tell your story. Express your opinions. Share your thoughts on free speech. Tell the world what you have to say.
WireTap is digital proof that youth across the country are rising up and claiming their right to speak out and have their voices heard. Exercise your right to free speech in the form of art, personal essays, investigative articles, and creative writing: we want to know what freedom of speech means to you!
Categories: Fiction, Non-Fiction, and Visual Art
Theme: Freedom of Speech
Prizes in each category: One First Place: $300 cash award plus prizes. Three Honorable Mentions: $100 cash award plus prizes. All winning entries will be published/ displayed on WireTap.
Submission requirements: 1000 word maximum for writing submissions. 75 K maximum for art submissions as .gif or .jpg files. E-mail submissions to: contest@wiretapmag.org or send by regular mail to:
WireTap
c/o Independent Media Institute
77 Federal Street
San Francisco, CA 94107
Deadline: All submissions due to WireTap by 4/8/02, winners announced 4/22/02.
*********************************************
10. Black Like This (SF)
Black Like This
Urban Art Symposium
Join other black gay/bi men for a special event! Black Like This is a monthly urban art symposium for black gay/bi men. 1st Monday of every month!
March 4th
April 1st
May 6th
June 3rd
July 1st
7pm sign up to perform
7:30pm show starts!
Theater Rhinoceros - 2926 16th St. (between Mission and S. Van Ness)
Free!!
Call Kaya for details: 415-575-0150 x273
*********************************************
11. Project Director Sought for San Francisco Anti-Racism Project
I am sending this email out to folks who might have some leads on a Project Director for our Global Village Seminars (GVS). The GVS is a small grant we received from the SF Foundation to implement five race dialogues for youth in the Richmond District. Last week our original PD quit because of personal reasons.
We want to hire a youth (high school/college) to direct this project.
Preferably someone who has strong organizing skills; understands racism
and its complexities; and has some knowledge of the City. Pay is approx
$208 month, about 15-20 hours per month. This is a very brief description,
please call or
email me ASAP for more info in you might know of someone. Thanks and
peace.
Rev. John Oda
Pine United Methodist Church
426 Thirty-Third Avenue
San Francisco, CA., 94121
Phone - (415) 387 - 1800
Fax - (415) 387 - 1801
*********************************************
12. GLBT Writing Contest (Bay Area)
WRITING CONTEST
Topic: GLBT in 2002
* GLBT is short for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, or Transgender
The entry may be an essay, a short story, or a poem.
First prize: $250
Second prize: $150
Third prize: $50
Honorable Mention: $25
Sponsored by: GLSEN SF-EB -- Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network San Francisco-East Bay (formerly BANGLE, Bay Area Network of Gay and Lesbian Educators)
Essays and short stories must be 300-400 words long, typed, double-spaced.
Poems must be under 2 pages, any format. Entries should include
a title and
be related to the topic.
The contest is open to any high school student, regardless of sexual
orientation, in the counties of San Francisco, Alameda, or Contra Costa,
in
both public and private high schools. The contest is open to
a high school
student in another area if the essay is submitted by a
member of the San
Francisco-East Bay chapter of GLSEN.
Be sure to include your name, grade, high school, and mailing address
along with your entry. Please include a teacher's name if you
use your
school as your mailing address. Include a phone number if you
would like to
be notified by phone, or an e-mail address if you have one.
Winners will be notified by May 1, 2002. The judging will be done
by a
panel of teachers and writers. Awards will be paid by check.
In the case of
ties, prize money will be split.
No more than two entries may be submitted by a single student.
Students
retain copyright ownership of their entry, but by entering the contest
grant
permission for the entry to be included in a GLSEN SF-EB publication
as well
as in the GLBT literary zine, Q-zine.
Entries must be postmarked by Saturday, March 30, 2002.
Mail to:
GLSEN SF-EB Writing Contest
P.O. Box 70554
Point Richmond, CA 94807-0554
*********************************************
13. PAID Computer Training (Bay Area)
Chalk, a Bay Area non-profit providing a range of youth services with a specific focus on youth employment and technology, is kicking off another set of PAID COMPUTER TRAINING classes for youth 14-18 years old! We've changed a few things with our policy, for instance no application is necessary to sign up anymore, but will ask a few questions over the phone beforehand.
These classes usually fill quickly, so the sooner we hear from you the better!
The following 8 topics will be covered during the 6 weeks of the class:
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- E-Mail
- Web Research
- Resume Writing
- Interviewing
- Job Readiness Skills
These classes are PAID, which means we PAY the students $75.00 each upon successful completion of the course AND the possibility exists to earn an additional $150.00 for exceptional performance in one of 3 areas:
- Best Resume
- Best Excel Spreadsheet
- Best PowerPoint Presentation
When? The next series of classes begins on:
March 4th (in San Francisco) and
March 5th (in Oakland)
Classes meet twice a week - 2 hours per class - starting from 5pm-7pm
(see link to flier and class schedule at bottom)
Where? Chalk has classes available in our offices at Oakland AND in San Francisco
Why? Chalk is a non-profit that believes in offering positive opportunities to youth who might not have access otherwise. We get our funding through the city of Oakland and the city of San Francisco.
To sign up, call Gabriel Mulford at (415) 351-2444 ext 308
http://www.chalk.org/programs/wtc_flier.pdf
http://www.chalk.org/programs/wtc_calendar2002.pdf
*********************************************
14. Lee Dubin Scholarship for People with LGBT Parent/s
The Lee Dubin Scholarship applications are now available. The deadline
is
April 19, 2002. This scholarship awards up to $1000 to at least five
people
with an lgb or t parent with scholarship money for college. For the
full
application go to: http://www.colage.org/scholarship.html
The Lee Dubin Scholarship is sponsored by COLAGE and Family Pride Coalition
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15. NEWS: School Board OKs GSA in Clovis
Governing board approves CHS gay club
Some students, parents oppose the group, which will be the first of
its kind in CUSD
By Heather Kulterman
Independent staff writer
02/15/02
There were emotional arguments by both sides, but after two hours of discussion Feb. 13, the Clovis Unified governing board approved the formation of a Gay-Straight Alliance club at Clovis High School.
"I am ecstatic," said Julie Silva, 16, one of the club's organizers." I feel like I've actually made a difference. We're not asking people to accept the homosexual lifestyle, but just to tolerate us."
Silva, who will be president of the new club, said the suicide of a Bullard High student perceived to be a homosexual motivated her to start the group.
The governing board voted 5 to 2 in favor of the club, which states tolerance and understanding of all sexual identities as its top priorities. It will be the first of its kind in the district.
A crowd of more than 225 people turned out for the meeting, filling every seat and lining the walls of the room. At least 40 people asked to address the board, and the speeches were marked by applause.
Some parents said they would rather eliminate all clubs at the school than approve the Gay-Straight Alliance; some threatened to withdraw their children from the district.
There were arguments that issues of sexual orientation do not belong in high schools.
