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In this issue of GSA Network News, you'll find:
GSA Network Highlight
GSA Youth Leaders Run in the LA Marathon to Honor Larry King
Go directly to GSA Network
highlight
GSA Network Announcements
1. Stop Ballot Measure That Would Exclude LGBT Couples From Marriage For Generations
2. GSA Network is Hiring - Administrative Manager & Southern California
Program Coordinator
3. Get GSA Network T-shirts, Buttons & More!
Go directly to GSA Network announcements
Other Announcements
Southern California
4. LA Caesar Chavez Walk (Los Angeles)
5. LATINO GAY FAMILY DAY (Los Angeles)
6. Candlelight vigil "Fallen Angel: A Tribute to Lawrence King." (West
Hollywood)
7. Vigil to be held in Memory of Lawrence King (Palm Springs)
8. LGBTQ Youth Prom (Los Angeles)
Go directly to Southern California listings
Central Valley
9. GLBTQ Youth Group (Modesto)
Go directly to Central Valley listings
Northern California
10. GSA Summit
11. YouthAware Educational Theatre at the New Conservatory Theatre Center Proudly
Presents OutSpoken
12. 3rd Annual Queer People of Color Summit (Berkeley)
13. Great America's 10th Anniversary Gay Day Celebration (Santa Clara)
14. Support GroundSpark for Grand Marshal at Gay Pride Parade
Go directly to Northern California listings
Statewide
15. Planned Parenthood Teen Lobby Day 2008 (Sacramento)
16. Casting Call for Straightlaced: A Documentary Film About Gender and
Homophobia in High Schools
Go directly to Statewide listings
National
17. An announcement from TransYouth Family Allies about Larry King article
in the Advocate
18. GLBT Awareness Institute
19. Study on the impact of bullying
Go directly to National listings
Scholarships
20. Models of Excellence (MOE) Scholarship, Sponsored by Friends of Project
10 Inc.
Go directly to Scholarships listings
Jobs
21. 2008-2009 COLAGE Fellowship Program
22.SOUL Summer School 2008
Go directly to Jobs listings
News
23. State Board of Education adopts sex-education standards
Go directly to News listings
+++++++++++++++ GSA NETWORK HIGHLIGHT+++++++++++++++
GSA Youth Leaders Run in the LA Marathon to Honor Larry King
The news of the fatal shooting of Lawrence “Larry” King left Edwin
Ortega, a senior at Santee High School in South Los Angeles, in awe. “
Never in a million years would I have ever expected to hear something like that,”
stated Ortega. While at a vigil for Larry King held in West Hollywood, Edwin
was moved by a speech made by Luis Roman, a Gay-Straight Alliance Network youth
leader. He was overcome by feeling that there was so much he should do in honor
of Larry.
Edwin decided to turn the simple act of running into a message of honor for
Larry. As the LA marathon approached, he decided to run only 15 miles of the
23 total possible to symbolize Larry's short 15 years of life. Once Edwin made
his decision, he contacted Luis Roman. Together the two worked to mobilize other
youth to join Edwin in his mission to run for tolerance, spreading the message
that “we should run towards tolerance, not run away from it.”
With the aid of the GSA Network, Edwin and several other students in Gay-Straight
Alliance clubs from East LA and South LA were able to complete something meaningful
in their lives in honor of the life of Larry King. And at the end of their empowering
run, the students were pumped for more. They were driven by the memory and injustice
that Larry suffered.
"I remember when I used to be bullied for being slightly different,"
commented one of the students who participated in the run. Another student added,
"But we would have never expected that in the 21st century something so
selfish [like killing] would occur."
Edwin believes that "what happened to Larry could have been prevented if
the school administrators would have shown some sign of heroism and stepped
in to prevent the bullying from its starting point."
Edwin Ortega, a straight ally, began his activism after he witnessed many of
his GLBT friends being bullied in front of school employees. Luis Roman’s
speech at the Larry King vigil made perfect sense to Edwin. He felt that there
was still so much more change that still needs to be created and therefore yearns
that the 2nd Annual LA Day of Silence rally will be an even greater success
than last year's. Edwin urges everyone to stay active in school and in the community
because just like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said "an injustice anywhere
is a threat to justice everywhere."
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+++++++++++++ GSA NETWORK ANNOUNCEMENTS +++++++++++++
*********************************************
1. Stop Ballot Measure That Would Exclude LGBT Couples From Marriage For Generations
Equality for All Launches Campaign To Stop Ballot Measure That Would Exclude
LGBT Couples From Marriage For Generations
GSA Network is working in partnership with the Equality for All campaign and
we need your help. Well funded anti-LGBT organizations are paying people to
gather signatures to put a constitutional amendment on the November 2008 ballot
that would prohibit marriage for same-sex couples.
(These are some of the same anti-LGBT organizations that are trying to stop
the laws that protect LGBT students from violence and discrimination at school.)
In response to this very serious threat, the Equality for All campaign is launching
a statewide effort to encourage Californians not to sign this discriminatory
petition. We need everyone who cares about marriage and LGBT equality to help.
Here's how: Join Our Rapid Response Team
We're looking for dedicated individuals to join our "Rapid Response"
team and help us talk to Californians in your area. Working with other Rapid
Responders near you, our professional team leaders will call you and train you
on how you can help. Join our Rapid Response team today http://equalityforall.com/rr
Youth and adults can get involved as volunteers, and help make history by stopping
the signature-gathering effort from succeeding. We need volunteers every weekend,
especially in the following areas: Sacramento, Fresno, Los Angeles, Orange County,
Riverside, and San Diego.
Help Us Track the Petitions
In order to track their activities and assess the size/funding of the proponents
of this discriminatory amendment, we need you to be on the look out for people
gathering signatures and report back to the Equality for All mailto:tips@equalityforall.com.
Here is what you can do:
1. Please ask what petitions people have when you see them. In many instances,
the signature gatherers will have more than one. It is ok to ask them, "What
petitions do you have?"
2. Please ask them if they are paid or volunteer- that's also ok to ask.
3. Take samples of any literature they are offering.
4. Do not engage in debate! If the conversation feels tense, move on. If the
petitioner is being aggressive towards you, move on. This information is helpful,
but it's not worth your safety.
5. Please report back. When you encounter signature gatherers, please email
the date, time, location and paid/volunteer information to mailto:tips@equalityforall.com
Since 2003, the Equality for All campaign committee has been leading a large
and diverse coalition of groups in California, including communities of color,
choice, faith and labor organizations to prepare for an anti-LGBT ballot measure.
We are prepared to mount a vigorous, united campaign to defeat this effort but
we need your help. Please visit http://www.equalityforall.com
for more information and volunteer today.
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*********************************************
2. GSA Network is Hiring - Administrative Manager
GSA Network is pleased to announce the following job opening. Please help us
spread the word.
We are looking for a full-time Administrative Manager, based in San Francisco,
who will be responsible for managing the administrative systems at GSA Network,
as well as supporting program and fund development activities.
A demonstrated passion for LGBTQ youth leadership and empowerment, experience
in policy advocacy, and a commitment to social justice are required for this
position.
Check out the full job description by visiting: http://www.gsanetwork.org/about/index.html#jobs
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*********************************************
3. Get GSA Network T-shirts, Buttons & More!
Another GSA Network T-shirt hot off the press... Cafepress that is. Do you just
love our GSA Power postcard? Well, now it's a shirt. Buy it today and help support
GSA Network!
Order one of our three New T-shirts and help support GSA Network:
* GSA Power
* A is for Ally
* Activist
* Male, Female, Other / Neither / All of the above
Also in stock:
* I heart GSA
* I HELLA Heart GSA
* and our classic GSA Organizing Shirt
These new designs can ONLY be purchased at our online store. For every item
you buy GSA Network gets a small donation ($3-5) to keep doing all the good
work we do!!!
So, help support GSAs and look cool doing it. To Buy Today: http://www.cafepress.com/gsanetwork
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++++++++++++++++ OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS ++++++++++++++++
GSA Network News is a publication of Gay-Straight Alliance Network. Events,
resources, and news items listed under "Other Announcements" are not
sponsored or written by GSA Network, and do not necessarily reflect the views
and opinions of GSA Network.
