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In this issue of GSA Network News, you'll find:
GSA Network Highlight
GSA Spotlight: Downey High School GSA, Modesto
GSA Network Announcements
1. San Francisco Pride Parade
2. Join the GSA Network Youth Council!
Other Announcements
3. LGBT Youth Prom (Los Angeles)
4. NYAC's 6th Annual National Youth Summit & Free Membership
5. National Conference for Community and Justice Info Sessions
(San Francisco)
6. WOAH Youth Conference (East Bay)
7. Alphabet Soup, LGBTIQQ and ally conference (Santa Cruz)
8. It's All About Me: A queer youth memoir class (San Francisco)
9. AQUA seeks API queer youth input (San Francisco)
10. No To The CA High School Exit Exam (San Francisco)
11. Spanish-language LGBTQ school resources
12. National Education Association LGBT educators survey
13. The Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes
14. SCHOLARSHIP: Models of Excellence (California)
15. INTERNSHIPS: Asian Pacific Islanders for Human Rights (Los
Angeles)
16. NEWS: Gay students want respect, compassion (Contra Costa
County)
17. NEWS: Teacher receives anti-gay e-mails (San Mateo County)
+++++++++++++++ GSA NETWORK HIGHLIGHT +++++++++++++++
GSA Spotlight: Downey High School GSA, Modesto
Downey High School's GSA is very lucky to have a supportive administration
and staff. Our teacher-sticker project was welcomed with open arms, and
thirty-five members of the staff and administration requested the rainbow-colored
"Celebrate Diversity" bumper stickers we provided to display in their work
area. Another successful project was our Pay-it-Forward Day during Unity
Week. We posted announcements and put up posters all over campus asking
the student body, as well as the administration, to participate in Pay-it-Forward
Day. The goal of this was to get those at Downey High to pay a compliment,
or show a gesture of friendship to someone they wouldn't normally hang
out with. In addition to increasing awareness of LGBT issues, these projects
presented Downey's GSA in a very positive light to both students and staff
and helped erode the perception that we are different, or that we don't
exist.
- Shannon McKay, GSA member and a senior at Downey High School
+++++++++++++ GSA NETWORK ANNOUNCEMENTS +++++++++++++
*********************************************
1. San Francisco Pride Parade
GSA Network and LYRIC are again co-sponsoring the youth contingent in this year's SF Pride Parade! We will be marching with several hundred youth from around the Bay Area - and we will have signs representing every GSA in our Network.
Sunday, June 29th
Financial District, San Francisco (near the Embarcadero or Montgomery
BART/MUNI stops)
We don't have final details yet about what time and where we'll be lining
up - Watch for more information in June.
*********************************************
2. Join the GSA Network Youth Council!
The GSA Network Youth Council is a diverse group of youth leaders who care about fighting homophobia and transphobia in schools. There are 3 Youth Councils: Northern California, Central California, and Southern California. Each Youth Council is responsible for making decisions about and guiding the programs of the GSA Network in their region. Youth Council members will represent the needs of GSAs and youth activists from their geographic region as well as set goals and establish priorities for the entire GSA Network.
The Youth Council meets once a month, generally on a Saturday. Meetings will take place in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Fresno. Typically, Youth Council members are also involved in planning and/or implementing other trainings and conferences, most of which happen on weekend days as well.
For more information and to apply, visit: http://www.gsanetwork.org/about/ycapp.html
++++++++++++++++ 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.
*********************************************
3. LGBT Youth Prom (Los Angeles)
LGBT Youth Prom
Friday evening, May 16, 2003, from 8 p.m.-12 midnight
Sheraton Universal Hotel in Universal City.
Youth, ages 14-23, are invited to attend. All youth are welcome.
sponsored by Friends of Project 10, Inc.
Prepay tickets will be on sale for $25. Tickets are $35 at the door, but entrance to the prom cannot be guaranteed if tickets are purchased at the door. Admission includes parking, food, dancing...the works! Cashiers checks and money orders only, will be accepted. NO CASH or personal checks will be accepted.
For more information about either of these opportunities, contact the Friends of Project 10, Inc. office for more information at (626) 577-4553 or e-mail project10@hotmail.com.
*********************************************
4. NYAC's 6th Annual National Youth Summit & Free Membership
The National Youth Advocacy Coalition (NYAC) announces their 6th Annual National Youth Summit, May 30th - June 1st, 2003 in Washington, D.C.
NYAC's National Youth Summit is the largest gathering of LGBTQ young people anywhere. The Summit will feature more than 50 workshops, panel dissussions, a film screening, poetry slam, NYAC's 2nd Annual Impact Awards, Youth Dance and much, much more!
Register by May 15. Visit http://www.nyacyouth.org/nyac/events_summit.html for more information
-------
Spend only 5 minutes now to get FREE NYAC membership
Want to save hundreds of dollars and receive a multitude of valuable
information and technical assistance on LGBTQ youth issues?
After completing the Survey (now only 5 minutes long - thanks to
everyone who participated in the longer surveys!), your organization
can take full advantage of all of NYAC's fabulous membership
benefits including:
* Discounts on Regional Conferences and National Summit Registration
- save hundreds of dollars!
* Eligibility for NYAC Grant-Making Activities -
* Free Technical Assistance for Health Programs
* Quarterly Membership Newsletters
* Executive Director Updates
* Special Discounts on Information Clearinghouse Publications
Don't miss out on this great opportunity to get free membership
for the year! Complete the Survey today - just CLICK and SAVE!
http://www.zoomerang.com/survey.zgi?T2WDG6J56XKH9CTDHETFYLK0
For more information, contact Clarence Fluker, NYAC's Membership
Coordinator, at (202) 319-7596, ext. 16 or mailto:cfluker@nyacyouth.org.
*********************************************
5. National Conference for Community and Justice Info Sessions (San
Francisco)
The National Conference for Community and Justice (NCCJ) Northern
California Region hosts monthly INFORMATION SESSIONS for you to learn
about
WHO we are, WHAT we do, what we can do FOR YOU, and how YOU can get
involved.
Who should attend?
- Anyone in Northern California interested in human relations and social
justice work
- Anyone interested in NCCJ's Anytown Youth Leadership Institute for
LGBTQ youth
- Anyone interested in participating in and facilitating dialogue on
issues
of stereotypes, prejudice, discrimination and oppression
- Anyone interested in exploring their own role and responsibility
in
perpetuating and combating the "isms"
Please RSVP for a session that fits your schedule in the next few months:
Wednesday, May 21, 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. (3rd Floor Conference Room)
Tuesday, June 17, 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. (3rd Floor Conference Room)
Sessions will be held at the San Francisco Public Library, Main Library
Use the 30 Grove Street Entrance
For directions by BART, MUNI, car or bike, visit
http://sfpl4.sfpl.org/INFDIR/IS_directions.htm or call the library
at
415-557-4400.
Contact Traci Lato at 415.561.2283 or tlato@nccj.org
for more information &
RSVPs.
*********************************************
6. WOAH Youth Conference (East Bay)
Workshop Organized Against Homophobia
Youth Conference
Saturday, May 17, 9am-5pm
El Cerrito High School
540 Ashbury Ave
El Cerrito, CA 94530
WOAH is a FREE Conference bringing together lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning youth and straight allies from Contra Costa County and beyond. Conference participants will have a chance to network, socialize, attend a variety of great workshops, and have FUN!
WOAH DANCE
As a part of the 2003 WOAH Conference, there will be a WOAH Dance!
Food! Fun! No Drugs or Alcohol please.
8:00 pm to 11:00 pm
First Unitarian Universalist Church of Berkeley (open and affirming),
1 Lawson Road, Kensington, CA 94707
NEW Website! Check out WOAH Information Online!
Register online! Find directions and information about the dance shuttle
service:
http://www.chd-prevention.org/new.htm
Sponsored by: Center for Human Development and El Cerrito High School's Community Project and Gay/Straight Alliance. Financial Support from: Contra Costa County AIDS Program and Kaiser Permanente.
*********************************************
7. Alphabet Soup, LGBTIQQ and ally conference (Santa Cruz)
Intersex, Transgender, Bisexual, Lesbian, Gay, Queer, Questioning,
Queer Friendly Youth AND Allies Conference
Saturday, May 17th, 9am-5pm
Watsonville High School, Watsonville
contact STRANGE at mailto:sccstrange@yahoo.com or 831-425-3155.
*********************************************
8. It's All About Me: A queer youth memoir class (San Francisco)
A memoir class for queer youth led by award-winning author Michelle Tea.
Description: Use the ups and downs of your very own life to create dynamic, deep and dazzling stories. This workshop will explore a variety of first-person writings, from diary and journaling to experimental narritives, essays, fictional facts and truth-heavy fiction, always bringing it back to your own experiences. Be ready to write and to share your work with the class.
When: June 13th & 14th from 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Where: Eureka Valley/Harvey Milk Memorial Library 3555 16th Street (near Market)
Registration: Space is very limited so please call branch to pre-register at 415-355-5616
Cost: totally FREE!
*********************************************
9. AQUA seeks API queer youth input (San Francisco)
Do you have an opinion?
We want to HEAR YOU OUT!
AQUA (AQU25A: Asian and Pacific Islander Queer and Questioning, 25
and Under
All Together) has been around since 1993! We've offered drop-in groups,
workshops and recreational trips. We went out to do outreach on the
streets
of San Francisco and went inside youth hang-outs to give out AQUA information.
We traveled across the States and also internationally for conferences.
But communities change and what young people like to do also changes.
That is why we want your opinions! We started a 3-month evaluation process
to look at community needs. We want to know what you think AQUA programming
should be like. And you don't have to be a past member of AQUA to tell
us what you think!
We hired a consultant to help us with this evaluation process. Willy
Wilkinson is a long-time activist in our API queer communities. Willy
is
conducting interviews with folks who have participated in AQUA programs
or
would like to. We are providing a $30 stipend for youth aged 25 and
under
who participate in our interviews. It will take approximately 30 minutes
to
an hour of your time, and can be done over the phone or in person.
Please
let us know ASAP if you are interested since we are wrapping up the
project
in the next couple of weeks.
Please contact Willy at
mailto:willywilkinson@earthlink.net
or (510) 531-5710 (10am-10pm) for more
information.
*********************************************
10. No To The CA High School Exit Exam (San Francisco)
No To The Exit Exam!
Yes To Quality Schools!
Come to the speak out and press conference
On the steps of Mission High School
18th Street between Dolores and Church
Wednesday, May 7th, 2003
7pm-Speak Out/Press Conference
8pm-411 and Planning Meeting
It's time for politicians to hear what San Francisco students, parents, and teachers think about their schools. Come out and support!