"I love all people, if they are gay or not, but I don't feel that we should have a gay club on our campuses. It will destroy the morals of our kids. We cannot allow this evil to triumph," said Judith Harrison, the parent of six CUSD students who called for the disbanding of all clubs.
Clovis student Athena Cruz, 16, said she would rather leave the district than share space with a "gay club."
"Please don't put a gay club on my campus. I don't want to be around their influence," she said.
Other parents and students pointed out the importance of such a club.
"In this district, there is a safe place or club for most any student on the campus, but we do not have one for the students who are probably the most segregated," said Mira Minton, a 17-year-old Buchanan High School student who wants a similar club formed at her school. "Gay kids are ridiculed to the point that they no longer come to school, drop out of sports and maybe even commit suicide. They need a safe place." Despite the lobbying by both sides, the question was essentially settled before it began. Under the Equal Access Act, passed by Congress in 1984, a district cannot discriminate against a student or student organization on the basis of gender, ethnicity, sexual identity or religious belief when other non-curriculum clubs are already on campus.
And at the board meeting, the district's legal counsel, Jerry Behrens, warned board members that if they did not approve the club, they would have to forfeit all federal and state funds, disband all clubs or face a lengthy legal battle they would likely lose.
Several college students stepped forward and shared personal tales of discrimination, and asked the board to prevent such actions on CUSD campuses.
"I've been there. I've been harassed, beaten, pushed around and handcuffed to a bathroom stall. I really believe it would have helped me to have a group of students support me," said Jennifer Owens, a California State University, Fresno, student.
The board members offered little discussion on the issue, and board president Sandy Bengel read from a statement that said the decision did not reflect the opinions of either the board or the district.
The two dissenting board members, Richard Lake and Susan Walker, declined to comment on the vote.
Afterward, 18-year-old Christopher Perry, who attends Clovis West, said, "I believe the district should have gone against the law. I believe homosexuality is immoral, unnatural and unholy."
The board's approval allowed for the club to begin holding meetings at Clovis High Feb. 14.
*********************************************
16. NEWS: Gay Teens Ignored by High School Sex Ed Classes
Gay Teens Ignored by High School Sex Ed Classes
By Carol Lee, WEnews correspondent
Women's E-News, February 10, 2002
http://www.womensenews.org/article.cfm/dyn/aid/811/context/cover/
Gay and lesbian teens say they feel uninformed and alienated by sex education classes, many of which promote "abstinence until marriage." But despite high dropout rates and harassment of gay students, few educators support teaching about homosexuality.
In this issue of GSA Network News, you'll find:
1. OHMY Conference on March 2nd
2. Upcoming GSA Leadership Trainings: L.A. and South Bay
3. Parti Gras 2002 (San Jose)
4. Queer Youth Winter Ball (Walnut Creek)
5. Crossroads School FLAG Club Presents Gay-Themed Play (SoCal)
6. Trembling Before G-D Film Screening (LA)
7. OutLoud Youth Radio Project (Bay Area)
8. Performance at Jon Sims Center (SF)
9. Intergeneration - All Ages Arts Meeting (SF)
10. Teachers for Social Justice Conference (SF)
11. Youth Speaks - 2002 Spring Workshop Schedule
12. Vital Signs - Health Zine for LGBTQ Youth
13. Human Relations Training
14. Scutter Queer Youth Arts Scholarship
15. National Day of Solidarity With Muslim, Arab, and South Asian Immigrants
(Feb. 20)
16. NEWS: NEA Board Adopts Plan To Make Schools Safer
*********************************************
1. OHMY Conference on March 2nd
The sixth annual Overcoming Homophobia Meeting for Youth (OHMY) Conference is coming soon!
*** Saturday, March 2, 2002
*** 9:00am - 5:00pm
*** Horace Mann Middle School
3351 23rd St., San Francisco
OHMY is a FREE, youth-led conference for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer, questioning, and straight ally youth dedicated to fostering safe schools and youth activism. The conference is open to all youth and allies, with a focus on middle school and high school. Adult allies and teachers are welcome!
To register for OHMY, go to http://www.gsanetwork.org/ohmy.
If you're interested in volunteering at OHMY, contact Emilie at 415-552-4229 or mailto:emilie@gsanetwork.org.
The OHMY conference is still accepting workshop proposals! Call 415-703-6150x15 for more information or to submit a proposal.
OHMY is sponsored by GSA Network and LYRIC.
Questions? E-mail mailto:ohmy@gsanetwork.org or call 415-552-4229 and ask for Emilie.
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2. Upcoming GSA Leadership Trainings: L.A. and South Bay
Wanna meet other people fighting homophobia?
Wanna learn how to improve your GSA?
Wanna become a leader?
*** Join us for one of our upcoming GSA Leadership Trainings! ***
Learn how to facilitate a meeting, make your GSA more inclusive, and build coalitions with other students.
All GSA Leadership Trainings are FREE. Breakfast and lunch are provided.
Los Angeles:
Saturday, February 23th -- 10:00am - 5:00pm
the Village at Ed Gould Plaza
1125 N. McCadden Place, Los Angeles
(co-sponsored by the LA Gay and Lesbian Center)
Limited space is available for the Los Angeles Leadership Training.
Please RSVP your group or as an individual. For more information or to
register, contact CC Sapp at GSA Network at 323.662.3160 or mailto:cc@gsanetwork.org.
South Bay:
Sunday, February 24th -- 9:30am - 4:00pm
Billy DeFrank Center
938 The Alameda, San Jose
(co-sponsored by GSA Network and the Billy DeFrank Center)
For more information about the South Bay Leadership Training, contact Emilie at 415.552.4229 or mailto:emilie@gsanetwork.org.
*********************************************
3. Parti Gras 2002 (San Jose)
Let's get this party started!
A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away... they held a party, and it was good.
On February 22nd, the stars come into alignment and the party lands here!
Billy DeFrank Lesbian and Gay Community Center
in collaboration with
Outlet of the YWCA, 32 Flavors, and GSA Milpitas
presents
PARTI GRAS 2002
When: February 22, 2002 from 8:00pm-12:00am
Where: Central YMCA of San Jose (1717 the Alameda)
Who: All lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender/queer youth and their allies,
20 and under
Music: BuHau Tribe featuring RyanB from fAiTh
Cost: $3.oo entrance, no in-and-out privileges
Clean and Sober Event, Please wear appropriate clothing
Come join the magic of Parti Gras! Where the night is yours and
fate waits
around the corner!
For more information contact Rick at 408.293.3040 or youthprg@defrank.org
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4. Queer Youth Winter Ball (Walnut Creek)
The Center for Human Development's EMPOWERMENT PROGRAM cordially invites you to attend:
the all ages QUEER YOUTH WINTER BALL - open to all lesbian, gay, bi, trans, questioning and straight ally youth and young adults.