Southern California
*********************************************
4. LA Caesar Chavez Walk (Los Angeles)
Join the LGBT contingent during the LA Caesar Chavez Walk
Saturday, March 29, 2008, 10am
LGBT contingent to meet at corner of Main and Temple Streets in downtown
LA, look for rainbow flags
For more information/transportation, contact Coral 323-727-7896 ext121 mailto:clopez@bienestar.org
www.bienestar.org or myspace.com/LGBTfamilia
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*********************************************
5. LATINO GAY FAMILY DAY (Los Angeles)
BIENESTAR* California Faith for Equality* Lambda Legal* L.A. Gay & Lesbian
Center’s Family Services Program* Ministerio Hispano Pico Union Shalom*
Oportunidad* Organización LUCES * The Wall/Las Memorias PRESENTS
LATINO GAY FAMILY DAY (working title)
an event 4 LGBT Latino/as & their families, including:
• Parents, siblings, and/ extended family and friends, Children of LGBT
Latino/as
MAY 31, 2008
EAST LA CIVIC CENTER
4801 East 3rd Street , LA 90022
Community Fair
Family Day in the Park
Educational Pláticas
EntertainmentMore Info: mailto:fduenas@lambdalegal.org
or call 213.382.7600 ext 244
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6. Candlelight vigil "Fallen Angel: A Tribute to Lawrence King."
(West Hollywood)
-Date: Wednesday, March 26
-Time: 5pm to 9pm
-Location: West Hollywood Park, 647 N San Vicente Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069
-ALL AGES ARE WELCOME
-Attendees are suggested to bring candles, poetry, photos, personal narratives,
and any other artful expression they wish to share with others.
-Letters of support for the students at EO Green Junior High will also be collected
for delivery to the school.
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7. Vigil to be held in Memory of Lawrence King (Palm Springs)
The Coachella Valley Coalition for the Lawrence King Memorial Vigil
c/o MCCCV
32150 Candlewood Drive, Ste 6
Cathedral City, CA 92234
(760)328-3591
Vigil to be held in Memory of Lawrence King
Calls for an end to violence & harassment of lesbian, gay, bisexual and
transgender students in schools
The Lawrence King Memorial Vigil will be held on Wednesday, April 16, 2008 beginning
at 4 pm at the Quad at the Palm Springs High School, 2248 E Ramon Rd. in Palm
Springs, California.
The Vigil will honor the memory of Lawrence King, a 15 year old boy who was
murdered at school on February 12, 2008. Friends say the reason was his sexual
orientation and gender expression. The Coachella Valley Vigil will call for
an end to violence and harassment directed at lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender
people in schools.
Our local vigil will feature student speakers, dramatic readings, music and
refreshments will be served following the event. The Vigil is sponsored by:
Gay Associated Youth, PFLAG (Parents & Friends of Gay & Lesbians), the
Gay & Straight Alliance of Palm Springs High School, Safe Schools, Metropolitan
Community Church of the Coachella Valley and others.
More information regarding the murder of Lawrence King may be found at http://www.rememberinglawrence.org
For more information contact: Mr. Greg Wetmore (Gay Associated Youth) at (760)568-3332
or Rev. David Pelletier (Metropolitan Community Church) at (760)328-3591.
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8. LGBTQ Youth Prom (Los Angeles)
Friends of Project 10 Inc. is the proud sponsor of the LGBTQ Youth
Prom, which will be held on Friday, May 16, 2008. We
invite all youth, ages 14 to 23, to come and enjoy a fabulous evening of food,
entertainment, and dance.
Prepay tickets will go on sale, soon, for $30 per student. Tickets, at the door, are $40 per person. The prom is held from 8 PM to 12 midnight at the Friendship Auditorium, 3201 Riverside Dr., Los Angeles, CA 90027.
Visit http://www.modelsofpride.org for more information and a ticket application. Prepay ticket applications must be received no later than Friday, May 9, 2008.
Contact us at mailto:project10@hotmail.com or 626.577.4553 for more information.
Central Valley
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9. GLBTQ Youth Group (Modesto)
The GLBTQ Youth Group (14 - 19 years old) meets the second and fourth Wednesdays
of every month, 7-9pm at College Avenue Church in Modesto. This group provides
social opportunities and support to Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, and
Questioning (GLBTQ) youth, ages 14 to 19. Youth can expect a safe, friendly,
and confidential environment. Food and music will be provided. Allies are welcome.
This is a secular, non-religious group. For more information visit http://www.stanislauspridecenter.com/services/glbtqyouth.php
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Northern California
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10. GSA Summit
Unite the South Bay GSAs! GSA members and leaders are invited to an enlightening
GSA Summit, where they will be encouraged to discuss issues, share ides, and
meet new people.
- FREE FOOD
- Meet up with other GSA activists
- Learn how to fight harassment
- Plan for the Community Breaking the Silence Event
Participate in making a difference!
This event is intended for GSA advisors, students, and allies.
WHEN Thursday, April 3
TIME 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
WHERE Billy DeFrank Center
938 The Alameda, San Jose
COST FREE
For more information, contact:
Cassie Blume
Youth Programs and Volunteer Coordinator, Billy DeFrank Center
408-293-3040 X 111 mailto:youthprog@defrank.org
Join South Bay GSA email list, visit: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/defrank_gsa
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11. YouthAware Educational Theatre at the New Conservatory Theatre Center
Proudly Presents
OutSpoken
Everybody has a voice. It's time to listen.
by Prince Gomolvilas Directed by Sara Staley
A play for teens about diversity and respect.
Touring Northern California Middle & High Schools
April 1st - 24th 2008
OutSpoken is based directly on the voices of young people today, and looks at
the many reasons teens feel ostracized in school, at home and in their community
including race, religion, sexual orientation, body type & socio-economic
background. This original script takes a unique look at these issues from many
different perspectives. The play and discussion asks teens to think about and
discuss diversity, stereotypes, homophobia and labels. Through OutSpoken, we
hope young people will find new ways to move past their differences to a real
place of tolerance and understanding. Each includes a facilitated discussion
with the cast and handouts are provided for teachers to continue discussion
in the classroom.
YouthAware plays may be performed in any theatre, gymnasium, cafeteria or other
multi-purpose room. We travel with our own set and sound equipment, and do not
require any special lighting.
We prefer to see between 100 and 300 students per performance, and we can present
a YouthAware program up to two times a day at your school or community site.
The program runs about 65-70 minutes, (including the discussion) and students
need to remain seated for the duration.
The New Conservatory Theatre Center is a non-profit organization, and we ask
for a $250 donation per performance (free for SFUSD). If cost is an issue for
your school, please call or email to discuss possible underwriting by our YouthAware
donors.
If you have further questions, or would like to book a tour date, email mailto:sara@nctcsf.org
New for 2008!
Cootie Shots Theatrical Inoculations Against Bigotry
Edited by Norma Bowles with Mark E. Rosenthal
Directed by Sara Staley
Bullying Prevention and Diversity Education for Grades 2-5
Cootie Shots is an innovative play featuring short scenes and poems that provide
a constructive way to promote tolerance and celebrate diversity of race, cultures
families, appearances, genders and gender roles.
Preview performances at NCTC March 10th - 20th
Mondays through Thursdays at 10am & 11:30am
Community performance Monday March 17th at 7pm
We can seat up to 60 students teachers, and parents per performance. The play
and post-play discussion with the cast and director last approximately one hour.
For your FREE tickets to a preview performance email mailto:sara@nctcsf.org.
YouthAware Educational Theatre at NCTC is Supported in Part By: CA Wellness
Foundation, James Irvine Foundation, Grants for the Arts, William & Flora
Hewlett Foundation, MAC AIDS Fund, Academy of Friends, Macy's West (Passport),
Morris Family Foundation, San Francisco Foundation, San Francisco Unified School
District, Small Change Foundation, Travelers Foundation, Until There's A Cure
Foundation, Van Loben Sels/Rembe Rock Foundation, Wells Fargo Foundation, David
B. Gold Foundation, Fleishhacker Foundation, Western Union Foundation, Alexander
& Baldwin, Inc., The Lucius & Eva Eastman Foundation, Google, and the
generous contributions of our individual donors.
Sara Staley
YouthAware Program Director
New Conservatory Theatre Center
25 Van Ness Ave. (@ Market St.)
San Francisco, CA 94102
(415) 694-6149 (415) 861-6988 (fax)
http://www.nctcsf.org
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12. 3rd Annual Queer People of Color Summit (Berkeley)
Sat. April 26th, 2008
UCBerkeley
University of California at Berkeley's student group Young Queers United for
Empowerment (YQUE!) in collaboration with Mujeres Activas en Letras y Cambio
Social (MALCS) and members of other respective communities will be hosting the
3rd Annual Queer People of Color (QPOC) Summit at the Berkeley campus on Saturday
April 26th, 2008 from 10-6pm. Last year's summit was also hosted at UC Berkeley
with a successful attendance of over 100 participants. The organizing committee
is excited to have the opportunity of hosting the summit at UC Berkeley again,
and we look forward to providing another great event this year.