For more information, please contact Chelsea at (415) 239-0161 x20
Sponsored by Youth Making A Change and the Community Task Force on Assessment
*********************************************
11. Spanish-language LGBTQ school resources
The new Safe Schools Coalition poster "Tu No Estas Solo" (You Are Not
Alone) is now available to print and post:
http://www.safeschoolscoalition.org/tu_no_estas_solo.pdf.
Also find a whole new page of resources regarding LGBT issues in
Spanish, including brochures, a curriculum and a video with Spanish
language subtitles:
http://www.safeschoolscoalition.org/RG-Recursos-en-Español.html.
*********************************************
12. National Education Association LGBT educators survey
The National Education Association (NEA) invites all public education employees to participate in an important study on workplace issues affecting gay male, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered employees.
Your participation in the study is urged if you:
-currently work in the field of public education or have worked in public
education within the past 3 years; and
-have an interest in human and civil rights issues; and
-would like to express your opinion about workplace issues impacted
by sexual orientation or gender identification.
Please log onto http://www.abacuspolls.com to participate in the study between May 1 and June 1, 2003. Your response to the survey will be completely anonymous and your contribution will be invaluable. This important information will help the NEA further identify issues related to equal rights and opportunities in the public school workplace. The survey took me just a few minutes to complete, and there is space for your comments.
*********************************************
13. The Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes
The Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes honors young people from diverse backgrounds who have shown extraordinary leadership in making our world better. By protecting the environment, helping people, halting violence, or leading other important service work, these young people are true heroes - and inspirations to us all. The prize honors young people ages 8-18 who have shown leadership & courage in public service to people & our planet. Each winner receives $2,000 to be applied to their higher education or to their service project. Adults may nominate young heroes until May 30.
For further information on the Gloria Barron Prize, please visit the website at http://www.barronprize.org/
*********************************************
14. SCHOLARSHIP: Models of Excellence (California)
2003 "Models of Excellence" Scholarship Competition
Deadline: May 9, 2003
Friends of Project 10, Inc., a nonprofit organization that provides educational outreach and support for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) youth, awards several $1,000 and $500 scholarships to California youth who have demonstrated a strong commitment toward advancing the civil rights of the LGBT population. These scholarships are open to any senior high school student, attending any school in the state of California. Graduating seniors who are eligible need to demonstrate proof of acceptance to any form of higher education, including a trade course, community college, or 4 year college or university.
mailto:project10@hotmail.com or call (626) 577-4553 for more information.
*********************************************
15. INTERNSHIPS: Asian Pacific Islanders for Human Rights (Los Angeles)
Founded in October 2000, Asian Pacific Islanders for Human Rightsâ (APIHR) purpose and goals are to advance the human rights of Pan Asian/Pacific Islander (API) lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersexual, queer and questioning (LGBTIQ) people. APIHR offers the API/LGBTIQ community a range of programs and services ö from public education of gay and lesbian issues from an API perspective, youth outreach and leadership development, API-specific Anti-homophobia campaigns, and proactive policy development focusing on improving and securing the human rights of API/LGBT people at local, state and national levels. APIHR is the first agency in the nation with the purpose of advancing the rights and well being of this underserved population. And, with the opening of its offices in 2003, APIHR is the first agency in the nation to offer a Community Center created by and for API/LGBT people.
We are proud to announce the launching of our Internship Program that offers exciting opportunities for youth in the fields of Development, Public Policy, Graphic Arts/Web Design, Outreach/Community Mobilization, and Program Administration. All of these opportunities are available to interested high school, undergraduate and graduate students. Please read the following for more detailed descriptions and how to apply.
Development / Fundraising Internship
The Development intern will work closely with members of Development
staff in the detailed planning of APIHR special events, grant writing,
direct mail programs, and corporate and individual donor research.
Qualified candidates will be able to devote a minimum of 4-6 months, and
a minimum of 15 hours per week, subject to staff needs and intern availability.
The intern must have computer skills including: Internet research ability
and word processing on Microsoft Word. Basic knowledge of Microsoft Excel
and Access, as well as other database and spreadsheet programs is helpful.
Policy Intern
The policy intern will work with staff and board members in working
on a range of policy related concerns that impact APIHRâs constituents
on a local, statewide and national basis. Qualified candidates will
be able to devote a minimum of 4-6 months, and a minimum of 15 hours per
week, subject to staff needs and intern availability. The intern must have
a working knowledge of public policy issues that might include API &/or
LGBT health concerns, STDs/HIV prevention and education, sexual and gender
orientation, immigration rights, language access rights, and related issues.
Outreach Internship
The Outreach Intern works closely with staff to support the API Anti-Homophobia
Campaign and the Queer Youth Initiative, along with other APHIR programs
and activities. Qualified candidates will be able to devote a minimum
of 4-6 months, and a minimum of 15 hours per week, subject to staff needs
and intern availability. The intern must have a working knowledge
of community outreach and coordination. Knowledge of Los Angeles
based API &/or LGBT organizations and activities a plus.
Graphic Arts & Web Developer Internship
The Graphic Arts & Web Developer Intern will work with staff and
volunteers to in the development and management of APIHRâs website,
annual report, brochures, posters, newsletters, and other communications
related materials. Qualified candidates will be able to devote a
minimum of 4-6 months, and a minimum of 15 hours per week, subject to staff
needs and intern availability. The intern must have a working knowledge
of graphic and web-based software.
Program Assistant Internship
The Queer Youth Initiative Intern assists staff in daily implementation
of youth program Outreach, Peer Education, Drop In Groups and works with
APIHR Youth Board.
Qualified candidates will be able to devote a minimum of 4-6 months, and a minimum of 15 hours per week, subject to staff needs and intern availability. Youth Program Interns must have a working knowledge of event production. Experience with program development, implementation and evaluation a plus.
Stipends
A stipend is available to interns who meet the minimum requirements.
Details to be discussed with prospective applicants at the time of interview.
To apply, please submit the following:
1) A cover letter that expresses your interest area and qualifications
2) A current resume
3) A writing sample (5 pages maximum)
4) Two names of individuals who are willing to serve as references
Applicants should send materials to:
APIHR Internship Program
6115 Selma Ave., Suite 207
Los Angeles, CA 90028
(323) 860-0876, (323) 860-0929 Fax
mailto:intern@apihr.org
*********************************************
16. NEWS: Gay students want respect, compassion (Contra Costa County)
By Linda Davis, CONTRA COSTA TIMES
April 30, 2003
DANVILLE -Gay students, their supporters and some parents turned out at Tuesday night's school board meeting to demand more tolerance and respect for gay and lesbian students on San Ramon Valley school district campuses.
More than 300 people packed the multipurpose room of Charlotte Wood Middle School in a highly charged meeting.
A coalition of youth from the Pleasant Hill-based Queer Youth Action Team, three gay-straight alliance clubs from the district's three high schools and other gay youth came to relate stories of scorn, insulting remarks and behavior they say take place every day at school.
The students say the district is not doing enough to enforce Assembly Bill 537, passed in 2000, which safeguards students' gender identity and orientation. The students want the school board to form a safety committee to address intolerance.
"Kids are being singled out for being brave, especially during adolescence, and they don't need that insecurity," said Megan Shelby, a junior at Monte Vista and a member of the high school's gay-straight alliance club.
Other students addressed the board, saying some were afraid to go to school. At a recent club fair at Monte Vista, students told the club, "Kill the fags" and "Go home, you don't belong here" within earshot of school administrators.
At the start of the meeting, board members pledged to keep campuses safe and respectful for all students.
"We cannot control what students think or say, but when we know about it we can make appropriate responses," board member Bill Clarkson said before the meeting.
Rachel Floyd, Queer Youth coordinator, said many students are afraid to "come out" or sound like whiners, and that anti-gay harassment is pervasive throughout schools in Contra Costa County.
Groups of students from the gay alliance clubs sought the help of the action team, which has met with parents, students and individually with each board member. Floyd felt the meetings with the trustees were nonproductive.
"The meetings were frustrating," Floyd said. "Board members need to take more action and (give) less lip service. A piece of paper in the boardroom does not protect a kid in a hallway."
Clarkson felt differently. "The discussions were informative. It is important to hear what their concerns are. We need to have those kinds of discussions," he said.
School officials say they have taken steps to safeguard the safety and rights of gay students, particularly after a contentious board meeting in 2001 when hundreds packed a meeting to debate the district's role in protecting those students. The topic festered following anti-gay messages about a teacher posted on a student-created Web site.
Since that time, the district has sent more than 400 teachers to the Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles, and stepped up staff awareness on bullying and harassment issues.
Recently, the board updated its discrimination policy to better conform with AB537, Clarkson said.
Floyd said many students may mean no harm when they use "faggot"
or "gay" in conversation, but the words are hurtful and demeaning to gay
students, even if not
directed at them.
"The effect is destructive," Floyd said. "Gay students commit suicide at seven times the rate of their straight peers. You can't use the 'N' word to refer to a race, yet homophobia is the last hold out on campus and it's huge."
*********************************************
17. NEWS: Teacher receives anti-gay e-mails (San Mateo County)
San Mateo County Times, May 4, 2003
http://www.sanmateocountytimes.com/Stories/0,1413,87~11268~1367245,00.html
By Emily Fancher, Staff Writer
SAN BRUNO - A Capuchino
High School teacher was inundated with anonymous homophobic e-mails Monday
night, and police said they are investigating the incident as a hate crime.
English teacher Daniel Kiely, who advises the school's Gay Straight Alliance, received roughly 2,000 insulting emails from one e-mail account.
The e-mails came on the tails of an article in the school's
newspaper, The Stampede, about the Alliance's activities, said assistant
principal
Ron Berggren.
Thomas Mohr, superintendent of the San Mateo Union High School District, said his office is working with the police department on the investigation.
"We're hopeful that we'll identify the person who sent the messages to the teacher," said Mohr. "We have a mutual respect policy and won't tolerate any form of harassment."
He said if the person responsible is found to be within the jurisdiction of the district, the district "would take very serious action" but he did not specify what that action might be.
He said he spoke to the teacher this morning and the teacher said he had spoken to his students about the incident.
"The students were upset and compassionate with the teacher," said Mohr.
Capt. Neil Telford of the San Bruno Police Department said that the crime committed is unlawful use of an electronic communication device with the intent to annoy a person. He said the department would seek a hate-crime enhancement with the charge.