DATE: March 1, 2002
TIME: 8:00 to 11:00 pm
LOCATION: United Methodist Church (open and affirming) 1543 Sunnyvale Ave in Walnut Creek
TRANSPORT: There will be a shuttle from Pleasant Hill BART every hour on the hour (will wait for 15 minutes)
FOR MORE INFO: contact Adam Kahn or Myriam Rahman at (925) 687-8844 x304 or 307 or e-mail <mailto:myriamrahman@hotmail.com or empowerq@hotmail.com>myriamrahman@hotmail.com or empowerq@hotmail.com
(in collaboration with the GSA Network, Pacific Center, and the Rainbow Community Center)
DRIVING DIRECTIONS:
from Oakland/Berkeley:
take Highway 24 East
Merge onto Highway 680 North
Take the Treat/Geary exit
Keep left at the fork in the ramp
turn left onto Treat BLVD.
Turn slight right onto North Main Street
Turn left onto Sunnyvale Ave.
Look for the entrance to the United Methodist Church on your left
From Martinez, Rodeo, Pinole
take Highway 4 east towards Stockton
take the 680 exit toward San Jose (south)
take the Gregory Lane exit toward monument BLVD
Keep left
Turn right onto Monument BLVD
Turn left onto Contra Costa BLVD
Contra Costa BLVD becomes North Main Street
Turn right onto Sunnyvale Ave
Look for the entrance to the United Methodist Church on your left
(if you would like you can also just get off on the Treat/Geary exit
but you will have to take a left off the exit onto North Main and then
take a u turn when you get to Treat so you will be going the right direction
on North Main. Then you will take a left onto Sunnyvale Ave and the church
will be on your left)
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5. Crossroads School FLAG Club Presents Gay-Themed Play (SoCal)
Everything Possible: A Gay Odyssey
Sunday, February 24th at 2 p.m. and 5 p.m.
Roth Hall, Crossroads School for Arts & Sciences
1714 21st Street, Santa Monica
This moving and delightful collection of scenes and songs traces the
journey
of a several high school students dealing with coming out. The
show was
written and developed by members of F.L.A.G., (the gay/straight alliance
at
Crossroads School), and will be performed by drama students in F.L.A.G.
The
show is a fundraiser for Friends of Project 10 and G.L.A.S.S.
Tickets are
$15 general, $12 students/seniors.
We expect the shows to sell out, so order your tickets soon!
For ticket information, please call (310) 829-7391, ext. 345.
BACKGROUND:
A few months ago, the students of F.L.A.G. (Friends of Lesbians and Gays, the gay/straight alliance at Crossroads School), decided they wanted to make a difference in the wider community by raising funds for some local gay youth-serving organizations. When club advisor Adam Behrman realized that so many of the club's members were gifted actors, he suggested the group put together a gay-themed show.
The show raises funds for Friends of Project 10, which supports gay/straight alliances in schools throughout the area. The show also benefits G.L.A.S.S. (Gay and Lesbian Adolescent Social Services), an organization that assists homeless gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth.
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6. Trembling Before G-D Film Screening (LA)
TREMBLING BEFORE G-D
Jerusalem Film Festival Mayor's Prize for the Jewish Experience
OUTFEST Los Angeles Grand Jury Prize for Best Documentary
OPENS IN LOS ANGELES
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 20th AT LAEMMLE'S SUNSET 5
TREMBLING BEFORE G-D, the award-winning documentary by Sandi Dubowski,
is an unprecedented feature documentary that shatters assumptions about
faith, sexuality and religious life. Built around intimately-told personal
stories of Hasidic and Orthodox Jews who are gay or lesbian, the film portrays
a group of people who face a profound dilemma - how to reconcile their
passionate love of Judaism and the Divine with the drastic Biblical prohibitions
that forbid homosexuality.
TREMBLING BEFORE G-D opens February 20th in Los Angeles at Laemmle's Sunset 5 - 8000 Sunset Blvd. West Hollywood (corner of Crescent Heights and Sunset) 12:15, 2:30, 4:45, 7:00 and 9:55 are scheduled showtimes but call (323)848-3500 or go online www.laemmle.com for confirmation. Film running time is 84 minutes. Tickets are $9 and student discounts are available.
Special dialogues and Q&A's to follow screenings during the first
week of release with the director, Sandi DuBowski, Rabbi Steve Greenberg
- the first openly gay orthodox Rabbi, and others from the film.
check out: www.tremblingbeforeg-d.com for more info on the film
*********************************************
7. OutLoud Youth Radio Project (Bay Area)
Who do YOU want to hear on the radio?
Join outLoud, a radio project by and for queer & questioning youth & allies, 23 & under. Learn how to make radio documentaries, audio art, and web radio. Voice your opinions, your stories, and unleash your creativity. outLoud will air on radio stations in the Bay Area and elsewhere, and will stream on the web.
We need:
reporters. engineers. musicians. poets. commentators. organizers. people
with stories. people who know people who have stories. people who aren't
afraid to find people with stories. a variety of age groups, backgrounds,
and experiences.
We meet at LYRIC, the Lavender Youth Recreation & Information Center in San Francisco, for training & brainstorming & hanging out. We also work individually or in groups the rest of the week. Call or email if you're interested to ask about meeting times and directions.
If you aren't in San Francisco, we still want to hear from you. No, we especially want to hear from you.
You have a story... tell it: outLoud!
contact Noah -- outloud@graffiti.net -- (415) 703-6150 x37
*********************************************
8. Performance at Jon Sims Center (SF)
Jon Sims Center for the Arts Presents:
An evening with REID GOMEZ and MARIO BALCITO
Thursday, February 14th at 8 pm
Jon Sims Center at 1519 Mission Street, San Francisco
(between 11th St. and South Van Ness)
The reading/presentation will be followed by questions and answers with the audience, and then a reception for the artists. For information and reservations, please call 415.554.0402.
Reid Gomez is an urban raised Navajo from San Francisco. She is a novelist and educator whose work focuses on American Indian Literature and Native American women and the possibilities of Sovereignty and Imagination for Native Americans and Native America. She believes in the transformative power of language and storytelling and her work centers on the belief that we can use creative power to restore and reshape the worlds we currently reside in. Her manuscript A Woman's Body Was Found There is currently awaiting publication. "electric gods" and "Touch. Touch. Touching." are forthcoming in The Oxford Anthology of Contemporary Short Fiction by Native Women in the United States.
Mario Balcito is a 24 year old mexipino queer singer/performer, poet/activist whose work appears in the Queer youth anthology Revolutionary Voices edited by amy sonnie. A writer for performance, he brings forth his everyday ghetto girl brown boy reality to the paper and stage. At 19, he was the first grand slam champion of the annual Youth Poetry Slam. Last year he was the featured speaker/performer at the National Youth Advocacy Coalition's (NYAC) annual youth summit in Washington, DC.