The QPOC summit will gather students, activists, and community members all over
California to dialogue around the intersections between race, age, and sexuality.
The theme of the summit this year is: "(re)Generations of Solidarity: Shifting
Lenses, Igniting Hearts." The purpose of this summit is to provide a safe
space where members of the QPOC community can engage in a cross generational
dialogue with each other. By sharing conversations and exchanging perspectives
across generations, we hope this will generate new energy and inspire new passion
in the QPOC communities. In addition, along with bringing several members of
QPOC communities together, this summit is important because participants will
have an opportunity to strengthen social and networking ties between individuals
and their respective communities.
We formally invite you to attend the summit since your presence will be a valuable
contribution. Feel free to invite other members from your respective organization/campus
and/or please spread the word. To register, please send an email to: mailto:qpoc_2008@yahoo.com
by April 15th with: 1) your name, 2) name of organization and/or institutional
affiliation, and 3) number of people if coming as a group. If you would like
to be considered for conducting a workshop at this year's summit, please send
an email for more information.
Thank you and we hope to see you soon,QPOC planning committee @ UCBerkeley;
mailto:qpoc_2008@yahoo.com
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13. Great America's 10th Anniversary Gay Day Celebration (Santa Clara)
Friday, May 23, 2008
Rides 5pm - midnight
Dancing until 2am
Tickets go on sale April 1.
http://www.cagreatamerica.com/special/gayday/community.html
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14. Support GroundSpark for Grand Marshal at Gay Pride Parade
Each year, the San Francisco Pride Parade is led by an organizational grand
marshal, and GroundSpark is one of five organizations nominated for 2008!
It is rare that an organization as broad as GroundSpark is selected for this
award, and we are honored to receive this nomination. The winner will be given
many opportunities to advance their message to media, other advocacy groups,
and the LGBT community. We hope that our nomination will draw attention to the
safe schools movement, allowing us to share our expertise addressing ALL forms
of prejudice among youth. After years of igniting change across the country
and even the world, GroundSpark looks forward to celebrating our achievements
with our supporters at home.
Anyone in the world is eligible to vote, and we invite you to help support GroundSpark
by doing so. Ballots are only accepted in a hard-copy form.
They can be printed at http://www.sfpride.org/parade/images/Ballot08-GM-eng.pdf,
and should be mailed by March 31 to San Francisco LGBT Polling, ATTN: Grand
Marshal Polling, 1800 Market St., PMB # 5, San Francisco, CA 94102. Each person
is allowed one vote, and no more than 2 ballots are allowed in one envelope.
The nomination form describes GroundSpark as a "nonprofit organization
that creates visionary films and dynamic educational campaigns that move individuals
and communities to take action for a more just world. GroundSpark's campaigns
challenge the most entrenched injustices and prejudices of our time. The centerpiece
of this work is The Respect For All Project (RFAP), a youth-centered, media
arts-driven, human rights and education program with a particular focus on addressing
homophobia and gender-based limitations."
Please take a moment and consider supporting GroundSpark in this nomination
by printing and mailing a ballot, or passing this email on to your friends,
colleagues, and family that may be interested.
All the best,
Ryan Schwartz
National Outreach and Media Relations Coordinator
The Respect For All Project - a program of GroundSpark
2180 Bryant Street, Suite 203
San Francisco, CA 94110
P -- 415.641.4616 ext. 305
F -- 415.641.4632
mailto:rschwartz@respectforall.org
http://www.respectforall.org
Statewide
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15. Planned Parenthood Teen Lobby Day 2008 (Sacramento)
Tuesday, April 22nd in Sacramento, CA
What is Planned Parenthood's Teen Lobby Day?
This is a fun, valuable, and rewarding opportunity for teens to become involved
in the American legislative process and actively influence politics. A group
of teens between the ages of 13 and 19 will be selected from San Diego, Riverside
& Imperial Counties to fly to Sacramento and participate in our yearly Capitol
Day. At the state's capitol, they will have the opportunity to attend an education
fair and participate in workshops on creating change and taking action. Participants
will also meet with California's elected officials and lobby on behalf of Planned
Parenthood and teens everywhere.
The date of this year's Capitol Day is April 22nd, 2008. All teens selected
will also attend a Lobbying Training and Legislative Briefing before the event
and a Debriefing Dinner after the event.
Why do I want to go?
- It's fun
- It's practically free; all you pay is a $10 registration fee once you're selected
to participate.
- If you need help with this cost please let us know.
- You get a day off school
- It's important to be politically active
- Your teachers will think you're cool
- It's a fantastic way to make new friends
- It looks good on college applications
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly will we be doing at Teen Lobby Day?
Planned Parenthood affiliates from across California bring staff, volunteers,
and teens to Sacramento on one day each year, to lobby our legislators about
bills that affect reproductive health and rights. The day consists of:
- Lobbying (meeting as a group with elected officials to express our views on
bills and issues that we want them to take action on. And don't worry! We'll
train you!)
- An educational fair, a rally, and workshops on various topics
- Free lunch and a free tee-shirt!
How much does it cost?
Planned Parenthood will cover all your meal costs. You'll just be responsible
for a $10 registration fee, and if that's a problem for your family, please
let us know and we'll figure something out.
What if I've never done anything like this before, or I'm not an expert
on political stuff, or I don't know if I'd be comfortable talking to elected
officials?
Don't worry about it! One of the reasons for doing something like this is to
learn something new! We'll train you beforehand, about general political stuff
and about the specific issues we'll be dealing with that day. Plus, you'll be
with a group for all lobbying meetings, and there will always be someone in
your group who has done this before.
Who can I contact with more questions?
Contact Annie Lundahl (916) 446-5247 or mailto:annie.lundahl@ppacca.org
website: http://capitolday2008registration.kintera.org/
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16. Casting Call for Straightlaced: A Documentary Film About Gender
and Homophobia in High Schools
GroundSpark (formerly Women's Educational Media) and The Respect For All Project
(producers of Its Elementary-Talking About Gay Issues in School, the family
diversity film That's a Family! and the anti-bullying film Let's Get Real) are
producing a documentary film, Straightlaced, about the constraints of traditional
gender roles and their connection to homophobia. Our Academy Award-winning documentary
film crew has interviewed over 50 diverse youth- both LGBTQ and straight. Based
on the feedback we have received from our rough-cut screenings, we are now looking
for a few more students to fill out the perspectives which are voiced in our
film.
Specifically, we are looking to interview Bay Area high school students who
are able to speak clearly about the pressures they face and are ANY of the following:
1. Caucasian or Asian guys who are straight and consider themselves LGBT allies
2. Lesbians who identify as femme (as opposed to butch) on the gender continuum
3. Girls with conservative viewpoints about LGBT people, transgender people
and/or people who are gender non-conforming
Interested youth should email the producers with a few paragraphs about their
experiences and/or thoughts about gender roles, homophobia and stereotypes.
Please also include the following contact information: Name, age, city where
you live, email address, phone number and a myspace or facebook username, if
you have one. Youth should also include a recent photo of themselves.
Email: Assistant Producer Camille Gregoire mailto:cgregoire@groundspark.org
For more information about Straightlaced, visit our website at http://www.groundspark.org/films/straightlaced.
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National
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17. An announcement from TransYouth Family Allies about Larry
King article in the Advocate
Dear allies and ally organizations,
This week’s issue of the Advocate leads with a cover story about Lawrence
King and asks who is to blame for his death. Please read the article at
http://www.advocate.com/issue_story_ektid52689.asp and join us in our effort
to refocus this conversation on the important work we are all doing to change
the climate for GLBT kids in their schools and communities.
If you would like to be a published signatory of the following letter send an
email to mailto:info@imatyfa.org and include
your name or your organization’s name along with your city and state as
you would like it to appear on the letter. The letter will be updated on our
website several times a day with the new signatures. On Friday morning, March
28th we will send the completed letter to the Advocate with a request that they
take the time to feature the good works of our organizations rather than writing
articles which imply that perhaps our GLBT youth are safer in the closet.
Respectfully,
TransYouth Family Allies Board of Directors
Kim Pearson, Shannon Garcia, Amy G., “Just Evelyn”, Bruce Parker,
Jamison Green, and Andrea James
To the Advocate:
We, the undersigned organizations, wish to respond to the article “Mixed
Messages” by Neal Broverman in the April 8, 2008 issue of The Advocate.