He said they have no suspects and the investigation is ongoing, but they expect to be able to track the origin of the e-mail.
He would not comment on the content of the e-mail, except to say that it was "offensive."
May 14, 2003
In this issue of GSA Network News, you'll find:
GSA Network Highlight
GSA Spotlight: Culver City High School GSA
GSA Network Announcements
1. GSA Network Year End Evaluation
2. Free Tickets for Great America's "Gay/Lesbian Night" (Bay
Area)
Other Announcements
3. Gunn GSA Movie Night (Bay Area)
4. The Laramie Project @ San Marin High School
5. Club Y (Bay Area)
6. Queer Youth Pride Day (Los Angeles)
7. "Out-Dated"... meet your match (San Francisco)
8. Queer Latina and Latino Youth Conference (Los Angeles)
9. "Oliver Button is a Star!" Performance by Sacramento's Men's
Chorus
10. San Francisco LGBT Movement Walking Tour
11. "The Trip" Premiers in San Francisco
12. 360° of Violence (Oakland)
13. Upcoming Job Readiness Workshops @ MIYO Teen Center (San
Rafael)
14. Stop Connerly's Race Information Ban Initiative (Northern
& Southern CA)
15. Community Speakout (Northern & Southern CA)
16. Bomb Tracks: Toxic Legacies of War Youth Conference (San
Francisco)
+++++++++++++++ GSA NETWORK HIGHLIGHT +++++++++++++++
GSA Spotlight: Culver City High School
Tolerance, the GSA at Culver City High School, turned a hate crime at their school into to an opportunity to raise awareness about LGBT issues. In 2000, student's locker at Culver City was scratched with anti-gay slurs. The GSA advisor took a picture of the locker before and after the locker was repainted by the custodian. Two years later, a former GSA member who now works on Wall Street donated money to the GSA to print posters with the images, and his partner did the graphic design. The posters show the before and after locker pictures, "Eliminate the Hate. Make School Safe for Everyone," and contact information for Tolerance. The GSA gave these posters to teachers and put them up in the hallways. "The poster is about exposing the hate LGBT youth experience in our schools, and about getting rid of it," said Judy Sanderson, Culver City High School Tolerance advisor.
Next school year, Tolerance will celebrate it's 10th Anniversary.
For information about how to receive copies of these posters, contact
Judy Sanderson at 310-842-4200 or mailto:judy@tolerancecchs.org.
Donations gladly accepted.
+++++++++++++ GSA NETWORK ANNOUNCEMENTS +++++++++++++
*********************************************
1. GSA Network Year End Evaluation
Please take a few minutes to fill out GSA Network's Year End Evaluation. Your comments are VERY important to us!
Access the evaluation online: http://www.gsanetwork.org/yearendeval/
*********************************************
2. Free Tickets for Great America's "Gay/Lesbian Night" (Bay Area)
Great America's 2003 Gay/Lesbian Night
Friday, May 23th.
Park open from 5 p.m. - 1 a.m.
GSA Network has a limited number of free tickets to give away to GSA members!
Please read the following guidelines carefully:
1. The tickets are for GSA members only! Please don't request them if you're not in a GSA.
2. We have a 2 tickets per GSA limit.
3. If your GSA is interested in going, please email mailto:john@gsanetwork.org
by Monday, 5/19 at 9:00 a.m. with the following info:
- your name and mailing address
- name of your school
- number of tickets you are requesting (up to 2)
4. How recipients will be selected: On Monday morning the names of all GSAs that requested tickets will be entered into a drawing and selected at random until the tickets are gone. We will only include ONE entry per GSA, so you won't be more likely to get tickets if more than one person from your club requests them. We will notify people by email about the results of the drawing.
For more info about the event and ticket prices, visit: http://www.guspresents.com/great-america.shtml
Santa Cruz folks:
STRANGE in Santa Cruz is planning to go to Gay & Lesbian Night
at Great America so if you would like to attend email us at mailto:sccstrange@yahoo.com.
STRANGE will be providing transportation as well as paying for $20 of the
ticket price so all you would have to pay is the difference!! So don't
miss out...Hope to hear from you all soon....
++++++++++++++++ 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.
*********************************************
3. Gunn GSA Movie Night (Bay Area)
Friday, 16th of May
@ the YWCA of the Mid-Peninsula
4161 Alma Street
Palo Alto, CA 94306
>From Highway 101:
Exit at San Antonio Rd. towards Los Altos
Turn right at Charleston Rd.
Turn left at Alma St.
The YWCA of the Mid-Peninsula will be on your left side
>From Interstate 280:
Take 85 North to Mountain View
Exit Evelyn Ave.
Turn left at the stop sign.
Turn right on Castro St.
Turn left on Central Expressway
Central becomes Alma St.
The YWCA of the Mid-Peninsula will be on your right side
>From El Camino Real (CA82):
Turn on Charleston Rd.
Turn right on Alma St.
The YWCA of the Mid-Peninsula will be on your left side
We are now taking votes for the movie, please send your request to
mailto:elle@gsanetwork.org.
Bring $3-5 for pizza and hey, don't hesitate to bring extra food and
drink
if you feel so inclined.
*********************************************
4. The Laramie Project @ San Marin High School
Hello, all! The Laramie Project is being put on at San Marin High School. A great way to show your support for diversity issues in Novato!
Thursday, May 15 @ 7:30pm
Friday, May 16 @ 8:00pm
Saturday, May 17 @ 8:00pm
Sunday, May 18 @ 3:00pm
Monday, May 19 @ 7:30pm
Student Center
San Marin High School
15 San Marin Drive
Novato, CA
$5 Students
$8 Adults
Tickets at the SMHS Main Office or at the door
Please call (415) 898-2121 for reservations M-F until 3pm
*********************************************
5. Club Y (Bay Area)
sponsored by the YWCA Outlet Program
Come Express Yourself
only $2.00 Live DJ
An LGBTQQ youth dance
Drug & Alcohol Free Event
Where: YWCA of the Mid-Peninsula
4161 Alma st. Palo Alto 94306
When: Friday, May 30th
8-pm to midnight
Ages 20 and under
Queer&Questioning&Straigh-Ally Youth!!
for more information call 650-494-0972 x301 or mailto:juan@ywcamid.org
*********************************************
6. Queer Youth Pride Day (Los Angeles)
An Event You Won't Want to Miss!
Queer Youth Pride Day
Sept. 6, 2003
For More Info/RSVP
mailto:qypd_2003@yahoogroups.com
*********************************************
7. "Out-Dated"... meet your match (San Francisco)
Q Action Event!... for guys 25 years & under of all colors & flavas who dig other guys.
Wednesday, May 14, 8:00pm @ The LGBT Center
1800 Market St @ Octavia St.
Tired of the same old dating results? Same script, different cast? On this night we play "The Dating Game"! Afterwards, safe sex negotiation will be a breeze for you and your new friends.
Q Action is the young men's program of the Stop AIDS Project.
For more info, call Antonio 415.865.0790 x304
*********************************************
8. Queer Latina and Latino Youth Conference (Los Angeles)
Saturday, May 17th
Hey everyone, this is an invitation from La Familia de UCLA. We hope that all of you can make it, it will be both educational and entertaining. It is by no means limited to just Latinas/os it is for the entire Queer Youth, regardless of race and/or ethnicity. Some of the workshops will focus on Latina/o issues, but remember that most (if not all) issues will benefit all of Queer community. Come prepared to learn and have fun while meeting new people and making new friends, especially for Long Beach Pride the following day, Sunday the 18th.
Register online for our conference--
http://lafa.moo.vu/ and for our home
page: http://lafa.gaybruins.com/.
For more information and questions mailto:rortega1@ucla.edu
*********************************************
9. "Oliver Button is a Star!" Performance by Sacramento's Men's
Chorus
Friday, May 16 and Saturday, May 17, at 8 p.m.
Jean Runyun Little Theatre at the Memorial Auditorium
A diverse program featuring SMC TV, Schoolhouse Rock, and the Sacramento premier of "Oliver Button is a Star!" based on Tomie dePaola's award-winning children's book.
"Oliver Button is a Star!" is a story about bullying, embracing difference and striving to achieve one's dreams. It tells the tale of a young schoolboy who gets teased on the playground for "not doing what boys are supposed to do." The message of acceptance and tolerance put forth by this piece is sure to touch the hearts of all who have ever been a parent or a child.
$15 adults
$10 students and seniors
Tickets are available at
The Gifted Gardener
1730 J St., Sacramento
The Beat Records & Tapes
1700 J St., Sacramento
The Open Book
910 21st St., Sacramento
The Open Book at: http://www.openbookltd.com
The Sacramento Men's Chorus is a member of GALA and is funded in part by the Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission. This outreach program is also being funded in part by the generous people at Hewlett Packard.
Sacramento Men's Chorus
http://www.sacmenschorus.org
(916) 484-5789
GLSEN Greater Sacramento
PO Box 191678
Sacramento CA 95819
(916) 733-2135
mailto:sacglsen@yahoo.com
http://www.geocities.com/sacglsen
*********************************************
10. San Francisco LGBT Movement Walking Tour
organized by The Billy DeFrank LGBT Community Center
Enjoy a day trip and walking tour through San Francisco as we look back on landmarks exclusively designed to commemorate the LGBT movement.
Saturday, May 25, 2003
Suggested Donation of $5.00
Contact Rick for information or to RSVP. There are limited slots, so, make your reservation soon!
Rick Oculto .o.Youth Services Coordinator
mailto:youthprg@defrank.org
(408)293-3040 x111
*********************************************
11. "The Trip" Premiers in San Francisco
Friday, May 23rd, at the Landmark Theater
1572 California St between Polk and Larkin St.
http://www.thetrip-themovie.com
The Trip is a romantic comedy set against the back drop of the modern gay civil rights struggle in the U.S.
To celebrate the San Francisco premiere of "The Trip", Gloss Magazine will be throwing a party after that same night at the Metro Bar and Restaurant (3600 16th Street) from 10pm onwards.
The cast and film makers will be in attendance for screenings and the party.
Critics are already calling it a gay classic after the film notched up 12 film festival awards.
The gay cast and film makers hope The Trip will raise awareness of gay civil rights across America as well as providing a fun night out. With your help, we can make 2003 a great year for gay movies!