*********************************************
9. Intergeneration - All Ages Arts Meeting (SF)
PLEASE MARK YOUR CALENDAR FOR OUR NEXT INTERGENERATION MEETING
DATE: SUNDAY, February 24, 2002
TIME: 12:30 Noon to 4:30 PM
Location: Jon Sims Center, 1519 Mission Street., 2nd Floor (at 11th
Street)
Youth, seniors and queer community members of all ages are invited to participate in Intergeneration, an ongoing creative experience that is build queer community across the ages through the creation of fine art, photography, performance and written works, film, video, multimedia and other interdisciplinary works of art.
Everyone is encouraged to add their voice to this project that will include a presentation of collaborative art projects during the 2nd Intergeneration Multimedia Performance Series. This series is scheduled for Sunday, June 9, 2002 at 2:00 p.m. in the Koret Auditorium at the San Francisco Public Main Library, presented by the San Francisco Arts Commission Cultural Equity Grant Program and the James C. Hormel Lesbian and Gay Center of the San Francisco Public Library.
To receive information on Intergeneration, Artist/Performance Proposal Form or to become an Intergeneration Ambassador, please call 415-695-0933, email Frank@Pietronigro.com, or write to: Intergeneration, c/o Frank Pietronigro, P.O. Box 193163, San Francisco, CA 94119-3163.
WHAT IS INTERGENERATION?
Intergeneration is an interdisciplinary arts project that is building community between Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender youth, seniors and queers of all ages through the creation of paintings, photography, video narratives, digital works, storytelling, short performances and poetry. Members of the queer community have joined project founder, Frank Pietronigro, and other professional artists for ongoing Intergeneration Creative Workshops. During these meetings participants engage in dialogue about the issues of aging, generation stereotyping, building community and mentoring. The participants then use such themes to guide them in the creation of new works of art that will be presented free to the public through the Intergeneration Performance Series II, Catalogue and Website.
*********************************************
10. Teachers for Social Justice Conference (SF)
Teachers for Social Justice proudly presents its 2nd annual Teaching for Social Justice Conference. This year the keynote speaker is Linda Darling Hammond.
Last year, the conference drew more than 350 educators and community based activists. We expect even more this February 23rd, so please do register by fax or using the web site:
http://www.teachers4socialjustice.org
Online registration, details and a printable flyer can be found on our web site.
When: Saturday February 23rd, 2002 8:30am-5:00pm
Where: Horace Mann Middle School
3351--23rd St. (at Valencia)
San Francisco, CA
Keynote Speaker: Linda Darling Hammond
FREE: Childcare, parking, lunch, morning refreshments
Morning Workshops: applicable classroom strategies * Social Justice
/Anti-Bias Curriculum * Popular Education * Youth Leadership * Parent Organizing
High Stakes Testing/Authentic Assessment * Discipline and Racial Justice
Afternoon workshops: organizing models * Affecting Legislation * Affecting District Policy * School-based grassroots organizing * Community-based grassroots organizing * Introducing arts and culture
GSA Network will be presenting in one of the afternoon workshops.
We look forward to seeing you there!
*********************************************
11. Youth Speaks - 2002 Spring Workshop Schedule
Open to any teen (13-19 years old)
All workshops are free & refreshments are served.
Workshops begin the week of February 11th
Mondays Youth Speaks/ Living Word Center
2169 Folsom Street,
S-100 (btw 17th & 18th) San Francisco
Tyger Walsh & Mario Balcita
Tuesdays La Peña Cultural
Center
3105 Shattuck Avenue @ Woolsey Berkeley
Paul S. Flores & Y.A.D.D.O.S.
Wednesdays Youth Speaks/ Living Word Writers
Center
2169 Folsom Street, S-100 (btw 17th & 18th) San Francisco
James Kass, Marc Bamuthi Joseph, & Spokes
Thursdays The Black Box Theater
1928 Telegraph (btw 19th & 20th) Oakland
Chinaka Hodge & Ishle Yi Park
Fridays Youth Speaks/
Living Word Writers Center
2169 Folsom Street, S-100 (btw 17th & 18th) San Francisco
Jason Mateo & guests
Free After School Creative Writing Workshops for Teens
Youth gather to share and build the spoken word community in the Youth Speaks workshops. This is a weekly opportunity to come together with other young writers while engaging in the illest prompts and freshest conversations. Workshops are led by committed and talented facilitators who are dedicated to helping youth thrive. Sessions focus on all aspects of writing: from fiction and poetry to performance, politics, and slam. Free and open to all teens 14-19 years old. Refreshments are served.
For information, check out our website at www.youthspeaks.org or call us at 415.255.9035
*********************************************
12. Vital Signs - Health Zine for LGBTQ Youth
Check out Vital Signs, a bi-annual zine by HIFY (Health Initiatives for Youth). It is filled with informative articles and images as well as fiction and poetry by Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, & Questioning youth. Recent issues have addressed topics such as drugs, sex, latex, body image, bi-phobia, and access to health care.
Write, make art, or take pictures for Vital Signs. The next issue of Vital Signs is going to be about ACTION. What's that mean? Activism, taking control of your life, being active, making choices, anything but being a passive observer. We want your stories, drawings, poetry, photographs, and ideas. Vital Signs is for youth and by youth so it can't happen with out you!
If you want to receive Vital Signs call: 415-274-1970, x 26 or e-mail:
mailto:puborders@hify.org
If you'd like to submit work to Vital Signs (or ask questions about doing so) call Mia at 415-274-1970, x17 or e-mail: mailto:thompson@hify.org
*********************************************
13. Human Relations Training
Do you have friends/family members who are teachers/administrators and are interested in social justice/multiculturalism?
Did you attend a high school that could really use some serious human
relations help?
Well, Leadership Development in Interethnic Relations (LDIR) might have the answer for you! Our Spring Human Relations Training for teachers and administrators begins on March 9th, 2002. This 5 day training inlcudes workshops on:
Power, Privilege and Oppression (in the context of the school campus)
Individual Biases and Stereotypes
Conflict Management
Assessement of the School Campus Community
Action and Implementation of a Human Relations Plan for the School
Campus
For more information, contact:
Khanum Shaikh
Youth Program Coordinator
Leadership Development in Interethnic Relations
213-977-7500 ext. 246
*********************************************
14. Scutter Queer Youth Arts Scholarship
If you are a high school senior who lives in Southern CA and is an artist, you can apply for the Scutter Queer Youth in Arts scholarship. You must be a high school senior who plans to attend school in the fall. You must also be involved in arts photography, painting, filmmaking, writing, dance, music, etc....
There are two $1,000 scholarships available. They will be awarded
to two students who identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual or Trans.
They will be awarded
at Scutterfest 2002, which will take place June 21st-23rd. Applications
are due Apr 15th and the winners will be notified on the first week of
June and will be asked to attend Scutterfest and may have an art show,
film screening or perform at the fest.
The following info is needed:
Name
Age
Sex/Gender
Address
E-mail address
Phone Number
Be discreet when calling yes or no?
Current High School
You must also answer one of the following questions in essay format. No shorter than a page no longer than three pages. It must be typed along with your general info.
As a queer artist how do you hope to affect your community?
What inspires you to be an artist?