The front cover of the magazine asks: “Who’s to blame? We told Lawrence
King he had the right to express his sexuality. Did we send him to his death?”
We feel the article discusses an important topic in an unnecessarily provocative
way. The undercurrent of blame in the line of questioning posed to activists
and administrators is unproductive and seems to be a cynical ploy to increase
Advocate readership and revenue.
It’s unfair in the wake of this murder to ask those people working to
make schools safer to second-guess their work. While incidents like this remind
us of the climate that leads to violence against LGBT youth, that climate is
where the blame lies.
Thoreau wrote, “There are a thousand hacking at the branches of evil to
one who is striking at the root.” Rather than pointing fingers and using
inflammatory language, we wish to bring focus back to the root of this problem.
As groups united in the struggle to make schools safe for all youth regardless
of sexual orientation or gender identity and expression, we say there is no
“mixed message” here:
- The blame does not lie with Lawrence King.
- The blame does not lie with those working to make schools safer.
- Allowing intimidation and violence to force youth to suppress their sexual
orientation, gender identity and/or expression will only prolong the struggle
to end that violence.
Other youth will be taunted, harassed, intimidated, beaten, and even killed
before this struggle ends. None of them will be to blame, either. Those who
tell them it’s OK to be gay, and those who advocate for LGBT youth are
not to blame. Rather than finding fault with them, we hope this incident will
motivate everyone to work with us to change the climate in schools.
Our unified message: this climate of fear must stop, so all youth learn to respect
diversity rather than fear and hate it. Those who wish to join us in this struggle
can learn how to help by contacting any of the organizations below.
TransYouth Family Allies
Fight OUT Loud
Dr. Kelley Winters, Keystone, CO
Seacoast Outright, Portsmouth, NH
Transgender American Veterans Association (TAVA)
Ann Lorraine Jones, Tucson, AZ
The Liberal Catholic Church International, Diocese of Arizona
FTM International San Francisco, CA
FTMI San Buenaventura Reed Erickson Chapter San
Buenaventura, CA
Rabbi Levi Alter
COLAGE, San Francisco, CA
Gay-Straight Alliance Network, San Francisco, CA
18. GLBT Awareness Institute
Suffolk University is excited to announce our 4th Annual GLBT Awareness Institute
designed exclusively for GLBT high school students and their allies. This residential
summer program will take place in Boston, MA from July 13 - July 26, 2008. For
many high school students who are either out, questioning their sexual orientation
and/or gender identity, or just looking to learn about these topics, one of
the biggest challenges they face is a lack of resources, friends and support
to help them discover and define their sense of self. This program aims to accomplish
all of these goals for GLBT students and allies through an intensive two-week
program of educational lectures, discussions, fun activities and trips.
A sample of tentative educational sessions (subject to change) include: Coming
Out Stories, Developing Your GLBT Identity, Being Out in College, Queer Pop
Culture, Gender Identity 101, Homosexuality and the Bible, Knowing Your Resources,
Activism, Safer Sex and many more. Students will also participate in select
collaborative sessions with the Student Leadership and Service Learning Institute.
If that wasn't enough, students will have the opportunity to experience college
life and enjoy many of the cultural and social aspects of city life in Boston,
MA. Students will live in Suffolk University residence halls and participate
in several field trips to area attractions including: a day trip to Provincetown,
MA, a New England Aquarium Whale Watch, a Boston Duck Tour, the Boston Freedom
Trail and more.
For more information about this program and others, please visit http://www.suffolk.edu/summerinstitutes.
Students must be current high school sophomores and juniors to participate.
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19. Study on the impact of bullying
Dear Student: We are writing to invite you to participate in a study on the
impact of cyberbullying on lesbian,
gay, bisexual, and transgender youth. For the purposes of this study, cyberbullying
involves
the use of communication technologies to intimidate, harass, or control another
individual
or group of individuals.
This study will explore the following:
· The extent of cyberbullying compared to face-to-face bullying in the
lives of lesbian,
gay, bisexual, and transgender youth.
· The communication technologies used and frequency of cyberbullying.
· The impact of cyberbullying on lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender
youth.
· Ways in which administrators and school personnel can address issues
of cyberbullying.
If you agree to participate in this study, your participation will involve completing
an online
survey. The survey will take about 30 minutes to complete. During the online
survey you should
expect to answer questions regarding your use of communication technologies
(i.e. internet, blogs,
instant message, and text messaging); any experiences you may have had with
cyberbullying
and/or face-to-face bullying; and your perceptions of the extent cyberbullying
and
face-to-face bullying happens at your school or college. If you are interested
in participating
in this study, please go to the following website:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=inXcDEo9Xqgq_2f0KY9QPZew_3d_3d
Participation in this study is strictly confidential. Your participation in
this study is completely
voluntary and you may refuse to participate or leave the survey at any time.
If you decide to
not participate in the study or leave the survey early, it will not result in
any penalty. While
the risks for participating are minimum, there is some risk of discomfort in
discussing experiences
with cyberbullying and/or bullying. If you decide to participate in this study,
there will
be no monetary compensation.
However, the information gained by this study will:
· Provide an opportunity to document the extent and the form that cyberbullying
has taken in lives of youth.
· Will give administrators and school personnel the ability to adequately
address
cyberbullying in schools and the larger society. Your response to this survey
will help us better
understand how cyberbullying affects young adults in high school and in college.
The survey also
will provide helpful information for researchers. Your responses to this survey
are
confidential–no names or other identifying information will ever be asked
or
used. Identifying information shared by participants during the survey will
be removed
from the findings. The data from the survey will be housed on pass code protected
technology in a
locked office, and will be kept confidential to the extent permitted by applicable
laws and
regulations. Identifying information shared by participants will not be publicly
available. However, federal government regulatory agencies, auditing departments
of Iowa
State University, and the Institutional Review Board (a committee that reviews
and approves
human subject research studies) may inspect and/or copy your records for quality
assurance
and data analysis.
These records may contain private information. To ensure confidentiality to
the extent permitted
by law, participants should take the following measures: delete browsing history
and close
browser. After completion of survey participants should exit the survey then
clear the browsing
history. In Explorer, the browsing history can be cleared by selecting „Tools‰
at the top of the
web page then selecting „Delete Browsing History.‰ If you are using
Firefox, you will
need to select „Tools‰ then „Clear Private Data‰ then
„Browsing History.‰ After clearing the
browsing history, you should close the browser. Again, identifying information
will not
be asked, however, if you provide identifying information, this will be removed
from the findings and any published
results. You are encouraged to ask questions at any time during this study.
· For further information about the study, contact the principle investigator
Warren J. Blumenfeld (see below).
· If you have any questions about the rights of research subjects or
research-related injury, please contact the IRB Administrator, (515) 294-4566,
mailto:IRB@iastate.edu, or Director, (515)
294-3115, Office of Research Assurances,
Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011.
Your assistance will be greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
Warren J. Blumenfeld, Ed.D. (wblumen@iastate.edu)
Assistant Professor
Department of Curriculum and Instruction
Iowa State University
Ames, IA 50011
(515) 294-5931
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Scholarships
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20. Models of Excellence (MOE) Scholarship, Sponsored by Friends of Project
10 Inc.
The MOE competition is open to any student who is graduating from
a California senior high school and who has demonstrated a commitment to LGBTQ
civil rights. Awards of $1,000 and $500 are given at a scholarship dinner June
29, 2008. Applications are due Friday, April 25, 2008.
Go to: http://www.modelsofpride.org
to access information and the application for MOE. Contact Friends of Project
10 Inc. at mailto:project10@hotmail.com
or 626.577.4553.
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Jobs:
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21. 2008-2009 COLAGE Fellowship Program:
Focus on Transracial Adoption and LGBTQ Families
Do you have (or had) one or more LGBTQ parents?
Do you have personal experience with transracial adoption?
Do you want to build community and resources available to people transracially
adopted by LGBTQ parents?
Come work at COLAGE and do groundbreaking work on youth with LGBTQ parents and
transracial adoption.
COLAGE 2008-2009 Transracial Adoption Fellowship
Apply now to be the 2008-09 COLAGE Fellow. The fellowship will run for
7-9 months between September 2008 and May 2009. Fellowships are full-time
(35 hours per week) positions. Each fellowship has a different topical focus
of an issue of critical importance to the COLAGE community. For 2008-2009 we
are seeking a Transracial Adoption Fellow who will do assessment, outreach,
resource development and programming for youth with LGBTQ parents who were transracially
adopted (both domestically and internationally). As full-time staff, COLAGE
Fellows also have an opportunity to learn about national non-profit work including
advocacy, research, community building programs and events, and leadership development
programming.