*********************************************
12. 360° of Violence (Oakland)
presented by Let's Get Free and 106.1 KMEL
A Youth-led Speakout about the violence around us
Live Broadcast on KMEL
June 1, 2003
6:30pm - 10pm
Black Box Theater
Oakland
(1928 Telegraph Ave Dwntwn Oak near 19th St BART)
**FREE EVENT**
**Featuring Special Guests: Goapele and San Quinn**
Panelists and Performers include:
Donald Lacy - LoveLife Foundation, Let's Get Free, Ise Lyfe - Power
Movement, Colored Ink, Youth of Oakland United, Mindzeye Artists, United
Playaz, the Center for Young Women's Development, the Pola Bearz, the Red
Guard, and others.
Call Let's Get Free for info (510) 451-5466 X311
*********************************************
13. Upcoming Job Readiness Workshops @ MIYO Teen Center (San Rafael)
Time Management
Tuesday, May 13th 4-5:30pm
MIYO Teen Center
1115 3rd Street, Suite #4, San Rafael CA 94901
High School students are some of the busiest people. To get the most from all you do, you must be in control of your time. Otherwise, decisions that effect how well you play the game of life, what position you play and when you get to play will be decided for you. Your success in work, school & everything else you do depends on your use of time. Come to this workshop to learn creative ways to manage it.
Making Career Decisions
Wednesday, May 14th 4-5:30pm
MIYO Teen Center
1115 3rd Street, Suite #4, San Rafael CA 94901
Unsure about how or where to begin preparing for a career? In this workshop, we will: 1) Discuss the difference between a "job" and a "career," 2) Help you figure out what you want and need out of a job and career, 3) Discover skills you may not have realized you have, and other important steps toward career success.
For more info. or to sign up, call Isabel Guajardo or Zora Apt at 415-453-8645.
*********************************************
14. Stop Ward Connerly's Race Information Ban Initiative (Northern
and Southern CA)
Learn more about this dangerous initiative, and what you can do about it!
Ward Connerly, champion of Prop 209 that banned affirmative action in 1996, has introduced a dangerous, deceptive, and irresponsible initiative that he calls "The Racial Privacy Initiative," even though it has nothing to do with privacy and more to do with his political agenda. The initiative is a radical measure that would ban collecting data by race in the state of California, and thus damage our ability to address disparities by race or ethnicity in health care and disease patterns, educational resources and academic achievement, and hate crime and discrimination. For more info on the initiative, check out www.informedCalifornia.org
The initiative has qualified for the March, 2004 ballot (though there is a chance it will be moved to November).
To learn more, participate in:
A) SPEAKERS' TRAININGS - where you'll hear more about how this initiative
would affect our health, civil rights, and other areas, and how to
talk with
others about it. Trainings will be held across the state.
Please call or
email for details as they are arranged.
Dates:
5/20 - San Diego - Tuesday, 7:00pm - Linda Vista Branch of the
San Diego
Public Library, 2160 Ulric St, Linda Vista
5/21 - Oakland - Wednesday, 6:30pm - Californians for Justice, 1611
Telegraph Ave (& 16th St), Suite 317, Oakland
5/22 - San Jose - Thursday, 6pm, California Teachers Association,
888 South
Capitol Ave, San Jose
5/29 - Santa Barbara County - 12 Noon, Thursday, exact location TBA
TBA - Fresno
*Los Angeles - Note: There is NO training currently scheduled
(neither 5/13
nor 5/22). However there will be a preparatory meeting for those
LA
participants going to Sacramento for Legislative Day (see below).
If you're
from the LA County area and interested in going to Sacramento on 6/3,
please
contact Ed Lee.
For more information or to RSVP, please contact Ed Lee (mailto:ed@caljustice.org).
To do something, outreach & advocate on:
B) LEGISLATIVE DAY on the IMPACT OF RACE INFORMATION on our communities
Tuesday, June 3rd, 2003, all day
Sacramento
Come on out with us to tell our legislators about the impact that Ward
Connerly's Information Ban would have on our communities! It
will be a
chance to meet with key legislators, decision-makers, and journalists
to
inform and educate them on the importance of racial and ethnic knowledge,
and an opportunity to meet with our campaign consultants, health care
providers, educators, union members, and and other activists statewide.
GOALS:
Identify & educate 20-30 legislators & decision-makers as supporters
Mobilize 100-200 activists and leaders to Sacramento
Generate a higher profile and demonstrate broad based opposition to
Connerly's Information Ban initiative
Profile the initiative's impacts in our communities
Support the campaign's fundraising efforts by raising visibility and
involving people
(Tentative) Schedule
9:30am Orientation & Briefing
(for early arrivals)
10:30 Press Conference
11:30-4:00 Delegation Visits to Legislators and others
4:00pm Debrief & Meet
campaign consultants and other activists
Attendees are responsible for their own transportation and housing.
For more information or to RSVP, please contact Ed Lee
510.452.2728 or mailto:ed@caljustice.org
*********************************************
15. Community Speakout (Northern & Southern CA)
Calling for REAL Accountability in Education!
Saturday, May 17th, 10am-1:30pm
Northern CA (Oakland) - First Congregational Church, 2501 Harrison Street
(at 27th)
SoCal( Los Angeles) - Immanuelle Presbyterian Church, 3300 Wilshire
Blvd
Childcare & Spanish translation provided.
Vans leaving San Jose at 9am-call CFJ at 408.292.9476 for locations
& to reserve your spot.
49 Years after Brown vs. Board of Education...
Why do Low-Income Students, Students of Color and English Learners remain segregated when it comes to getting a Quality Education?
Students, Parents, Teachers and Community Members come together in two regional gatherings to speak out. Come speak your mind about YOUR experiences in school!
We will ask policy makers to LISTEN and RESPOND to the REAL problems
and barriers that students face in receiving a quality education.
A statewide release of "First Things First," a comprehensive report
on the inequalities in public education and the dangers of the California
High School Exit Exam.
Information tables and networking with groups organizing in our
communities-get plugged in!
Call us if you have questions: (408)292-9476
Check out http://www.caljustice.org for more info & office contacts
*********************************************
16. Bomb Tracks: Toxic Legacies of War Youth Conference (San Francisco)
Friday May 16, 2003
9AM-2:30PM
Note: Press Event 1:15-2:15 PM
Bayview Opera House
4705 Third Street, Bayview, SF
Call to register: 415/508-0575
Join Us to explore the environmental and social affects of war domestically
in one of the Bay Area's most toxic and disadvantaged communities.
Event Highlights will include:
the creation of a veteran's memorial mural, youth workshops on war
and the environment, a youth speak out, and a press event and accountability
session with representatives of local and state politicians on the issue
of military recruitment in schools.
Rationale: Bayview Hunters Point was established during the World War II era as one of the nation's most strategic military bases. In addition to building naval ships for the war effort, Hunters Point Shipyard served as a top-secret radiological testing lab for over thirty years. The contamination spawned during that time still haunts the community today; infecting people with deadly diseases of all kinds. Low income youth of color from communities like Bayview are the first to be targeted for military recruitment, even though they suffer differential impacts from the costs of previous wars. Even as the government cuts critical educational programs, the military is increasing school-based recruitment. It seems as though low-income youth have no choice BUT to join the war effort. This event is designed to inform youth of their rights around recruitment and of the effects of war, so that they can make informed decisions about their future..
Sponsored by
Literacy for Environmental Justice with support from the Youth Leadership
Institute/Youth Initiated Projects, and the Bayview Opera House
In this issue of GSA Network News, you'll find:
GSA Network Highlight
Fight Discrimination - Take the 2003 Student Safety Survey
GSA Network Announcements
1. GSA Network Year End Evaluation
2. Show Your Pride at the Fresno Pride Parade
3. Open-Door Youth Council Meeting in Fresno
Other Announcements
5. End-of-Year GSA Celebration (Marin)
6. Ventura LGBT Youth Conference
7. UC San Diego's Queer Youth Conference (San Diego)
8. GLSEN Day of Silence 2004 Leadership Team (Southern CA)
9. GLBT Teen Author Symposium (San Francisco)
10. An Evening With Paul Cain (Sacramento)
11. Workshop In Digital Video Production for Queer Women of Color
(San Francisco)
12. ACLU 2003 Inaugural Membership Conference (Washington, DC)
13. ACTION ALERT: Let Student Voices be Heard! Support AB 661
14. SCHOLARSHIP: GAPA's George Choi Memorial Scholarship (Bay
Area)
15. NEWS: Teacher's Reaction to Slur with Counter-Slur Raises
Concern
16. NEWS: Gender Won't Count In New Dorm
17. NEWS: Cheerleaders Twirl Pom-poms of Protest
+++++++++++++++ GSA NETWORK HIGHLIGHT +++++++++++++++
Fight Discrimination - Take the 2003 Student Safety Survey
Take the 2003 Student Safety Survey online! Follow the link under "What's New" at http://www.gsanetwork.org/
GSA Network and the California Safe Schools Coalition are surveying high school and middle school students across California, with a focus on LGBT students, to learn more about safety, discrimination, and harassment in schools.
The survey is a vital tool for local and statewide efforts to end anti-LGBT discrimination and harassment in schools. For the survey to be successful, we need hundreds of participants from schools all over California.
You can help! If you're in high school or middle school in California, take the survey yourself, tell your friends to take it, and pass it out at your GSA or youth group (paper copies available - see below). The survey takes about 15 minutes to complete.
If you have any questions or need the paper survey, please contact Molly
O'Shaughnessy at the California Safe Schools Coalition, (415) 626-1680
or mailto:info@casafeschoolscoalition.org.
Fill out the survey at http://www.gsanetwork.org/
+++++++++++++ GSA NETWORK ANNOUNCEMENTS +++++++++++++
*********************************************
1. GSA Network Year End Evaluation
Please take a few minutes to fill out GSA Network's Year End Evaluation. Your comments are VERY important to us!
Access the evaluation online: http://www.gsanetwork.org/yearendeval/
*********************************************
2. Show Your Pride at the Fresno Pride Parade
Come and march with us in the "Pride In Motion" parade on Saturday, June 7th in the Tower District of Fresno. GSA Network will have a marching contingent and we want it to be huge! Gather at 8:30 am for a 9:30 step-off.
Among the Grand Marshals of the parade this year will be GSA Network's Community Organizer Diana Bohn. Show your support!
Check your e-mail or contact Diana for details about the meeting place.
mailto:diana@gsanetwork.org
(559)442-4777
*********************************************
3. Open-Door Youth Council Meeting in Fresno
Saturday, May 24
4403 E. Tulare Ave. (between Olive and Belmont)
Come and be a part of this very important upcoming youth council meeting. Everyone is invited!
We will discuss details of the Pride Parade, the "Closet Project", our
"State
of the Schools" briefings, summer plans and there will be lots of new
people
to meet and food!