How has art help you grow as a person?
Send all applications to Rudy at:
Scutter c/o Rudy
P.O. Box 3247
Alhambra C.A. 91803
Questions can be e-mailed at scutterzine@yahoo.com
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15. National Day of Solidarity With Muslim, Arab, and South Asian
Immigrants (Feb. 20)
"First they came for the Communists and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist. Then they came for the Jews, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist. Then they came for the Catholics and I didn't speak up because I was a Protestant. Then they came for me, but by that time, no one was left to speak up." -- Pastor Martin Niemoeller, Nazi Germany
We call on people everywhere to participate in a National Day of Solidarity with Muslim, Arab and South Asian Immigrants. The words of Pastor Niemoeller spell out the challenge facing all of us as people who seek justice and a better world. This time, first they are coming for the Arab, Muslim and South Asian immigrants. Based on their racial profile, over 1500 have been rounded up and the government refuses to say who they are, where they are jailed and what the charges are!!! Already, a Pakistani man has died in custody. Who will be next? The recent "disappearances", indefinite detention, the round-ups, the secret military tribunals, the denial of legal representation, evidence kept a secret from the accused, the denial of any due process for Arab, Muslim, South Asians and others, have chilling similarities to a police state. We will not allow our grief for the tragedy of September 11 to be used to justify this new repression. We are clear that being an immigrant is not a crime, Muslims, Arabs and South Asians are not terrorists.
On February 20 wear a blue triangle with the name of one of the newly
"disappeared". In the early 1940's, German Nazis used many different colored
triangles to categorize and divide people in the concentration camps.
We will not allow the same kind of profiling to happen here. We will wear
a blue triangle in a positive way to show our solidarity with those being
targeted today. Find the ways to express your solidarity: churches, synagogues,
unions and schools provide sanctuary for the persecuted; organize a vigil
or demonstration at a local INS detention center; hold a teach in at your
local
school, college, or university; call your political representatives
and demand that these outrages cease; organize a poetry SLAM or a music
show; write a letter to your local newspaper calling for justice for all;
students demand that your colleges or universities not turn over the files
of immigrant students to the government; contact local tv and radio talk
shows asking to be part of the program; sponsor a meet the immigrant educational
and cultural event so they can tell their stories.
Remember the tragedy of Nazi Germany when so many looked the other way as their neighbors were disappeared, persecuted and stripped of their civil liberties. What would you have done then? What will you do now?
For more info or to endorse the event, visit:
http://www.refuseandresist.org/imm/012502ndsami.html
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16. NEWS: NEA Board Adopts Plan To Make Schools Safer
Associated Press, February 8, 2002
NEA OKs Resolution to Protect Gays
By GREG TOPPO
WASHINGTON (AP) - The nation's largest teachers union will ask school districts to protect homosexual students and staff by adopting policies that punish harassment and discrimination.
Under a plan adopted Friday by the National Education Association's board of directors, schools also will be encouraged to develop factual materials for classroom discussions on homosexuality. All staff and students will be encouraged to speak up when they see or experience discrimination based on sexual orientation.
"I think it's a pretty clear signal that the organization recognizes there are some pretty serious needs for gay and lesbian children in school - and employees,'' said Penny Kotterman, president of the Arizona Education Association. She chairs the NEA's Task Force on Sexual Orientation, which was created last fall to develop the plan.
Kotterman, a middle school special education teacher in the Kyrene School District in suburban Phoenix, said the plan will help schools with difficult issues of student sexuality.
"Staff do need help,'' she said. "They need professional development, they need good, factual data that helps them deal with these issues.''
The union said it could provide "accurate, objective and up-to-date information'' on the needs and problems of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered students and staff.
A statement by the NEA said the information schools provide should be age-appropriate, nonjudgmental and relevant to subject matter being studied.
Studies indicate that homosexual students have higher dropout and suicide rates and sometimes are treated with hostility by fellow students. NEA President Bob Chase has said gay and lesbian teachers in some states face losing their jobs because of their sexual orientation.
"It is clear that, in too many places, students and education employees who are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered face a hostile environment,'' Chase said Friday in the statement.
A study last year by the University of North Carolina estimated that 5 percent to 6 percent of students 17 or younger, or more than 2 million students, are gay, lesbian or bisexual.
The NEA represents 2.6 million teachers and other school employees.
* On the Net: NEA: http://www.nea.org
In this issue of GSA Network News, you'll find:
1. OHMY Conference on March 2nd
2. Upcoming GSA Leadership Trainings: L.A. and South Bay
3. Queer Youth Art Show (SF)
4. Bike Out Event (SoCal)
5. GLSEN Peninsula/South Bay Meeting
6. Vital Signs - Health Zine for LGBTQ Youth
7. Practicing Transgression Conference (Berkeley)
8. Spoken Word Workshop (SF)
9. STARC Summer Institute
10. NGLTF Northwest Power Summit
11. New Resource on Body Image
12. SOUL Workshop Manual for Sale
13. Youth Initiated Projects Grants (SF)
14. California Arts Council Grant
15. Job Announcement - Q Action
16. NEWS: New Resource on State Harassment/Discrimination Laws and
Policies
17. NEWS: Study Finds Many Teens Silent on Hate Crimes
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1. OHMY Conference on March 2nd
The sixth annual Overcoming Homophobia Meeting for Youth (OHMY) Conference is coming soon!
*** Saturday, March 2, 2002
*** 9:00am - 5:00pm
*** Horace Mann Middle School
3351 23rd St., San Francisco
OHMY is a FREE, youth-led conference for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer, questioning, and straight ally youth dedicated to fostering safe schools and youth activism. The conference is open to all youth and allies, with a focus on middle school and high school. Adult allies and teachers are welcome!
To register for OHMY, go to http://www.gsanetwork.org/ohmy.
If you're interested in volunteering at OHMY, contact Emilie at 415-552-4229 or mailto:emilie@gsanetwork.org.
OHMY is sponsored by GSA Network and LYRIC.
Questions? E-mail mailto:ohmy@gsanetwork.org or call 415-552-4229 and ask for Emilie.
*********************************************
2. Upcoming GSA Leadership Trainings: L.A. and South Bay
Wanna meet other people fighting homophobia?
Wanna learn how to improve your GSA?
Wanna become a leader?
*** Join us for one of our upcoming GSA Leadership Trainings! ***
Learn how to facilitate a meeting, make your GSA more inclusive, and build coalitions with other students.
All GSA Leadership Trainings are FREE. Breakfast and lunch are provided.
Los Angeles:
Saturday, February 23th -- 10:00am - 5:00pm
the Village at Ed Gould Plaza
1125 N. McCadden Place, Los Angeles
(co-sponsored by the LA Gay and Lesbian Center)
Limited space is available for the Los Angeles Leadership Training.
Please RSVP your group or as an individual. For more information or to
register, contact CC Sapp at GSA Network at 323.662.3160 or mailto:cc@gsanetwork.org.