This fellowship builds on the success of our Kids of Trans Fellowship during
the 2007-08 year. Our fellow, Monica Canfield-Lenfest, spent 8 months in the
COLAGE office specifically working on assessment, resource development, and
community building for youth and adults with one or more transgender parents.
"This has been a great opportunity to develop much-needed resources for
people with transgender parents. When my dad started her transition ten years
ago, I felt so isolated and longed for a resource for me. Thanks to this fellowship,
that resource guide will soon exist." - Monica Canfield-Lenfest, Kids of
Trans Fellow, 2007-08
COLAGE is the only national organization working with our specific constituency,
providing Fellows with a unique perspective on LGBTQ issues. Furthermore, as
the lead staff on a new project to address the unique needs of transracially
adopted COLAGErs (ie people with LGBTQ parents), the Transracial Adoption Fellow
will have the chance to use their creativity and initiative to direct the project.
About COLAGE:
COLAGE is a national movement of children, youth, and adults with one or more
lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and/or queer (LGBTQ) parents. We build community
and work toward social justice through youth empowerment, leadership development,
education, and advocacy. Our office is based in San Francisco, CA and offers
a unique opportunity to be part of a dynamic team.
"This fellowship allowed me to build upon my community organizing skills
and to profoundly expand the breadth of my work in the COLAGE movement."
- Monica Canfield-Lenfest, KOT Fellow, 2007-08
Preferred qualifications
· Significant knowledge
and/or experience with youth who have LGBTQ parents and/or youth who were adopted
transracially
· Outstanding interpersonal
skills, ability to cultivate relationships with a variety of people; must have
demonstrated cultural competence in working with diverse populations, including
communities of color, adoptees, LGBTQ persons, persons of varying ages, socioeconomic
backgrounds, health status and abilities;
· Commitment to diversifying
organizations and building anti-racist and multicultural alliances;
· Experience working
with and planning events for youth and/or families;
· Excellent oral, writing,
research, listening, and organizational skills;
· Computer literate (especially
on PC's), knowledge of Office 97/2000, FileMaker Pro, HTML, and desktop publishing
programs a plus.
· Self-motivated, flexible,
and full of initiative.
· People with LGBTQ parent/s
especially folks who were transracially adopted.
Requirements
· Must be 18 or over.
Undergraduate degree or equivalent experience preferred.
· Must be LGBTQ-positive.
· People of color, people
who were transracially adopted, and people with LGBTQ parents especially encouraged
to apply.
Compensation
Fellowship participants receive a stipend which will depend on the experience
of the candidate and length of the fellowship.
How to Apply
Please mail, email, or fax us the following information:
1. Your resume;
2. A cover letter sharing your interest in working
for COLAGE and qualifications for this fellowship;
Please address your application materials to COLAGE Fellowship Program.
We will meet with interested, qualified candidates to explore the possibility
of the COLAGE Transracial Adoption Fellowship being a good match. We would like
to identify our fellow by June but if you are interested, let us know as soon
as possible as there are some funding/grant opportunities we would love to pursue
with you. The fellowship will begin as early as September 2008 and run for 7-9
months. Applications will be accepted until the fellowship is filled.
Need more info? Want to apply?
COLAGE, 1550 Bryant Street, Suite 830, San Francisco, CA 94103
phone: 415-861-5437 fax (415) 255-8345, mailto:meredith@colage.org
http://www.colage.org
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22.SOUL Summer School 2008
Advanced organizer training program for young (17-25) organizers of color,
young working class folks, queer and trans. folks and young women. This is our
advanced program, designed for young activists who have had at least one year
of experience working in the social justice movement and who are committed to
revolutionary politics …
SOUL Summer School provides promising young activists with a full-time, paid
opportunity to develop their understanding of revolutionary theory and their
community organizing skills.
Specifically, SOUL Summer School is:
* Thirty hours per week in a structured organizing internship with a grassroots
community organization - like POWER / People Organized to Win Employment Rights),
East Bay Alliance for A Sustainable Economy, and HERE 2850- to allow our interns
to have real on-the-ground experiences with community organizing;
* Four hours per week of organizing skills trainings to supplement our interns'
on-the-ground organizing experiences
* Four hours per week of political education to explore with our interns the
basics of revolutionary theory, using popular education methods to facilitate
the learning process.
This year, applications are due by April 11th. For local applicants, we will
run a mandatory weekend training on Saturday April 5th, 2008. For outta town
applicants, we will be conducting phone interviews from April 11th through April
21st. All accepted applicants will be notified by May 10th, 2008.
Thank you for your help with our outreach for SOUL Summer School!
If you have any questions (like what do we mean about revolutionary politics?
Or, maybe you have questions about who's eligible?) please feel free to call
us at SOUL at (510 )451.5466 ext.312.
News
********************************************
23. State Board of Education adopts sex-education standards
STATE OK COMES AFTER TWO YEARS OF DEBATE
By Dana Hull
San Jose Mercury News
03/14/2008
In fifth grade, students will learn about the risks of sexually transmitted
diseases. In middle school, they will discuss the psychological and physical
consequences of rape and sexual assault. By high school, students will be talking
about condoms and even the morning-after pill.
After nearly two years of debate and numerous drafts, California's State Board
of Education quietly adopted its first-ever set of "health education content
standards" this week.
The guidelines spell out exactly what California's more than 6 million students
from kindergarten through grade 12 are expected to know about health and are
required as part of a controversial 2004 law which replaced a patchwork of often
contradictory statutes on sex education. The law requires that all high schools
give "medically accurate" information about condoms and other forms
of birth control.
The health curriculum, which also covers drug and alcohol use, nutrition, exercise
and even environmental health, is far broader than sex education. But teaching
about sex - and at what age - is an explosive issue for many parents and continued
to divide groups Thursday.
Advocates say today's students need to be armed with sound information amid
a host of alarming statistics. Earlier this week, a new federal study found
that one in four female teenagers have at least one sexually transmitted disease.
"Obesity, diabetes, sexually transmitted diseases - our students have major
health problems, and they really need good information," said state Sen.
Sheila Kuehl, D-Los Angeles, who is thrilled the State Board of Education adopted
the health standards unanimously. "We're talking about how to stay well,
how to protect yourself. Sexual health after puberty is extremely important."
Conservative organizations blasted the new standards, saying they provide too
much information to children too soon.
"This is another reason for parents to get their children out of the government
school system and into private schools, church schools and home schools,"
said Randy Thomasson, president of the Campaign for Children and Families, who
urged parents to write letters opting their children out of the classes, something
allowed by the state law. "These new regulations ensure that children will
be taught to use condoms and birth-control pills."
In 2003, Kuehl sponsored SB 71, the "Comprehensive Sexual Health Education
Law." The law, which went into effect in 2004, required sex education in
California to be medically accurate, objective and respectful of gay and lesbian
youth. Since the law was passed, health classes did cover those topics. The
new state health standards echo the law already on the books in greater detail.
The law also banned "abstinence-only" sex education in California
public schools, in which information about preventing pregnancy and STDs is
limited to abstinence from sexual activity. Such abstinence-only programs are
preferred and partly funded by the federal government.
To read the full article, visit:
http://www.mercurynews.com//ci_8569679?IADID
In this issue of GSA Network News, you'll find:
GSA Network Highlight
GSA Network Replication Two Stepping Its Way Through TX
Go directly to GSA Network
highlight
GSA Network Announcements
1. GAYLA and Queer Youth Advocacy Day - Deadline Extended
2. GSA Network is Hiring - Administrative Manager
3. Get GSA Network T-shirts, Buttons & More!
Go directly to GSA Network announcements
Other Announcements
Southern California
4. Models of Pride conference planning committee (Los Angeles)
5. Weho Alt Youth Night (West Hollywood)
6. Free Movie Screening at Crossroads School! (Santa Monica)
7. "For the Bible Tells Me So" at PFLAG LA Meeting (Los Angeles)
8. Religion and the LGBTQ Community (West Hollywood)
9. GenderQueer Revolution Los Angeles' Coffeetalk (Culver City)
10. LGBTQ Youth Prom (Los Angeles)
Go directly to Southern California listings
Northern California
11. Volunteer Opportunity at CUAV (San Francisco)
12. Calling All East Bay GSAs - PFLAG Safe Schools Talk (Berkeley)
13. Champions for Change! (San Francisco)
Go directly to Northern California listings
Statewide
14. Casting Call for Straightlaced: A Documentary Film About Gender and
Homophobia in High Schools
15. Planned Parenthood Teen Lobby Day 2008
Go directly to Statewide listings
Scholarships
16. Models of Excellence (MOE) Scholarship, Sponsored by Friends of Project
10 Inc.
Go directly to Scholarships listings
News
17. NEWS: Gay Straight Alliance Supports Same-sex Marriages
Go directly to News listings
+++++++++++++++ GSA NETWORK HIGHLIGHT+++++++++++++++
GSA Network Replication Two Stepping Its Way Through TX
Three years ago, GSA Network embarked upon a new program designed to support
state and regional organizations working to strengthen and develop GSAs. One
way in which this National Program is helping build the GSA movement across
the country is through an intensive multi-year replication training designed
to catapult emerging GSA networks to a new level.