Contact Diana for more information.
mailto:diana@gsanetwork.org
(559)442-4777
*********************************************
4. Join the GSA Network Youth Council!
The GSA Network Youth Council is a diverse group of youth leaders who care about fighting homophobia and transphobia in schools. There are 3 Youth Councils: Northern California, Central California, and Southern California. Each Youth Council is responsible for making decisions about and guiding the programs of the GSA Network in their region. Youth Council members will represent the needs of GSAs and youth activists from their geographic region as well as set goals and establish priorities for the entire GSA Network.
The Youth Council meets once a month, generally on a Saturday. Meetings will take place in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Fresno. Typically, Youth Council members are also involved in planning and/or implementing other trainings and conferences, most of which happen on weekend days as well.
For more information and to apply, visit: http://www.gsanetwork.org/about/ycapp.html
++++++++++++++++ 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.
*********************************************
5. End-of-Year GSA Celebration (Marin)
Mark your calendars!!
It's the End-of-the-Year GSA Celebration 2003!
When?: Monday, June 2nd, 6:00-8:00pm
Where?: Spectrum, 1000 Sir Francis Drake Blvd. Suite 10, San Anselmo
Who?: Anyone who has been involved (or would like to get involved) in
Marin County
Gay-Straight Alliances
Let's celebrate a year of great work in your schools with a pizza party!
We
will also be making posters for the Pride Parade.
Please RSVP to Cristin
mailto:cbrew@spectrummarin.org
or 457-1115 x 203
(So I know how much pizza to order!).
*********************************************
6. Ventura LGBT Youth Conference
Saturday,May 31st, 2003
9:00AM to 4:00PM
Ventura Rainbow Coalition
2021 Sperry Ave., #3
Ventura, CA 93003
This conference is for youth 23 and under
Topics:
Scholarship Applications
Starting GSA's
STD Education
Women's Health
Expressions of Art
Tobacco Education
Relationships and you.
What's in it for you?
New Friends! Free Lunch! More Skills! Be Heard! Have Fun!
More info: (805) 339-6340
*********************************************
7. UC San Diego's Queer Youth Conference (San Diego)
The Future Is Q
Saturday, May 31, 2003
at UC San Diego
FREE!!!
UC San Diego's Queer People of Color (QPOC) would like to invite you
to
our 4th Annual Queer Youth Conference. This year, in keeping with our
theme, we want to create a space for queer youth to think productively,
creatively, and radically about our future. The future is Q!
This FREE conference will take place at Center Hall at UCSD on Saturday,
May 31st, 2003, from 8:30am to 4pm. In addition to an array of
informative and stimulating workshops, we will have speakers, caucuses,
and free food! Following the event will be UCSD's Rainbow
Graduation and an all-ages dance and yet another killer UCSD dance
from
9pm-1am! PLEASE COME and support the community, meet new people, and
discuss, learn, and share awareness about your community.
***Want to attend?***
Register through our website,
http://lgbtro.ucsd.edu/genq.
***Want to lead a workshop?***
We will be accepting workshop proposals online as well
at http://lgbtro.ucsd.edu/genq.
Questions? For more information, send an email to qpocatucsd@yahoo.com.
Get Active. Get Involved.
THE FUTURE IS Q!
Queer People of Color, UC San Diego
*********************************************
8. GLSEN Day of Silence 2004 Leadership Team (Southern California)
Do you live in Southern California, Arizona, or the South (AL, AR, GA,
KY, LA, MS, SC, TN, WV)?
Have you participated and planned the Day of Silence in your school?
Interested in helping support other students plan Day of Silence in
schools and communities in your area?
GLSEN has extended the application deadline for four postions (SEE ABOVE)
on
the Day of Silence 2004 National Student Leadership Team. It's easy
to
apply, just review the leadership team information on the website and
complete the form online! We're looking for student organizers like
you with
Day of Silence planning experience, enthusiasm and commitment to help
make
Day of Silence 2004 more successful than ever! You need to be enrolled
in a
K-12 school for the 2003-2004 school year, have access to the internet
and
be able to attend the leadership team retreat in Chicago, June 27-30.
The new deadline is Friday, May 23!
You can also contact mailto:info@dayofsilence.org with questions about
the leadership team. It's an
incredible opportunity to be trained, supported and work with GLSEN
over the 2003-2004 school year. You also meet new people, build skills
and learn a lot about activism & organizing. APPLY ONLINE TODAY!
http://www.dayofsilence.org/labout
STUDENTS OF COLOR, TRANSGENDER/GENDERQUEER & STRAIGHT ALLIES ARE
STRONGLY
ENCOURAGED TO APPLY!
Martha Cabrera Estévez
Day of Silence Project Specialist
GLSEN
121 West 27th St, suite 801
New York, NY 10001
212.727.0135 x 152 (office)
917.912.7346 (cell)
212.727.0254 (fax)
mailto:mcabrera@glsen.org
http://www.dayofsilence.org
http://www.glsen.org
AIM:marthados
*********************************************
9. GLBT Teen Author Symposium (San Francisco)
Sponsored by the San Francisco Library Teen Center
Sunday, July 13, 2003
2:00-4:30 pm
Latino-Hispanic Community Meeting Room, lower level
SFPL Main Library
100 Larkin St.
Authors Marilyn Reynolds (Love Rules, & other books in the Hamilton High Series), Sara Ryan (Empress of the World), and Alex Sanchez (Rainbow Boys) will read from and sign their books. A reception will follow.
All Events at the library are free and open to the public.
I hope you will be able to list this as I'd really like to get a good turnout for this very special event!
Thanks & feel free to get in touch if you have any questions.
Betsy Levine
Teen Center Librarian
San Francisco Public Library
(415) 557-4497
mailto:betsyl@sfpl.org
e-mail address will change sometime in May to: mailto:blevine@sfpl.org
*********************************************
10. An Evening With Paul Cain (Sacramento)
An Evening With Paul Cain
Leading the Parade: Conversations with American's Most Influential
Lesbians and Gay Men
Lavender Library, Archives & Cultural Exchange of Sacramento Inc.
Proudly Presents Author Series
An Evening with Paul Cain
Tuesday, June 3, 2003, 7PM
Lavender Library, Archives & Cultural Exchange
1414 "21st" Street * Sacramento, CA 95814
(between 0 & N in midtown Sacramento)
http://www.LavenderLibrary.org
An inside look at gay history at LLACE
*An opportunity for students, educators, Sacramento's various political, social and cultural organizations.
On Tuesday evening, June 3, the Lavender Library, Archives and Cultural
Exchange of Sacramento (LLACE) will present Paul Cain, author of Leading
the Parade: Conversations with American's Most Influential Lesbians and
Gay Men. Cain's book documents 50 years of the modern gay movement. Cain
conducted interviews with 39 pioneers in the struggle for gay rights and
acceptance, including leaders from ONE, inc., the Mattachine Review and
the International Gay and Lesbian Archives, Rita Mae Brown, Frank Kameny,
Troy Perry, Miriam Ben Shalom, Dorr Legg, Urvashi Vaid and Sacramento's
own Ann Bannon. Rather than a dry recounting of a still exciting and
significant history, Cain managed to get the dish. His subjects talk not
only about themselves but others in the movement as well.
*this will not be a book reading...Paul will give us the inside scoop about his adventures in exploring his subject!!
*********************************************
11. Workshop In Digital Video Production for Queer Women of Color
(San Francisco)
The Sunset Neighborhood Beacon Center is offering a 16-week FREE workshop in digital vidoe production for Queer Women of Color (all ages).
Workshop content:
This 16-week workshop will cover major aspects of screenwriting, directing
and video production, form conception of project idea to movie distribution.
Through hands-on exercises, you will learn technical and creative filmmaking
skills and become proficient in digital video production technique.
the workshop will culminate with short projects that are written, directed
and edited by workshop participants. class size is limited to 8 participants.
Day: Every Thursday
Time: 6-8pm
Begins: June 12, 2003
Ends: September 25, 2003
Venue: SNBC, 3925 Noriega Street
Please call for Ea at the SNBC to register ASAP.
Phone: 415-759-3690
Deadline for registration: May 30, 2003
*********************************************
12. ACLU 2003 Inaugural Membership Conference (Washington, DC)
"Stand Up for Freedom - Because Freedom Can't Protect Itself"
Omni Shoreham Hotel
2500 Calvert St. NW
Washington, DC 20008
June 11-15, 2003
http://www.b-there.com/breg/aclu
Membership Conference:
Full Conference - $295 (inclusive of scheduled meal events)
Single Day Fees:
Wednesday June 11th - Complimentary
Thursday June 12th - $125 (inclusive of scheduled meal events)
Friday June 13th - $125 (inclusive of scheduled meal events)
Saturday June 14th - $125 (inclusive of scheduled meal events)
Youth Registration (16-27):
Conference Fee - $50 (inclusive of scheduled meal events)
(if over 27, and if full-time student, please contact mailto:mem_conf@aclu.org)
One of our conference goals is to connect, educate, and mobilize
youth (ages 16-27) in defending civil liberties. We aim to empower
youth to become active participants and mobilizing leaders in
the fight for Civil Rights and Liberties.
This is a wonderful opportunity for motivated collaboration with
other activists and youth leaders who yearn to take initiative, get
involved, and end civil liberties injustices. The conference
presents the chance to mingle and learn from civil liberties leaders
from all over the country, and to join the network of ACLU members
and
affiliates with all the information and support provided to
card-carrying members.
The 2003 ACLU Inaugural Membership Conference will provide many opportunities for young people (16-27) to get involved and make a difference. The Youth Goals of the conference are:
* Youth Being Heard: At the Conference, young people
will have the opportunity to give voice to the rights they care about,
share stories of their efforts to protect civil liberties, and talk about
how the ACLU can work with young people to better protect freedom and fairness
in America.
* Youth Getting Informed: The Conference will provide
a chance for young people to acquire information about cutting-edge civil
liberties issues and to hone their leadership and organizing skills to
be a force for meaningful change.
* Youth Being Involved: The Conference will be a
launch-pad for getting young people more fully involved in the ACLU-as
card-carrying members, as activists, and as leaders.
* Youth Getting Mobilized: The Conference will be
the place for young people who are angry about the civil liberties crisis
facing America-including its terrible effect on young people-to learn,
to coordinate, and to mobilize national action to protect our freedom.
If you want to do something about the current attack on our freedom,
work with other young leaders, and have a good time in Washington DC, this
is the conference for you!