South Bay:
Sunday, February 24th -- 9:30am - 4:00pm
Billy DeFrank Center
938 The Alameda, San Jose
(co-sponsored by GSA Network and the Billy DeFrank Center)
For more information about the South Bay Leadership Training, contact
Emilie at 415.552.4229 or mailto:emilie@gsanetwork.org.
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3. Queer Youth Art Show
For one night only...
A celebration and exhibition of lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, and questioning youth artwork.
February 9, 2002
5:00-8:00pm
Yerba Buena Center for the Arts - 701 Mission St. in SF
Sponsored by LYRIC
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4. Bike Out Event (SoCal)
Calling all Transgender, Bisexual, Gay, Lesbian, Questioning and Queer youth (and their straight supporters) ages 14-23!
Ride the length of Catalina Island with other queer youth! Camp outdoors, see beautiful scenery, and experience a great sense of accomplishment! Bike Out's most popular trip, the Catalina Island 4 day trip, is now open for registration! There are only 10 spots available. You don't need to be an athlete to come, and you don't need to have your own bike. There are sliding scale fees - No one will be turned away for lack of funds. Bike Out provides the bikes, helmets, water bottles, food, tents and other gear.
Bike Out's Catalina Island trip will leave Sunday morning, March 24 and return early evening March 27.
Bike Out is a non-profit organization that promotes self esteem, health and leadership among lgbtq youth through challenging mountain biking expeditions. All youth are welcome on Bike Out trips.
To register, call Becca or Karina at (310) 578-9994 and leave us the following info:
1. Your first and last name
2. Your Mailing Address, City, State and Zip Code
3. Your Telephone Number and
4. Your Email Address, if you have one.
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5. GLSEN Peninsula/South Bay Meeting
From the GLSEN Peninsula/South Bay Chapter:
On Tuesday evening, Feb. 12, 7-9 pm, there will be a very special meeting, open to all, to discuss the future of the Peninsula/South Bay chapter of GLSEN, the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network. GLSEN is the premier national organization dedicated to improving school life for GLBT students and teachers, and your local chapter NEEDS YOU NOW!!
After a long and successful history in our area (counting its days as GLSEN San Mateo), GLSEN P/SB is at a crossroads and needs new blood willing to assume positions of leadership. This extremely important asset to our community will *cease to exist* unless there is a strong showing of support for keeping it going at the meeting on 2/12. PLEASE CONSIDER how valuable it is to have a group out there providing vital support to our GLBT teachers and leading sensitivity trainings in schools!! Our local GLSEN chapter is a unique and extremely valuable resource -- please help keep it alive!
To learn more about GLSEN, check out the local and national websites:
GLSEN P/SB: http://www.glsenpsb.org
National GLSEN: http://www.glsen.org
Meeting details: Tuesday, Feb. 12, 7-9 pm, Peninsula YWCA, 4161 Alma
Street in Palo Alto, phone (650) 494-0972 (YWCA). Please tell everyone
you know who cares about this issue -- GLBT, straight, people of every
occupation!
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6. Vital Signs - Health Zine for LGBTQ Youth
Check out Vital Signs, a bi-annual zine by HIFY (Health Initiatives
for
Youth). It is filled with informative articles and images as well as
fiction and poetry by Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, & Questioning
youth. Recent issues have addressed topics such as drugs, sex, latex,
body image, bi-phobia, and access to health care.
Write, make art, or take pictures for Vital Signs. The next issue of
Vital Signs is going to be about ACTION. What's that mean? Activism,
taking control of your life, being active, making choices, anything
but
being a passive observer. We want your stories, drawings, poetry,
photographs, and ideas. Vital Signs is for youth and by youth so it
can't happen with out you!
If you want to receive Vital Signs call: 415-274-1970, x 26 or e-mail:
mailto:puborders@hify.org
If you'd like to submit work to Vital Signs (or ask questions about
doing so) call Mia at 415-274-1970, x17 or e-mail: mailto:thompson@hify.org
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7. Practicing Transgression Conference (Berkeley)
Practicing Transgression: Radical Women of Color for the 21st. Century
Feb 7-10
Alumni House, UC Berkeley.
Practicing Transgression is a conference celebrating the 20th anniversary of the feminist classic This Bridge Called My Back: Writings by Radical Women of Color. The conference is organized by the Bridge Collective of U.C. Berkeley and will host a number of well-known scholars, activists, writers, and performers.
There will also be a Bridge Party at La Peña on Saturday, Feb.
9, 7:30pm.
For more information please e-mail mailto:info@thirdwomanpress.com
or visit http://www.thirdwomanpress.com/pt
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8. Spoken Word Workshop (SF)
drama queens, book worms, poets, MC's, writers . . .
it's time to build
FREE poetry spoken word performance session
for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trangsgender, Queer, and Questioning Youth
Mondays 4-6pm free & food provided
Youth Speaks 2169 Folsom St
(btwn 17th and 18th - near 16th St BART) FRISCO
hosted by the fabulous Mario Balcita and tyger walshe
pens paper microphones heartbeats pencils dreams rhythm visions reality
u p l
i f t
e d
Youth Speaks 415.255.9035 ext 12 http://www.youthspeaks.org
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9. STARC Summer Institute
Introducing.....The STARC Summer Institute
What is it? An intensive 8-week training school for young activists.
It is being offered for the first time in the summer of 2002. The Summer
Institute is designed to help youth & student activists become successful,
conscious organizers on our campuses, in our communities, and for the broader
student movement.
What's STARC? The STARC (Students Transforming and Resisting Corporations)
Alliance is a national network of youth and student activists who are working
for a just and sustainable society by building power with the people most
impacted by inequality.
As young activists, we're committed to building our skills as principled, effective organizers who will work in movements for racial, economic and environmental justice over the long run. At the Summer Institute, we'll learn organizing skills and develop our political analysis through a combination of training and hands-on community organizing experience. The Summer Institute has 4 major components:
Internships: Students will be placed as interns with principled community-based
organizations. There, we'll witness community-based organizing from the
inside, and gain some concrete organizing experience ourselves. We'll also
have the opportunity to support critical community struggles around a variety
of issues.
Political Education: A core piece of the Summer Institute is a weekly
workshop that build our practical analysis of interlocking systems of oppression--
white supremacy, capitalism, and patriarchy-and their relationship to current
struggles and movements. We'll combine guest presentations, readings, discussion
of liberation struggles of oppressed communities, challenging privilege,
and organizing strategy.
Organizing Skills: A series of organizing trainings led by professional
organizers and trainers will ground us, as participants, in basic direct
action community organizing, power mapping, strategic campaign design,
media, direct action/civil disobedience, and other important organizing
skills.
Building STARC: Participants will take on collective projects related
to STARC, including helping plan our national gathering to be held at the
end of the summer. Not only will we learn and organize together, we'll
also work to build a stronger sense of community in STARC over the next
year. In building thoughtful relationships with each other, we have the
roots to create powerful alliances with other groups and organizers. We
are the next generation of social justice, and we must work together!