One of the first organizations to request GSA Network’s replication training
was the Santa Fe Mountain Center located in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Within
the first year of replication, they established the NM GSA Network, which is
continuing strong to this day. To find out more about what’s going on
with the NM GSA Network, check out their website at http://www.nmgsa.org.
This year, folks from Out Youth, an organization located in Austin, Texas whose
mission is to support and provide services to gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender,
and questioning youth, requested GSA Network help them re-ignite the GSA network
in their state. And so we found ourselves traveling to TX!
On February 25th, Executive Director, Carolyn Laub, and National Program Manager,
Ruth Obel-Jorgensen, departed to the Lone Star state of Texas to be welcomed
by none other than folks from the, soon to be, Texas GSA Network dressed in
their best boots and 10 gallon hats along with a giant rainbow colored banner
that read: “Howdy Ya’ll”. It was welcoming like no other!
From day one, our time spent in Austin with youth, staff and interns was action
packed. We spent three long days providing their team with the ins and outs
of the GSA Network including our values, youth leadership model, activism and
anti-oppression framework, organizational structure, youth programming, curriculum,
resources, and much, much more. In between and after those long and busy hours,
we ate great food and even learned to Two Step!
Maggie Fay, a Texas GSA Network Intern, shared the following about her experience:
“It was a thrill to be trained by Carolyn and Ruth, who have such a long
history, and first hand knowledge of the GSA movement. It made me feel really
inspired about the GSA's ability to affect change, and the potential to create
a safer, more comfortable environment for LGBTQ youth in Texas. Getting an in-depth
understanding of how the GSA Network functions, and understanding the California
model made us -all of us working on the Texas GSA Network- confident that we
can make this thing fly in Texas. I think that sense of confidence has really
increased our energy and enthusiasm to pursue the project. We were always jazzed,
but it's hard to attack a project with energy when you feel like you don't really
understand what you're doing.”
The intense 3-day site visit was only the beginning of the replication process
with the TX GSA Network. In the next year, GSA Network will provide on-going
technical assistance to their team and we’ll make the trip back to Austin
to conduct an Activist Camp along with a few of our youth leaders from California.
To find out more about Out Youth and to keep up to date on the development of
the Texas GSA Network, check-out their website at http://www.outyouth.org.
To find out more about GSA Network’s National Program, including the National
Association of GSA Networks, contact: Ruth at 415-552-4229 or email mailto:ruth@gsanetwork.org.
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+++++++++++++ GSA NETWORK ANNOUNCEMENTS +++++++++++++
*********************************************
1. GAYLA and Queer Youth Advocacy Day - Deadline Extended
Queer Youth Advocacy Day (QYAD) and the GSA Advocacy and Youth Leadership Academy
(GAYLA) 2008 have moved from April 18th-April 21st to May 2nd - May
5th because of a conflict with Passover.
The application deadline has been extended to March 19th. (note:
if you have already applied there is no need to apply again.)
We are especially looking for high school juniors and younger (including middle
school students) to apply, since GAYLA youth will work on a campaign that will
continue into the next school year 2008-2009!
We strongly encourage youth of color, low-income youth, transgender and gender
non-conforming youth, and youth who have experienced discrimination based on
gender to apply.
Apply to be a GAYLA Leader Today! Go to http://www.gsanetwork.org/gayla
Since GSA Network likes to keep you on your toes, we're switching a few things
up this year. Most importantly, we are combining GAYLA with Queer Youth Advocacy
Day (QYAD).
Last year hundreds of young people from every corner of the state rallied on
the Capitol steps in Sacramento and educated lawmakers on what they needed to
do to make California schools safer and more supportive of LGBTQ and straight
ally students. We succeeded in advocating for the passage of two bills: The
Safe Place to Learn Act (AB 394) and The Student Civil Rights Act (SB 777).
Queer Youth Advocacy Day (QYAD) 2008 will have a different focus and will be
smaller this year, because there is not any LGBTQ safe schools legislation introduced
in this year's legislative session. Additionally, GSA Network is combining GAYLA
and QYAD for an intense training session that will make you a solid leader in
advocacy within four days!
In order to be a part of GAYLA or QYAD this year, you MUST apply and be accepted.
We are accepting up to 60 youth leaders for this training. Since the focus is
on intensive training with a small core group of youth leaders, we will not
have a rally this year. However, GSA Network guarantees it will still be a fun
AND educational time!
The focus for GAYLA and QYAD 2008 is to advocate for the full implementation
of gender identity non-discrimination policies in the California school system.
If you have experienced discrimination based on gender identity or expression
and want to do something positive to make schools safer, you should apply for
GAYLA! If you are an ally to transgender and gender non-conforming youth and
want to help make schools safer, you should apply for GAYLA!
If you are interested in applying (and we know you are!) then please go to http://www.gsanetwork.org/gayla
to learn more and fill out the application.
Event sponsors will provide for all meals, housing, and transportation for all
Leaders.
Got questions? Call us at 415.552.4229 or contact t. aaron hans, GSA Network's
Advocacy Program Manager at mailto:aaron@gsanetwork.org
*********************************************
2. GSA Network is Hiring - Administrative Manager
GSA Network is pleased to announce the following job opening. Please help us
spread the word.
We are looking for a full-time Administrative Manager, based in San Francisco,
who will be responsible for managing the administrative systems at GSA Network,
as well as supporting program and fund development activities.
A demonstrated passion for LGBTQ youth leadership and empowerment, experience
in policy advocacy, and a commitment to social justice are required for this
position.
Check out the full job description by visiting: http://www.gsanetwork.org/about/index.html#jobs
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3. Get GSA Network T-shirts, Buttons & More!
Another GSA Network T-shirt hot off the press... Cafepress that is. Do you just
love our GSA Power postcard? Well, now it's a shirt. Buy it today and help support
GSA Network!
Order one of our three New T-shirts and help support GSA Network:
* GSA Power
* A is for Ally
* Activist
* Male, Female, Other / Neither / All of the above
Also in stock:
* I heart GSA
* I HELLA Heart GSA
* and our classic GSA Organizing Shirt
These new designs can ONLY be purchased at our online store. For every item
you buy GSA Network gets a small donation ($3-5) to keep doing all the good
work we do!!!
So, help support GSAs and look cool doing it. To Buy Today: http://www.cafepress.com/gsanetwork
++++++++++++++++ OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS ++++++++++++++++
GSA Network News is a publication of Gay-Straight Alliance Network. Events,
resources, and news items listed under "Other Announcements" are not
sponsored or written by GSA Network, and do not necessarily reflect the views
and opinions of GSA Network.
Southern California
*********************************************
4. Models of Pride conference planning committee (Los
Angeles)
Friends of Project 10 Inc. is currently seeking interested youth who would like
to serve on the Models of Pride conference (MOP 16) Planning Committee. MOP
16 is a conference designed for youth, ages 14 to 23. This year's conference
will be held on Saturday, November 1, 2008, at Occidental College in Los Angeles.
Contact Gail Rolf at mailto:friendofproject10@hotmail.com
or 626.577.4553 for more information and to sign up for the planning committee.
*********************************************
5. Weho Alt Youth Night (West Hollywood)
Join Dinorah of LifeWorks and JB of WeHo Alt for Youth Night - a free
social event for LGBTQ young people ages 14-24 who are looking for a chill alternative
to the club scene.
Friday March 14th, 7-10pm
West Hollywood Alternative
8235 Santa Monica Blvd Suite # 306
West Hollywood, CA, 90046
office: 310.734.0099
fax: 310.861.0234
email: mailto:info@wehoalt.org
Weho Alt provides a safe space for our younger Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender,
and Questioning Community that are in their teens, twenties, and thirties. We
believe in helping our community grow and evolve positively by offering a unique
opportunity for social networking, education, and planned activities. Weho Alt
is a viable alternative to bars, free of drugs and alcohol, to help minimize
substance abuse, HIV, and other Sexually Transmitted Diseases.