For more information: mailto:mem_conf@aclu.org or call 212-549-2561
*********************************************
13. ACTION ALERT: Let Student Voices be Heard! Support AB 661
AB 661 (Hancock), which removes barriers to quality research on health, safety and illegal discrimination in public schools, is expected to come up for a vote on the Assembly floor this Thursday, May 22. Conservative extremists are attacking this bill as an attempt to "advocate unlimited sexual behaviors" to children. Please contact your legislator to tell them you support this crucial legislation.
Under current law, schools must obtain written permission from parents before allowing any survey or test with questions about "sex, morality, family life, or religion." School administrators have interpreted this language to restrict a wide range of research on subjects from teen pregnancy risk to tobacco use to hate violence in schools. These restrictions dramatically lower survey response rates, compromising the quality of vital health and safety research.
AB 661 would allow anonymous surveys in schools if parents are notified
in advance and have the opportunity to "opt-out" for their children.
Local school districts would retain the discretion to require a higher
level of parental consent for some surveys. For more information,
see the attached fact sheet and sample support letter.
More information: http://www.casafeschoolscoalition.org/AB661FactSheet.doc
Please contact your Assembly Member today! Fax or telephone is the best way to make your voice heard. To find out who your Assembly Member is, go to http://www.assembly.ca.gov and click on "Find My District."
Find a sample support letter at: http://www.casafeschoolscoalition.org/AB661SupportLetter.doc
*********************************************
14. SCHOLARSHIP: GAPA's George Choi Memorial Scholarship (Bay Area)
This year's Gay Asian Pacific Alliance's George Choi Memmorial
Scholarship application is now available. The application postmark
deadline is June 30, 2003 and the amount of the award is $1000, along
with
fame and glory. You can go to http://www.gapa.org for more information,
as well
as download the short application. You can apply for this scholarship
if
you:
* are self-identified as an Asian/Pacific Islander; (at least 25% API
ancestry); priority will be given to those self-identified as lesbian,
gay, bisexual or transgender, or involved in the l/g/b/t community
* are in the process of applying to, or are currently attending, a
post-secondary undergraduate institution; (college, university, or
vocational school)
* are living in one of the nine-Bay Area counties; (Alameda, Contra
Costa, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Napa, Sonoma,
and
Solano)
* have a grade point average (GPA) of 2.75 or better.
*********************************************
15. NEWS: Teacher's Reaction to Slur with Counter-Slur Raises Concern
Friday, May 16, 2003
Safe Schools Coalition Thanks Teacher for Objecting to Gay Slur ... It Should Never Be Done with a Counter-Slur
SEATTLE - It is appropriate for a teacher to intervene when a student uses a homophobic, sexist or racist remark - but it should never, ever be done with a counter-slur.
On behalf of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community, we want to commend first-year teacher Brian Emanuels for trying to take steps to correct the pejorative use of the term "gay" that so many adults choose to ignore. We need to say, too, however, that the WAY in which Mr. Emanuels intervened was inappropriate. It is NOT the wish of the LGBT community to have its allies use counter-punches when a student steps over the line and expresses a prejudice. Using a racial epithet as a means of empathy-building doesn't work and is frankly wrong.
We would like to see the Seattle Public Schools provide training for every employee regarding appropriate, healthy, productive ways to uphold its anti-harassment policy. We think it would be extremely unfortunate if this teacher's hurtful way of correcting a student - and its community-wide and administrative repercussions -- led other teachers to fear intervening at all. There are absolutely ways to explain how wrong something is without using another slur as an analogy. Let's make sure every educator has had a chance to see them modeled and to practice them.
We appreciate Mr. Emanuels' trying to do something in the face of a student's expression of prejudice. And we stand with the NAACP and others in expressing our tremendous distress at his choice of words.
for more info contact Beth Reis @ 206-715-1601
Read the article in the Seattle Post Intelligencer:
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/aplocal_story.asp?category=6420&slug=WA%20Racial%20Slur
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16. NEWS: Gender Won't Count In New Dorm
Hartford Courant
May 18, 2003
http://www.ctnow.com/news/local/hc-wesgender0517.artmay18,0,6881445.story
By William Weir, Courant Staff Writer
MIDDLETOWN - Zachary Strassburger came to Wesleyan University looking forward to the camaraderie of life in a college dorm. But there was a problem. Though physically female, Strassburger lives as a male. Under Wesleyan's policy, any roommate assigned to Strassburger would have to be female. Housing officials offered Strassburger the alternative of a single room. Reluctantly, Strassburger took the offer. "I wanted the experience of having a roommate and I'm sad that I didn't," said Strassburger, whose name was legally hanged to Zachary last fall. Strassburger would not reveal her birth name.
Starting in September, students such as Strassburger won't have to make such a choice. Transgender freshman will have the option of living in a "gender-blind" hall - one floor of a dormitory for students who don't want to be categorized as one gender or another. The new mission statement says freshmen who choose to live in the gender-blind area "will be assigned a roommate without the consideration of gender."
University officials say they believe the hall is the first of its kind in the nation. The move, they say, came at the urging of students who feel the university needed to do more to accommodate the living needs of transgender students.
Mike Whaley, dean of student services, estimates there are 12 to 15 transgender students on campus. Capacity of the gender-blind hall was kept to 12 because there's no way to tell how many students are going to opt for it.
The hall will be on the first floor of one of the Foss Hill residence complex buildings. It will consist of two single rooms and five "doubles" - a single unit with two rooms. The bathrooms will be unisex. When the idea was brought to administrators, Whaley said, he and other university officials welcomed it as a solution to a tricky matter.
Other universities have been grappling with the issue in the last few years. "I think people were beginning to become aware of it 10 years ago," he said. "In the last three to five years it has been showing up in practical terms." Selina Ellis, one of the students who campaigned for the new housing, said she was surprised by how open administrators were to the idea.
"We figured that this would be too much for them to handle but they were really eager to understand and meet the needs of transgender students on campus," she said.
"Transgender" is an umbrella term, said Whaley, who serves as co-chairman to the gay and lesbian student group on campus. The term could apply to people born with ambiguous genitalia or to people who don't identify with their physical sex. Whaley said he doesn't believe any students on campus have undergone surgical alteration of their sex.
The gender-blind housing was partly the result of a recent amendment to the university's nondiscrimination policy, which now includes the terms "gender identity and gender expression."
In many ways, Whaley said, the gender-blind floor isn't much different from other living options that Wesleyan has offered incoming students. For instance there's a "substance-free" area in one of the residence halls. "It's just another one of the different living options that we offer for first-year students," he said.
In considering the new housing, students and officials discussed the possibly of heterosexual students looking to pair up with someone of the opposite sex. Emily Polak, co-chairwoman of the student life committee, said she expects students will honor the spirit of the hall. "You have to sign an agreement and the language really kind of deters anyone who wants to do that," she said.
Wesleyan has offered coed rooms since 1995, but never to freshmen. A few other universities offer coed rooms, but few, if any, offer them to first-year students.
Students and officials at Wesleyan say the term "coed" oversimplifies the purpose of the gender-blind hall. "We don't really use the word 'coed,' because 'coed' implies one of two genders and a lot of people don't identify with either gender," Strassburger said.
The new housing is "ideal for students whose gender identification and/or gender expression varies from the standard paradigm and for students who believe that their gender should not factor into the decision of whom to live with," the mission statement says.
Peter LaBarbera of the Culture and Family Institute, a conservative group, called the new housing a case of "politically correct anarchy" that would ultimately draw more students into "gender confusion." "I'm sure other students will try to imitate it," he said, adding that he expects to see similar policies on other campuses. "They will imitate it, and it will be all the rage on campuses."
A famously liberal school, Wesleyan has garnered publicity in recent years for a course on pornography, a "queer prom" and rumors of a "naked dorm." Often, the publicity has been accompanied by criticism from the general public or alumni. Wesleyan spokesman Justin Harmon said he doesn't expect that kind of fallout in this case. "I think if people understand the issues and the needs of the folks we're trying to help, I don't think there's much to react to," he said.
Strassburger won't be living in the hall next semester, but is glad that other students will have more of a choice when it comes to housing. At least one transgender freshman has already signed up for it, Strassburger said. Having always felt like a male, Strassburger said living in a female room wasn't an option. "I know that I would be really uncomfortable and I think the people I was living with would feel really weird about it."
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17. NEWS: Cheerleaders Twirl Pom-poms of Protest
The Observer
Sunday May 11, 2003
http://www.observer.co.uk/international/story/0,6903,953332,00.html
By Duncan Campbell
Cheerleaders are a wholesome symbol of America. They feature at every major sports event, in films from American Beauty to Bring It On and are the source of a multi-million-dollar industry in costumes and training camps. Yet now cheerleading has become political.
In the Los Angeles Superior Court, the mother of a would-be cheerleader has brought a civil action, claiming her daughter was wrongly excluded from the Quartz Hill High School cheerleading squad in suburban Antelope Valley.
Liz Smith claims coach Tammy Stewart rejected Kelly, 18, partly because she had beaten one of Stewart's friends in the Miss Quartz Hill pageant. Stewart denies it, claiming Kelly's routine, to the tune of 'I Want Candy', was not up to scratch.
One of the five judges claims Stewart told him before the trials that she did not want Kelly chosen, and changed the score he had given her to catch her out. Stewart and other judges deny this and say Kelly was out of sync with the music.
The row has split the community. It has drawn attention to the 'cheer moms' with the same sort of vicarious ambition as fathers who bark from the touchlines at their football- playing sons. It has also reinforced a stereotype of suburban pettiness in places where some girls start cheerleader training at two.
The dispute has provoked a backlash against the clean-cut elitism of cheerleading. Anyone attending recent political rallies in LA will have noticed the most visible sign of this, a team called Radical Teen Cheer, who chant: 'We're teens, we're cute, we're radical to boot!'
Instead of backing the Oakland Raiders or the LA Lakers, they chant: 'Who trained, who trained, bin Laden? Who armed, who armed, Saddam Hussein?'
Now other radical teams - among them the Dirty Southern Belles in Memphis and the Rocky Mountain Rebels in Colorado - are springing up in dozens of US and Canadian cities, shaking pom-poms for causes from gay and lesbian rights to foreign policy.
Tricky - nicknames or first names are the style - of the Dirty Southern Belles says on the Radical Cheerleaders' website that it all started when two Florida women, Cara and Aimee, decided 'regular old protests on street corners holding signs and waving at traffic was not radical enough.
'They made pom-poms out of plastic bags and printed their cheers in fanzine form. Soon radical cheerleading spread like blue bonnet margarine on vegan biscuits'.