Details:
When: The Summer Institute begins on June 8 with a 5-day orientation
and ends August 9.
Where: It will take place in the San Francisco Bay Area (mostly
East Bay in Berkeley and Oakland) in California.
How: Participants from outside of the Bay Area will be provided housing,
all participants will receive a stipend to cover their living expenses
(approximately $600/mo)
Contact Us: Laura Close, Email: mailto:staffer@starcalliance.org,
Phone: 510-872-0793, On the web: http://www.starcalliance.org
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10. NGLTF Northwest Power Summit
Northwest Power Summit: Oppose Racially Divisive and Anti-gay Ballot Initiatives!!!
Would you like to be a participant? Co-Sponsor?
Call to find out more information. Space is limited.
(POC/POC organizations strongly encouraged to participate/ co-sponsor)
***
Is color blindness possible? Well, Ward Connerly, (the African-American businessman who helped pass Proposition 209--the anti-affirmative action initiative in California) thinks so. And he's at it again!
Initially called the "Racial Privacy Initiative" and now the "Racial, Ethnicity, Color or National Origin Classification," will prohibit the state, including cities, counties, public universities, and school districts, from collecting racial/ethnic/national origin data.
Connerly states that he wants to move our nation towards a color-blind society and get rid of the "silly little boxes," but what will this mean? If it's illegal for state agencies to collect basic information on racial data, it would:
- make it impossible to enforce anti-discrimination laws,
- undermine hate crimes prosecution,
- ignore community needs,
- allow for racial profiling, and
- hide serious discrimination, making it much harder to advance an
agenda of racial and economic justice and equality.
The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF) has long trained GLBT activists to defeat anti-gay ballot measures and has also done pioneering work on the intersection of GLBT issues and issues of racial and economic justice. To bring these two areas of concern together, we are expanding our training and organizing work to take action against racially divisive measures like the so-called racial privacy initiative.
NGLTF's Northwest Power Summit (in Portland, Oregon April 19-21, 2002) is our first training specifically designed to offer high-level training to community leaders who seek to put an end to both anti-gay and racially divisive ballot measures.
If you would be interested in learning more about the Power Summit training,
or would like to participate, please call Ingrid Rivera for more information.
We are seeking people of color and white allies who want to defeat the
so-called racial privacy initiative. Space is limited, so please
call Ingrid at (212) 604-9830 before March 15.
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11. New Resource on Body Image
YouthResource has a new web section on BODY IMAGE
YouthResource's new page is called "Reflections on body image and queer identity." It includes an interview with writer, editor, and activist Hanne Blank on size and sexual health; information on eating disorders; myths and facts about body image; tips for creating a body-positive attitude; and stories from other young people on their experiences with body Image. Go to: <http://www.youthresource.com/ourlives/bodyimage/index.cfm>http://www.youthresource.com/ourlives/bodyimage/index.cfm.
YouthResource, a Web site created by and for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (GLBTQ) young people 13 to 24 years old, takes a holistic approach to sexual health by offering support, community, resources, and peer-to-peer education about issues of concern to GLBTQ young people. YouthResource has four focus areas: health, advocacy, community, and issues in our lives.
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12. SOUL Workshop Manual for Sale
The School of Unity and Liberation (SOUL) political education manual is finally here!
SOUL has been facilitating introductory political education workshops since 1997. They have conducted 250 workshops across the country with more than 3150 youth. These workshops were developed by young people - people of color, women, working class, and queer - for others like us.
SOUL's workshops cover the important issues that young people face, use their experience as a foundation, and build analysis and critical thinking. This workshop manual is a must for youth organizers, youth workers, youth service providers, and all youth program coordinators.
The SOUL workshop manual has workshops on:
identity * power analysis * economics and poverty * racism * sexism
* homophobia * disability oppression * youth organizing * globalization
* campaign and strategy development * histories of resistance * environmental
racism * welfare * prison system * schooling conditions
Cost: Individuals - $25-50 (plus $5 for shipping), Organizations - $100-150 (plus $5 for shipping)
To order the SOUL workshop manual, send the following information with a payment to: 1357A 5th St., Oakland, CA, 94607
Name:
Organization:
Address:
City, State, Zip:
Phone:
E-mail:
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13. Youth Initiated Projects Grants (SF)
Have a project idea? Want funding?
Apply for Youth Initiated Projects' Sring grants cycle!
Applicants can be any youth or student group in San Francisco. Groups can get up to $5,000 for their project ideas. Projects must have significant youth involvement in all steps, including coming up with the idea, planning the project, and carrying it out.
Applications are due Wednesday, April 10th, 2002, by 6:00pm.
To get an application mailed to you, call the Youth Leadership Insititute
at 415-836-9160.
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14. California Arts Council Grant
The California Arts Council's Next Generation (NG) Grant for 2002-03 is now available online. This is a grant of up to $10,000 focusing on professional development for young culture-specific and multicultural artists 18-25 years old.
Application deadline is March 22, 2002.
Visit http://www.cac.ca.gov/ for more information.
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15. Job Announcement - Q Action
Q ACTION
FLIQ PROJECT ASSISTANT
This position is part of a collaboration between Stop AIDS Project and the Queer Youth Training Collaborative (QYTC).
ORGANIZATION
The mission of the STOP AIDS Project is to prevent HIV transmission
among
all gay and bisexual men in San Francisco through multicultural,
community-based organizing. Q Action is a program of the STOP
AIDS Project
and works to reduce HIV transmission and build a healthy future for
young
gay, bisexual, queer, questioning and transgender men, 25 and under.
REPORTS TO : Q Action Workshops Manager
GENERAL STATEMENT OF DUTIES
The Q Action FLIQ Project Assistant works with the Q Action Workshops
Manager and FLIQ Production team to conceptualize, develop and produce
Q
Action's film project addressing HIV transmission issues for young
gay,
bisexual, queer and questioning men 25 and under.
RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE
- Assists FLIQ production team in developing film topic and storyboard.
- Locates, reviews, selects and edits found video footage.
- Identifies and films specific footage.
- Coordinates logistics for FLIQ screening.
- Attends STOP AIDS Project staff meetings and QYTC workshops.
- Other duties as assigned, including transcription of interview footage
and
event promotion.
JOB QUALIFICATIONS
REQUIRED:
- Demonstrated interest in film design, development and production.
- Basic camera use for filming.
- Demonstrated knowledge or experience working within a structured
work
environment.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Typing skills
are a
plus.
- Familiarity with the gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, young multi-ethnic
male community.
- Ability to work well in a team.
PREFERRED:
- Demonstrated willingness to attain training in Film curation and
filmmaking.
- Demonstrated willingness to attain HIV prevention/education information.
- Experience in any aspect of film production.
HOURS
This is a temporary intern position at 10 hours per week; some weekend
and
evening work will be required. This position will be funded through
June 30,
2002.
SALARY & BENEFITS
Depending on experience with no benefits.