*********************************************
6. Free Movie Screening at Crossroads School! (Santa Monica)
As part of the queer film series at Crossroads, sponsored by FLAG (our
gay/straight alliance), we will be having our next movie screening on Wednesday,
Mar. 19th, from 6:00 - 9:00 p.m. We invite you to join us for a great
event!
We'll be screening the wonderful film, Ma Vie en Rose (aka My Life in Pink).
(Note this is not LA vie en rose, which was nominated for the Oscars this year-that's
different.). We'll also be showing a great, fun short film (to be named soon).
All students and faculty from Gay/Straight alliances and their friends are welcome.
It's a great way to meet new friends, or see old ones. We've been getting a
lot of students at our movie nights this year, and we expect students from many
gsa's will be attending--come meet them!
The event is FREE and there will be free pizza, drinks, giveaways, and
prizes! RSVP by replying and let us know if you are coming, so we have
an idea of how much pizza to get.
**When you reply, make sure to include your name and the school (if any) you
are from, as well as how many people you are bringing-this helps a great deal.
Please email us at mailto:flag2@xrds.org.
Directions are below.
If you have any more questions, please feel free to e-mail and ask.
Hope to see you there. Many thanks to LifeWorks for co-sponsoring this event.
Ma Vie En Rose
Dir: Alain Berliner
France, 1997
This is one of the finest LGBT movies of all time-certainly one of the best
films to address transgender issues.
Ludovic is a young boy who sees himself as a girl. When his family discovers
the little girl blossoming in him they are forced to contend with their own
discomfort and the lack of understanding from their new neighbors. Their anger
and impatience increase and Ludovic is sent to see a psychiatrist in the hopes
of fixing whatever is "wrong" with him. This movie is a real gem,
with moments that are funny, heartbreaking, and heartwarming.
Winner of many (mainstream and queer) international and U.S. Awards for Best
Film--including the Golden Globe for Best Foreign Language film
**************
Directions:
Crossroads is at 1714 21st St. in Santa Monica, at the corner of 21st St. and
Olympic Blvd.
The screening room we're meeting in is on the 2nd floor of the Arts Building.
Here's what you do--when you turn onto 21st from Olympic, take an immediate
right onto a driveway-looking street and find a place to park. You'll see our
"quad" which looks like a parking lot or an alley, and which we call
(of course) the alley.
Walk to the end of the alley to the tall building on the left, enter and climb
the stairs to the 2nd floor. You should see people.
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7. "For the Bible Tells Me So" at PFLAG LA Meeting (Los Angeles)
At the next PFLAG LA meeting, we will be screening the award winning documentary
movie For the Bible Tells Me So. Please note that the
meeting will start at 7 p.m. so that we can accomodate our support
groups. We look forward to seeing you!
Wednesday, March 19th @ 7pm
Westwood United Methodist Church
10497 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, 90024
Located on the north east corner of Wilshire Boulevard and Warner Avenue (second
floor in Fellowship Hall). Street parking is available after 6:00 p.m.
For more info:
http://www.pflagla.org/PFLAGLA_Event_Screening_Flyer_files/ScreeningFlyer.pdf
*********************************************
8. Religion and the LGBTQ Community (West Hollywood)
LGBTQ religious leaders from multiple faiths are coming together here
at LifeWorks to discuss how their faith interacts with their sexual orientation
and gender identity. Get inspired by some seriously amazing people from our
community and learn some good comebacks for those "God hates fags"
people.
Wed 3/26/08
6:00 - 8:30pm
LifeWorks Office
9021 Melrose Ave Suite 309
(between Doheny and Robertson just south of Santa Monica Blvd)
West Hollywood CA 90069
If you're running late or can't make it at 6:00 don't sweat it, we don't mind.
All are welcome to this special event.
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9. GenderQueer Revolution Los Angeles' Coffeetalk (Culver City)
A sanctuary for and celebration of gender-giftedness, genderqueer in all its
forms!
Sunday, March 30, 2008
11-1:30 PM
Location:
The Spot Cafe
4455 Overland Ave.
Culver City, CA 90230
http://www.thespotcafelounge.com
Join us at this creative space on the westside. Take advantage of The Spot's
15-20% discount when using their pre-paid keyring card. Find us in the private
lounge, past the friendly owner and servers making sandwiches and drinks. Come
hungry for physical as well as intellectual and emotional sustenance for your
gender-gifted self! Plenty of street parking in addition to a lot in the back.
For more information:
http://www.genderqueerrevolution.org
mailto:info@genderqueerrevolution.org
877-6-GQR-697
(877) 647-7697
Coffeetalk: What is it? Space, in both the physical and emotional sense, to
talk, connect, and find sustenance for our gender-gifted souls in the company
of other genderqueer Beings. Facilitated group for anyone who wishes to explore
the gift of gender and/or their genderqueer experiences and identities. Sharing
how we as genderqueer, gender-fabulous, gender non-conforming gender-gifted
people integrate the rest of our lives with our unique gender experience.
Who can come?
Anyone of any gender identity, whatever age, ethnicity, genetic makeup, background,
shape, or size, whatever gender assigned at birth, who celebrates their unique
gender-gifted, genderqueer, gender-non-conforming, genderqueerrific S/spirit
and that of others!
GenderQueer Revolution: A national organization dedicated to empowering people
of all genders, helping people to embrace the gift of gender in their own lives
and in the lives of others, supporting and cultivating genderqueer, gender-gifted
individuals and communities, uniquely gender-gifted art, spirituality, health,
research, and academics, and educating and building bridges across trans, gendered,
queer, and non-queer communities and beyond.
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10. LGBTQ Youth Prom (Los Angeles)
Friends of Project 10 Inc. is the proud sponsor of the LGBTQ Youth
Prom, which will be held on Friday, May 16, 2008. We
invite all youth, ages 14 to 23, to come and enjoy a fabulous evening of food,
entertainment, and dance.
Prepay tickets will go on sale, soon, for $30 per student. Tickets, at the door, are $40 per person. The prom is held from 8 PM to 12 midnight at the Friendship Auditorium, 3201 Riverside Dr., Los Angeles, CA 90027.
Visit http://www.modelsofpride.org for more information and a ticket application. Prepay ticket applications must be received no later than Friday, May 9, 2008.
Contact us at mailto:project10@hotmail.com or 626.577.4553 for more information.
Northern California
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11. Volunteer Opportunity at CUAV (San Francisco)
Community United Against Violence (CUAV) is currently recruiting volunteers
for our upcoming Spring training. We are looking for awesome people who are
committed to the work of ending oppression and violence against and within the
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Questioning, and Intersex (LGBTQQI)
communities.
We have a dynamic 46-hour training that includes peer-supportive-counseling
for callers in crisis, domestic and hate violence, sexual assault, suicide and
suicide prevention, queer youth, LGBT families, criminal justice, sex-positivity,
cultural diversity, and somatic therapy as a healing modality, and much more.
If you are interested then please contact Javy S. Luu, our Crisis Line Program
Manager, at 415-777-5500 extension 314 or mailto:javy@cuav.org
ASAP. Space is limited.
The training dates are as followed:
One Friday April 4th from 6-9pm
Five Saturday April 5th, 12th, 19th, 26th, and May 3rd from 9-5pm
One Sunday May 4th from 11-2pm
Application and information are available on our website, http://www.cuav.org.
People of color, LGBTQQI, women, survivors and bilinguals are highly encouraged
to apply!
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12. Calling All East Bay GSAs - PFLAG Safe Schools Talk (Berkeley)
The Oakland-East Bay chapter of PFLAG (Parents, Family and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) welcomes members of the LGBTQ community and allies to all meetings. Our March should be extra-interesting for GSAs.
On March 26 -- the fourth Tuesday – we’ll talk about safe schools. Barry Chersky, a gay parent and long-time LGBTQ activist, will talk about his years of work making schools safe for LGBTQ youth. Right now, Barry is in his fifth year of leading San Leandro Unified School District's Safe Schools campaign and, this year, he started working with Alameda Unified. He's got lots to tell, and he’ll have ideas your GSA can use. Especially now, with the tragic killing of the Lawrence King in Oxnard, we need to be talking about helping our communities get the message about making schools safe places.
Location:
The Fireside Room
St. John's Church
2727 College Ave.
Berkeley
Take a look at http://www.pflag-eastbay.org/meetings.htm
for meeting times, directions (including by public transportation), and more
about Oakland-East Bay PFLAG.