Formed last year in LA, Radical Teen Cheer are from a working-class area with a large Latino population. There are around 20 of them, aged between 14 and 18, almost all pupils at Franklin High School.
'Cheerleading is just our way of getting our message across,' said Natalia, who is also in her school team. 'We get a lot of attention, people saying "wow, that's cool".'
Her teammate Antonette said people had accused them at anti-war protests of being unpatriotic. A couple of girls had had to give up because of family pressure, 'but we love our country'.
'People always say to us "what do you want to do, change the world?",' said Yesenia. 'Well, kind of, yes.'
They all felt films such as American Beauty create a wrong impression of cheerleaders as a 'bit ditzy'.
Meredith Ryley, a teacher and a team organiser, said demonstrators were stunned by the cheerleaders bursting into action. 'One guy told me it was the coolest thing he'd seen in 20 years.
'The girls are from a low-income, minority, inner-city neighbourhood and they have to overcome many obstacles to get the opportunities many teenagers take for granted. And they defy the stereotypical images of the ghetto kid.'
Ryley was thinking of encouraging girls to start a punk cheerleading team when she read about a radical team in Minnesota and decided to form Radical Teen Cheer.
'The stereotype of the cheerleader is snotty and superior but these
are kids who want more. We found that people at demonstrations have been
bored in the past. Our motto is what Emma Goldman said - "I don't want
to be part of your revolution if I can't dance".' And they are open to
all - Ryley said that if Quartz Hill doesn't have a place for Kelly Smith
she is welcome to don the red and black of Radical Teen Cheer.
In this issue of GSA Network News, you'll find:
GSA Network Highlight
Tellin' it to the Valley: Students Brief District Officials on
Safety for LGBT Youth
GSA Network Announcements
1. Show Your Pride in Fresno & San Francisco Pride Parades
2. GSA Activist Camp 2003! (Northern and Southern CA)
3. GSA Network Year End Evaluation
Other Announcements
4. LGBTQQ & Straight-Ally Youth Dance (Bay Area)
5. Free Youth Luau In The Park (Los Angeles)
6. March in San Jose Pride
7. Ventura LGBT Youth Conference
8. UC San Diego's Queer Youth Conference
9. That's So Gay: Art by Youth with LGBT Parents (San Francisco)
10. OUTFEST Wednesdays Weekly Series (Los Angeles)
11. Leslie Feinberg (Los Angeles)
12. Bisexual people of color to gather at North American Conference
on Bisexuality (San Diego)
13. Same-Sex Domestic Violence Community Forum (Santa Cruz)
14. Queers for Peace and Justice Call to Action
15. The Gay American Smoke OUT
16. NEWS: Report shows negative impact of zero tolerance policies
on youth of color
+++++++++++++++ GSA NETWORK HIGHLIGHT +++++++++++++++
Tellin' it to the Valley: Students Brief District Officials on Safety for LGBT Youth
On April 29th, GSA Network student leaders representing four different high schools in the Fresno Unified School District met with School Board member Pat Barr in the first-ever State of the Schools Related to Safety for LGBT Youth. The students presented personal experiences and recommendations for administration's role in implementing the California Student Safety And Violence Prevention Act of 2000 (AB 537) more effectively on their campuses. Topics addressed included: student safety in bathrooms and while dressing out, dress codes, lack of teacher intervention on behalf of LGBT students, and the widespread use of slurs by students and staff. On May 27th students presented the same briefing to other District officials in an effort to establish teacher training dates in the fall and conversations with the principals of all 7 district high schools.
In a similar meeting, 11 students presented their concerns to Clovis Unified School District administrators on May 19th. The students secured a commitment by the district to reconsider overnight policies and dress codes, to designate an adult ally on every campus who will serve as an advocate for targeted students who file complaints or need support, and to consider including LGBT issues in an established diversity training format with teachers.
The students are hoping to establish the briefings as annual events and to encourage other districts to use this tool as a way of building working relationship with district administrators.
+++++++++++++ GSA NETWORK ANNOUNCEMENTS +++++++++++++
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1. Show Your Pride in Fresno & San Francisco Pride Parades
Come and march with us in the "Pride In Motion" parade on Saturday, June 7th in the Tower District of Fresno. GSA Network will have a marching contingent and we want it to be huge! Gather at 8:30 am for a 9:30 step-off.
Among the Grand Marshals of the parade this year will be GSA Network's Community Organizer Diana Bohn. Show your support!
Check your e-mail or contact Diana for details about the meeting place.
mailto:diana@gsanetwork.org
(559)442-4777
San Francisco Pride Parade
GSA Network and LYRIC are again co-sponsoring the youth contingent in this year's SF Pride Parade! We will be marching with several hundred youth from around the Bay Area - and we will have signs representing every GSA in our Network.
Sunday, June 29th
Financial District, San Francisco (near the Embarcadero or Montgomery
BART/MUNI stops)
We don't have final details yet about what time and where we'll be lining
up - Watch for more information in June.
mailto:john@gsanetwork.org
For a full list of SF Pride events, visit: http://www.sfpride.org/calendar/official.htm
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2. GSA Activist Camp 2003! (Northern and Southern CA)
GSA Activist Camp is a youth-planned and youth-led event that features intensive community building, skill-building, political education, and leadership training for GSA members. Last year's participants had a great experience, and we hope to make this year even better! All youth who will be involved in a GSA next year and who want to develop leadership skills, network with other youth activists, learn a lot, and have a fabulous time are encouraged to apply. Cost: $0-$100 sliding scale - no one turned away for lack of funds.
Northern California Camp: August 6-8 in Oakland. Application deadline: July 7, 2003
Southern California Camp: July 18-20 in Santa Monica. Application deadline: June 24, 2003
More information at http://www.gsanetwork.org/camp
*********************************************
3. GSA Network Year End Evaluation
Please take a few minutes to fill out GSA Network's Year End Evaluation. Your comments are VERY important to us!
Access the evaluation online: http://www.gsanetwork.org/yearendeval/
++++++++++++++++ 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.
*********************************************
4. LGBTQQ & Straight-Ally Youth Dance (Bay Area)
Club Y
Friday, May 30th from 8pm-midnight!
Outlet Program @ the YWCA
4161 Alma St., Palo Alto
Live DJ.
$2.00 cover charge
Ages 20 & Under
For Questions:
650-494-0972 x 301
mailto:juan@ywcamid.org
http://www.ywcamid.org
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5. Free Youth Luau In The Park (Los Angeles)
Come get "leid" at C*I*T*Y*'s (Community Intervention Through Youth) Luau In The Park. An evening of food, games, entertainment, free gifts, hula boys & girls...and a few surprises.
Luau In The Park will be held in West Hollywood Park (On San Vicente Blvd between Melrose and Santa Monica) on Saturday June 7th from 8pm-10pm. This is a free event for LGBT and straight ally youth 15-24.
To sign up or learn more please contact Brigitte Tolson at mailto:womensasst@lashanti.org or visit our brand new website http://www.cityproject.net
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6. March in San Jose Pride
Billy DeFrank Center is organizing a youth contingent:
Those who are in high school or have attended shOUT meetings or other
QKids! events, we have a special stereotype twister plan for our marching
part. For the 20somethings, we also have a
celebrity icon theme going on.
The day of the parade is Sunday, June 8th. To participate we will need to gather at around San Pedro Square at 9:00 am in the morning.
If you are willing and able to march, please RSVP so that we can begin to make arrangements. Further detailed information will only be sent to respondents. Thanks everyone!
COME on OUT and SHOW YOUR PRIDE!
RSVP: Rick Oculto, mailto:youthprg@defrank.org .o. (408)293-3040 x111
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7. Ventura LGBT Youth Conference
Saturday, May 31st, 2003
9:00AM to 4:00PM
Ventura Rainbow Coalition
2021 Sperry Ave., #3
Ventura, CA 93003
This conference is for youth 23 and under
Topics:
Scholarship Applications
Starting GSA's
STD Education
Women's Health
Expressions of Art
Tobacco Education
Relationships and you.
What's in it for you?
New Friends! Free Lunch! More Skills! Be Heard! Have Fun!
More info: (805) 339-6340
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8. UC San Diego's Queer Youth Conference
The Future Is Q
Saturday, May 31, 2003
at UC San Diego
FREE!!!
UC San Diego's Queer People of Color (QPOC) would like to invite you
to
our 4th Annual Queer Youth Conference. This year, in keeping with our
theme, we want to create a space for queer youth to think productively,
creatively, and radically about our future. The future is Q!
This FREE conference will take place at Center Hall at UCSD on Saturday,
May 31st, 2003, from 8:30am to 4pm. In addition to an array of
informative and stimulating workshops, we will have speakers, caucuses,
and free food! Following the event will be UCSD's Rainbow
Graduation and an all-ages dance and yet another killer UCSD dance
from
9pm-1am! PLEASE COME and support the community, meet new people, and
discuss, learn, and share awareness about your community.
***Want to attend?***
Register through our website,
http://lgbtro.ucsd.edu/genq.
***Want to lead a workshop?***
We will be accepting workshop proposals online as well
at http://lgbtro.ucsd.edu/genq.
Questions? For more information, send an email to qpocatucsd@yahoo.com.
Get Active. Get Involved.
THE FUTURE IS Q!
Queer People of Color, UC San Diego
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9. That's So Gay: Art by Youth with LGBT Parents (San Francisco)
an educational poster series and art exhibit by young people with lesbian,
gay, bisexual, and/or transgender parents and families.
Art Opening * Celebration
Monday, June 23rd * 6:30 - 8:30 PM
@ the Cellspace Gallery, 2050 Bryant Street (at 18th) in San Francisco
Be the first to see this exhibit, the first of its kind while enjoying entertainment and refreshments, meeting the youth artists, and supporting COLAGE by winning fabulous prizes in a silent auction.
That's So Gay: Art by Youth with LGBT Parents is a unique look into
the lives of young people with LGBT parents and families- their challenges,
hopes, triumphs and daily lives. The exhibit will debut two
educational posters created by members of the COLAGE Youth Leadership
and Activism Program, a training and action project for youth ages 14 and
up with LGBT parents. The show also features art, photos, poetry, and more
by YLAP members and kids in the COLAGE Middle School Program.
Additionally, the Thatâs So Gay event is an opportunity to meet one
of the Grand Marshals of the 2003 San Francisco Pride Parade, Marina Gatto
who is one of the artists and an active participant in the
YLAP Program of COLAGE. Marina shares, the That's So Gay Exhibit
is a wonderful opportunity for youth of LGBT families in our community
like myself, to show our pride, and our expression of the special bond,
the unconditional love and strength, and the uniqueness that makes up our
families. I am excited to display my project that celebrates the love,
strength, and commitment of my family. This is a chance for me to honor
my two moms who have raised me to be strong, unafraid, and to make a difference.