APPLICATION PROCEDURE
Please submit a cover letter, resume and the names and contact information
of three references by Friday February 22, 2002, 5:00pm. Mail
to Roberto
Ordeñana, STOP AIDS Project, 2128 15th Street, San Francisco,
CA 94114-1213.
E-mail applications will be accepted to ROrdenana@stopaids.org
Faxed
applications will be accepted at 415-575-0166.
No telephone inquiries, please.
This position is open until filled.
The STOP AIDS Project tries to prevent the spread of HIV in many ways,
some
of which include gay, bisexual, and transgendered sexually positive
and
sexually explicit language and images. Frank sex talk and images,
as
appropriate, are part of our work. Applicants should be able to be
comfortable in such an environment.
The STOP AIDS Project does not discriminate in its employment practices
on
the basis of race, color, creed, ethnic or national origin or ancestry,
age,
sex, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, gender identity, HIV status,
veteran status or disability as defined by applicable federal, state
and
local law. People with HIV/AIDS, people of color and women are
encouraged
to apply.
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16. NEWS: New Resource on State Harassment/Discrimination Laws and
Policies
Gay-Rights Groups Draft Guide To Laws on Harassment
By Jessica L. Sandham
January 30, 2002
Education Week (American Education's Online Newspaper of Record)
http://www.edweek.org/ew/newstory.cfm?slug=20gay.h21
Two national groups hoping to make schools safe from harassment and discrimination against gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender students have teamed up to produce a guidebook that describes which types of state laws and policies best meet that mission.
Release of the guide comes as lawmakers in Florida and New York consider measures designed to safeguard all students against verbal and physical abuse.
The Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund and the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network released A Guide to Effective Statewide Laws/Policies: Preventing Discrimination Against LGBT Students in K-12 Schools on Jan. 15.
The publication outlines the various legal matters the groups say legislators must consider when seeking to write statewide policies that protect all students, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. It also describes the processes and pitfalls advocates of such policies must consider before pursuing legal protections for gay and other students.
"This isn't about the issue of sexual orientation," said M.K. Cullen, the director of public policy at the New York City-based GLSEN. "It's about whether a student can go to school without being threatened or harassed. It's an issue of equitable educational access, and that's the bottom line."
Heading Off Lawsuits
According to the guidebook, five states-California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, and Wisconsin-have statutes that bar harassment or discrimination based on sexual orientation in their public schools.
In addition, Minnesota and New Jersey have added language to existing civil rights laws that prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation in schools, as well as other areas, such as housing and employment.
The Lambda Legal Defense Fund and GLSEN emphasize that it is important for states to provide implementation guidelines for schools after such laws are passed.
In California, for example, a task force released a report last spring that listed recommendations for how schools could put into practice a state law, passed in 2000, that prohibits harassment or discrimination against students or staff members based on their actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity. ("Calif. Panel Urges Safer Climate for Gay Students, Staff," April 18, 2001.)
David S. Buckel, a senior staff lawyer with the New York City-based Lambda organization, said that by putting in place statutes that name gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender students as a group protected against harassment and discrimination in schools, states also could help reduce the number of lawsuits brought against school districts by students who are mistreated.
For example, in a landmark case settled in 1996, the Ashland, Wis., district agreed to pay more than $900,000 to settle a suit brought by Lambda on behalf of Jaime Nabozny, a gay former student who said that administrators had failed to respond to his frequent complaints of verbal and physical abuse based on his sexual orientation.
Since then, Mr. Buckel said, "there's been an explosion of lawsuits cropping up around the country."
Just this month, the Titusville Area School District in Pennsylvania agreed to pay $312,000 to settle a case brought by a former student who said that school officials had allowed name-calling, hitting, and taunting directed at him to go unchecked.
"The problem with lawsuits is that it means that some child has been terribly, terribly hurt," Mr. Buckel said. "These laws can help slow this down and hopefully stop it."
New York lawmakers are expected to take up the issue in the coming weeks. The proposed Dignity for All Students Act, which was introduced last week, would require that all schools provide students with an environment free of discrimination or harassment based on actual or perceived race, color, national origin, ethnic group, religious practice, disability, or sex, as well as sexual orientation and gender identity.
"We worked diligently over the past year to make sure this wasn't just a 'gay' bill," said Stephen B. Kaufman, the chief of staff for Assemblyman Steven Sanders, a Democrat and the sponsor of the bill in the lower chamber. "It addresses a myriad of problems in school settings. The protections it affords are probably needed in every state."
Mr. Kaufman said that the measure would likely be approved in the Assembly, which has a Democratic majority, but that its supporters were still looking for a co-sponsor from the Senate's Republican majority.
Meanwhile, some Florida legislators are pursuing a similar measure. Rep. Kenneth Allan Gottlieb, a Democrat, is the House sponsor of a bill that is also called the Dignity for All Students Act, which has yet to be heard in committee.
"I don't want anyone to be discriminated against or harassed," Mr. Gottlieb said. "This would require school districts to put policies in place and then train teachers so that we can better handle problems before they become tragic."
"A Guide to Effective Statewide Laws/Policies: Preventing Discrimination Against LGBT Students in K-12 Schools" is available online: http://www.glsen.org/binary-data/GLSEN_ARTICLES/pdf_file/1133.pdf (Requires Adobe's Acrobat Reader.)
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17. NEWS: Study Finds Many Teens Silent on Hate Crimes
Many teens silent on hate crimes, study finds
By Michael Rosenwald - Boston Globe Staff - Jan. 28, 2002
Massachusetts high school students significantly underreport instances of hate crimes on their campuses, according to a study being released today by the Governor's Task Force on Hate Crimes.
About 400 students out of 4,059 students polled at 30 public schools across the state in 2000 said they were victims of hate offenses involving vandalism, assault, assault and battery, harassment, or sexual assault.
However, 30 percent of those students told no one about the offenses, according to the report. ''This study shows that we have to do a better job of allowing our students to get world-class educations,'' said James P. Jajuga, the state's secretary of public safety. ''You have to deal with external issues that students are obviously being confronted with. ''Certainly there is no larger issue than safety and security,'' he added.
Jajuga will release specific study findings this afternoon at Northeastern University, whose Center for Criminal Justice Research helped compile and analyze the data.
Along with Northeastern professors, Jajuga will also detail efforts
to increase reporting - and decrease actual hate crimes in schools. One
effort includes revamping the state's Web site, www.stopthehate.org, to
include tools for educating students about hate crimes, and giving educators
and police more resources to respond.
'I really think we have to do a better job of getting accurate information out to everyone,'' Jajuga said. ''The more education everyone has, the better off we will be.''
When students did tell someone about hate crimes, the study found, 60 percent told a friend, 29 percent told a family member, and 15 percent informed school personnel. Only 3 percent reported offenses to police. But it's the 30 percent who told no one that state officials are most concerned about.
''That's the number one issue,'' Jajuga said. ''Now we have a better picture of what's going on.''