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13. Champions for Change! (San Francisco)
On Thursday, March 20, 2008, CUAV will commemorate 29 years of supporting LGBTQQ
survivors of violence and building the movement for safety and healing. We will
honor heroes in the LGBT anti-violence movement, including gay men's health
advocate Michael Scarce, Stonewall veteran and community activist Miss Major,
and our community partner, El/La Program for TransLatinas.
The stellar performance line-up we have for you includes the Diamond Daggers,
SF Boylesque, Taiko Ren and DJ Olga T. We will also supply delicious hors d'oeuvres,
music to make you move, and a great opportunity to support CUAV! Our Honorary
Host Committee will include Senator Carole Migden, Assemblyman Mark Leno, Mayor
Gavin Newsom, and Supervisor Bevan Dufty.
7:00-10:00pm, Mighty (119 Utah St. at 15th Street). Tickets at $40 or $80. Purchase
tickets from our website: http://www.cuav.org/
or call (415) 777-5500 ext. 318 for more information. Wheelchair accessible.
This event is 21 and older due to alcohol.
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Statewide
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14. Casting Call for Straightlaced: A Documentary Film About Gender and Homophobia
in High Schools
GroundSpark (formerly Women's Educational Media) and The Respect For All Project
(producers of Its Elementary-Talking About Gay Issues in School, the family
diversity film That's a Family! and the anti-bullying film Let's Get Real) are
producing a documentary film, Straightlaced, about the constraints of traditional
gender roles and their connection to homophobia. Our Academy Award-winning documentary
film crew has interviewed over 50 diverse youth- both LGBTQ and straight. Based
on the feedback we have received from our rough-cut screenings, we are now looking
for a few more students to fill out the perspectives which are voiced in our
film.
Specifically, we are looking to interview Bay Area high school students who
are able to speak clearly about the pressures they face and are ANY of the following:
1. Caucasian or Asian guys who are straight and consider themselves LGBT allies
2. Lesbians who identify as femme (as opposed to butch) on the gender continuum
3. Girls with conservative viewpoints about LGBT people, transgender people
and/or people who are gender non-conforming
Interested youth should email the producers with a few paragraphs about their
experiences and/or thoughts about gender roles, homophobia and stereotypes.
Please also include the following contact information: Name, age, city where
you live, email address, phone number and a myspace or facebook username, if
you have one. Youth should also include a recent photo of themselves.
Email: Assistant Producer Camille Gregoire mailto:cgregoire@groundspark.org
For more information about Straightlaced, visit our website at http://www.groundspark.org/films/straightlaced.
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15. Planned Parenthood Teen Lobby Day 2008
Tuesday, April 22nd in Sacramento, CA
What is Planned Parenthood's Teen Lobby Day?
This is a fun, valuable, and rewarding opportunity for teens to become involved
in the American legislative process and actively influence politics. A group
of teens between the ages of 13 and 19 will be selected from San Diego, Riverside
& Imperial Counties to fly to Sacramento and participate in our yearly Capitol
Day. At the state's capitol, they will have the opportunity to attend an education
fair and participate in workshops on creating change and taking action. Participants
will also meet with California's elected officials and lobby on behalf of Planned
Parenthood and teens everywhere.
The date of this year's Capitol Day is April 22nd, 2008. All teens selected
will also attend a Lobbying Training and Legislative Briefing before the event
and a Debriefing Dinner after the event.
Why do I want to go?
- It's fun
- It's practically free; all you pay is a $10 registration fee once you're selected
to participate. If you need help with this cost please let us know.
- You get a day off school
- It's important to be politically active
- Your teachers will think you're cool
- It's a fantastic way to make new friends
- It looks good on college applications
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly will we be doing at Teen Lobby Day?
Planned Parenthood affiliates from across California bring staff, volunteers,
and teens to Sacramento on one day each year, to lobby our legislators about
bills that affect reproductive health and rights. The day consists of:
- Lobbying (meeting as a group with elected officials to express our views on
bills and issues that we want them to take action on. And don't worry! We'll
train you!)
- An educational fair, a rally, and workshops on various topics
- Free lunch and a free tee-shirt!
How much does it cost?
Planned Parenthood will cover all your meal costs. You'll just be responsible
for a $10 registration fee, and if that's a problem for your family, please
let us know and we'll figure something out.
What if I've never done anything like this before, or I'm not an expert
on political stuff, or I don't know if I'd be comfortable talking to elected
officials?
Don't worry about it! One of the reasons for doing something like this is to
learn something new! We'll train you beforehand, about general political stuff
and about the specific issues we'll be dealing with that day. Plus, you'll be
with a group for all lobbying meetings, and there will always be someone in
your group who has done this before.
Who can I contact with more questions?
Contact Annie Lundahl (916) 446-5247 or mailto:annie.lundahl@ppacca.org
website: http://capitolday2008registration.kintera.org/
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Scholarships
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16. Models of Excellence (MOE) Scholarship, Sponsored by Friends of Project
10 Inc.
The MOE competition is open to any student who is graduating from
a California senior high school and who has demonstrated a commitment to LGBTQ
civil rights. Awards of $1,000 and $500 are given at a scholarship dinner June
29, 2008. Applications are due Friday, April 25, 2008.
Go to: http://www.modelsofpride.org
to access information and the application for MOE. Contact Friends of Project
10 Inc. at mailto:project10@hotmail.com
or 626.577.4553.
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News
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17. NEWS: Gay Straight Alliance Supports Same-sex Marriages
Gay straight alliance supports same-sex marriages
Harmony Week at Cal Lutheran
Friday, March 7, 2008
Ventura County Star
By Rachel McGrath
When he was in ninth grade, James De Haan's friend, Michael, told him he was
gay.
"I can still remember it," De Haan said. "It was nighttime and
we were eating pizza and he just looked me straight in the eye and said, I think
I'm gay.' We spent an hour-and-a-half talking about it, what it meant and how
he was going to approach his family, who were very Mormon. They sent him to
a straight camp,' and when that didn't work out, he ended up being kicked out
of his house."
That experience inspired De Haan, an 18-year-old economics major from Palmdale,
to start a Gay Straight Alliance at his school, and he's carrying on his commitment
now that he's a freshman at California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks.
In a week when the California Supreme Court debated the issue of same-sex marriage,
CLU's Gay Straight Alliance held a three-hour "Marriage in the Park"
event Thursday to raise awareness about the issue. The event was one of several
the alliance held as part of Harmony Week at CLU.
"We are inviting people to support same-sex marriage," said Cheyanne
Anderson, 19, a sociology major from Ventura and president of the alliance.
"We're inviting them to have their picture taken in our little wedding
gazebo and just to stand up there and say that it's something they support and
that they believe people should have that freedom and opportunity."
One of those supporters was Juanita Hall, director of the university's Multicultural
and International Programs. After donning a little white wedding veil, she happily
posed for a picture with student Carla Guzman, who also wore a veil.
"To me, this is about civil rights, and it's about acceptance and it's
about human beings being able to connect however it works for them," Hall
said.
"I'm just really supporting people's choices on being able to marry whoever
they want," said Guzman, 21, a Spanish major from Northern California.
"Regardless of what my personal beliefs are, what I choose to do is one
thing, but I don't think anyone should tell me I can't do what I want."
Sociology professor Adina Nack heads the Center for Equality and Justice at
CLU. "At the student level, this is a fairly closed campus," she said.
"This is a symbolic event, and it's a privilege as a straight person, married
with a daughter, to talk about the fact that we treat these people as second-class
citizens and in some cases as less than human."
On Tuesday, California's highest court heard arguments that depriving gays and
lesbians of the right to a same-sex marriage is discrimination and a civil rights
violation.
Attorneys for the state, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and two groups opposed to
same-sex marriage argued that domestic partnership laws enacted by the Legislature
go far enough in ensuring equal treatment for same-sex couples.
The court has 90 days to issue a decision on whether to overturn California's
existing marriage laws.
For Cheyanne Anderson, the issue is simple.
"There's a status that comes with marriage, and the status that comes with
domestic partnerships is not the same," she said.
"The way I look at it, there are two sides to marriage," De Haan said.
"There's the religious sanctity of marriage and then there's the state-recognized
marriage. We have no right ever to say that you, as a religious organization,
must recognize gay marriage. However, marriage is a legal term, and it's a matter
of equality.
"We should be focusing on blending the communities together," he said.
"If you want to call it a domestic partnership, then call it a domestic
partnership for everyone, but if you want to call it marriage, then it has to
be marriage for everyone."