Open to all ages!
Donations of $1-$100 welcomed at the door. No one turned away for lack of funds.
For more information, contact Meredith at 415-861-5437 x 102 or mailto:meredith@colage.org or 415-861-5437, ext. 102.
That's So Gay: Art by Youth with LGBT Parents is made made possible by a grant from the SF Department of Children Youth and their Families. Ongoing support for COLAGE Bay Area Youth Leadership and Action Program provided by SF DCYF, SF Children and Families Commission, Haas Jr. Foundation, SF Foundation, Kicking Assets Fund of the Tides Foundation, and all our donors and allies. Special thanks to Jill Shenker, collaborating artist.
*********************************************
10. OUTFEST Wednesdays Weekly Series (Los Angeles)
Asian Pacific Islanders for Human Rights (APIHR) is proud to co-sponsor OUTFEST Wednesdays Weekly Series film "KE KULANA HE MAHU: REMEMBERING A SENSE OF PLACE"
Wednesday, June 11, 7:30pm
The Village at Ed Gould Plaza
1125 N. McCadden Pl.
Los Angeles, CA 90038
(McCadden is one block east of Highland half a block North of Santa
Monica)
Tickets : (213) 480-7090
Ke Kulana He Mahu: Remembering A Sense of Place
2001, 67 Minutes
Directors: Kathryn Xian, Brent Anbe
Western colonialism nearly obliterated many of the native customs of
Hawaii, including that of the "mahu," (which can mean "homosexual," "cross-dresser"
or even "hermaphrodite"), traditionally a person accorded great respect.
This fascinating documentary explores efforts by natives to restore respect
to the "two-spirited" people of this island paradise. Lithographs and photographs
chronicle the steady erosion of the indigenous Hawaiian way of life, from
early Christian settlers to the religious right today. The Aloha State
has been affected by countless outside influences, but this film suggests
that the Kanaka Maoli people will yet regain their lost culture and once
again honor their own history as a loving, tolerant people.
*********************************************
11. Leslie Feinberg (Los Angeles)
Hear author and activist LESLIE FEINBERG
(Stone Butch Blues, Transgender Warriors)
LGBT LIBERTION AND THE STRUGGLE AGAINST RACISM, OPPRESSION, AND WAR
Host: Stuart Timmons, Author of the Trouble with Harry Hay, the biography of Harry Hay, Executive Director, the ONE Institute and Archives, Los Angeles.
Sunday, June 15 at 2:00 PM
ONE Institute & Archives
909 W. Adams Blvd.
Reception following the Forum
An afternoon celebration of Lesbian, Gay, Bi & Trans Pride and remembrance of the Stonewall Rebellion. An accomplished author and activist, Feinberg is also Managing Editor of Workers World, a weekly socialist newspaper.
Hear about the history of the origins of sexual oppression and how to fight it. Hear analysis of the global context of the LGBT liberation movement and the struggle for jobs, peace, and justice.
Sponsors: ONE Institute & Archives, International Action Center For more information call (213) 487-2368 or (213) 741-0094
ALSO: Join us on Sunday June 22 in the massive anti-war contingent at Christopher Street West parade. Say Yes to LGBT rights and No to racism, occupation and war!
*********************************************
12. Bisexual people of color to gather at North American Conference
on Bisexuality (San Diego)
Bisexual People of Color Organizing Institute "LIVING IN THE BORDER OF RACE AND SEXUALITY"
The first gathering of bisexual people of color will take place on Thursday,
August 21, 2003, as part of
the 2nd Annual North American Conference on Bisexuality in San Diego,
CA
(http://www.bisexual.org/nacb/).
The Bisexual People of Color Organizing Institute is aimed at creating
dialogue and developing actions steps around the needs of bisexual People
of Color. Participants will be encouraged to discuss issues of race, class
and sexuality. Participants will be encouraged to share challenges, triumphs
and learned lessons from their respective personal and professional experience
in being part of, working with and providing services to, this often overlooked,
often forgotten community. Participants will be
engaged in brainstorming sessions regarding social, mental and health
service needs for this community and strategize on actions steps to address
the identified needs such as future conferences and workshops for bisexual
People of Color. Likewise, this workshop aims to build/or strengthen a
national dialogue on bisexual People of Color and the role they play in
being part of local, regional and national organizations.
Limited scholarship opportunities will be available.
Contacts:
Penelope Williams at (718) 538-1963, mailto:mariposarose1@yahoo.com
Angel C. Fabian at (213) 300-2133, mailto:otilos@hotmail.com
*********************************************
13. Same-Sex Domestic Violence Community Forum (Santa Cruz)
to learn more about Same-Sex Domestic Violence and to let agencies
in this area know what your suggestions are for making change and improving
Same-Sex Domestic Violence services in Santa Cruz County.
May 27th, 6:30 p.m.
Upstairs at the Central Public Library, Church Street, Downtown Santa
Cruz
For more info call 831-426-3062
*********************************************
14. Queers for Peace and Justice Call to Action
LGBTSTI & Queer organizations and individuals endorsers
Call to Action-- for Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Two-Spirit, Trans and Intersex and Queer Activists to "Come Out Against the War at home & abroad" at LGBT Pride Events across the country. Initiated by Queers for Peace and Justice: May 15, 2003
As LGBTSTI and Queer people we understand what it means to be silenced,
used as scapegoats, and targeted with violence for being who we are.
This is experienced more intensely for those of us that are
people of color and of Trans experience.
For these reasons we feel it is crucial in this current political climate
to make anti-war organizing
and the fight against racism -- here at home and abroad -- a priority
for our movement!
We oppose the Bush administration's so-called "War On Terrorism" and demand that the billions of dollars being spent to wage war on or occupy countries around the world, be spent here in the US instead, on human needs such as: jobs, education, health care, AIDS, job training, affordable housing, environmental clean up etc.
We oppose the racist detention and deportation of immigrants, the police brutality and INS round ups in communities of color -- especially towards Muslim and South Asian communities.
We will not allow our movement to be divided based on class, race, nation
of origin, language, gender,
sexuality, gender expression, income, size, ability, age, etc. We respect
and will take leadership from
those groups who are especially targeted by war at home and abroad,
namely, People of Color, immigrants, Trans people, the homeless, sex workers,
and young people, etc. We believe that through these principles,
we can build a unified movement not only to fight for the liberation of
LGBT & Queer people, but for the liberation of all peoples.
We are proud of our rich and militant history as LGBTSTI peoples.
The 1969 Stonewall Rebellion -- the
forerunner to Pride celebrations across the countries -- was a 3-day
battle in the streets of NYC against
racist police brutality and Queer oppression. We are inspired
by the leadership of those combatants, many of whom were transgender, people
of color, and or homeless.
This is why we call for 2003 LGBT Pride celebrations to return back to their radical foundations! And we are determined to do all in our power to demonstrate that LGBTSTI & Queer people are opposed to the racist, warmongering policies of the Bush administration.
We call on all LGBTSTI organizations and individuals across the country to sign on and endorse this "Come Out Against the War at home & abroad" campaign at LGBT Pride Events across the country.
Please email us: noprideinwar@yahoo.com
or call 212-633-6646 ext 35
Join us: QueersForPeaceAndJustice-subscribe@yahoogroups.com mailto:QueersForPeaceAndJustice-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Pride parades/events/activities:
-Build anti-war contingents/floats/sections for LGBT parades
-Carry anti-war placards, banners, etc.
- Mass produce placards to hand out throughout the parades
-Create mass buttons, stickers, literature campaign to
get out the message to fight war and racism.
-Send out the Call to Action to be reprinted to local and national
LGBT publications/newspapers Circulate it widely
-Create slogans/chants that link LGBTSTI oppression to domestic and
international struggles, i.e., "Money for Jobs, Not for War" or "Drop Bush,
Not Bombs"
*********************************************
15. The Gay American Smoke OUT
Since Tobacco companies are getting rich by killing minorities,
AND the most targeted minority is Gay America,
These lips will not be used for smoking during the month of Gay Pride.
Show the POWER OF PRIDE by sending the money that would have been spent
on cigarettes to LGBT Community Centers, and to those who work on
behalf of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender peoples.
The strength of our power
Can be demonstrated by making
One Choice
Over and Over again.
The choice not to smoke.
Choose not to smoke.
Get the word OUT.
Just, think about it . . .
If 'Gays' across the country aren't smoking, who is?
http://www.defrank.org
*********************************************
16. NEWS: Report shows negative impact of zero tolerance policies
on youth of color
Building Blocks for Youth On-Line Newsletter
May 16, 2003
New report shows negative impact of zero tolerance policies on youth of color
On May 14, the Advancement Project released, "Derailed: The Schoolhouse to Jailhouse Track" which finds that youth of color are disproportionately impacted by zero tolerance policies.
"In school district after school district, an inflexible and unthinking
zero tolerance approach to an exaggerated juvenile crime problem is derailing
the educational process," said report author Judith Browne, Advancement
Project senior attorney. "The educational system is
starting to look more like the criminal justice system. Acts once
by a principal or a parent are now being handled by prosecutors and the
police."
The report finds that youth, in particular youth of color, are negatively
impacted by zero tolerance policies in significant ways. Criminalizing
trivial offenses pushes children out of the school system and into the
juvenile justice system and schools are turning into
"secure environments."
Recommendations in the report to redress disparities in zero tolerance policies include:
--Schools must cease criminalizing students for trivial behaviors that can be handled by traditional, educationally-sound school disciplinary measures;
--School districts should improve data collection of arrest/summons data and should monitor referrals to law enforcement to root out subjective, unnecessary, and discriminatory referrals;
--State legislatures must clarify statutes pertaining to the referral of students to law enforcement agencies;
--Schools should notify students and parents of the conduct that the
law requires - or standard practice dictates - to be referred to law enforcement
agencies.
To obtain a copy of the report, visit the Advancement Project's website at http://www.advancementproject.org
The Advancement Project's report was presented along with other research on the impact of zero tolerance policies this week at a national conference, "School to Prison Pipeline Charting Intervention Strategies of Prevention and Support for Minority Children" sponsored by The Civil Rights Project and The Institute on Race and Justice at Northeastern University.
For information on the conference, visit the Harvard Civil Rights Project
website at:
http://www.civilrightsproject.harvard.edu/convenings/schooltoprison/call