GSA Network News archives

GSA Network News Email Archive - May 2006

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May 31, 2006

In this issue of GSA Network News, you'll find:

GSA Network Highlight
GSA Student Activists - What Are They Doing After Graduation?
Go directly to GSA Network highlight

GSA Network Announcements
1. WIN $100!! Fill out GSA Network's Year-End Evaluation and be entered to win $100
2. GSA Network Activist Camps! APPLY ONLINE!
3. March with GSA Network for PRIDE 2006
4. Support Youth Films at the SF LGBT Film Festival (San Francisco)
5. GSA Network is Hiring! - Development Coordinator and Operations Director
Go directly to GSA Network announcements

Other Announcements
Southern California
6. Pride in Our Schools 2006! - June 11th
Go directly to Southern California listings

Central Valley
7. Fresno Pride - This Saturday
Go directly to Central Valley listings

Northern California
8. San Francisco Pride - June 25th
Go directly to Northern California listings

Statewide
9. Receive a complimentary copy of the Trevor Survival Kit
10. "In The Life" highlights GSA Clubs
Go directly to Statewide listings

Scholarships
11. Erika J. Glazer Family Scholarship Fund - 2006 Scholarship Program
Go directly to Scholarships listings

News
12. NEWS: Schwarzenegger To Veto Gay Textbook Bill
13. NEWS: Gay school bill in trouble
14. NEWS: U.S. judge is pressed for ruling on T-shirt - Poway student and district at odds over anti-gay slogan
15. NEWS: Sexual orientation important
16. NEWS: 'Ex-Gays' Seek a Say in Schools
17. NEWS: Calif. bill targets military recruiters in schools
Go directly to News listings

+++++++++++++++ GSA NETWORK HIGHLIGHT+++++++++++++++

GSA Student Activists - What Are They Doing After Graduation?

As June approaches and seniors are leaving their high schools and their GSAs for what will be the next chapter in their lives, we were curious what they were going to be doing next and what impact, if any, their experience with their GSA made on the direction that they chose. Martha, a senior at Diamond Bar High School and President of her GSA, will be travelling to Chicago in the fall to attend Northwestern University. "I'm a little nervous", she said, "because Illinois is more conservative than California so I'm not sure what kind of activities they'll be doing there, but I really liked the school and even though it's more conservative I still plan to be involved in the same kind of activism that I was involved in here." Martha plans to join the Rainbow Alliance at Northwestern and is considering studying Biology to be a doctor, or screenwriting to be a science fiction writer, or maybe both. "Because of being involved with my GSA, I definitely have better judgement in the kind of activities that mean something to me, I've learned that I can have fun and accomplish something at the same time."

Colin, a senior at Mira Costa High School and President of his GSA, says that working with his GSA and with GSA Network "has inspired, trained, and connected me, helping me realize and pursue my dream as an activist." Colin will be going to Africa this summer to work in a refugee camp, then he will be attending the University of California, Santa Cruz, where he will be studying International Relations and Sociology, "to continue my activist work."

Hugo, a senior at Garfield High School and co-founder of his GSA, will also be attending the University of California, Santa Cruz and is considering a career in Human Rights Law. Hugo has already used what he learned from Queer Youth Advocacy Day and from working with his GSA to teach others in his community in East Los Angeles about making political and legislative change around Immigration Laws. "I want them to know that there are other things that they can do besides just walking out, that they can talk to their legislators and change laws."

Stevie, a senior at Lakewood High School and President of her GSA, says that working with her GSA taught her how to "deal with diversity and adversity, what to do when you encounter people not wanting you to do things, and learning how to overcome those barriers." She will be taking a break after her graduation to work and then will be going to school to study Foreign Affairs.

Seniors can consider these things to stay involved:
* Attend a college or university that offers classes or a curriculum in Human Rights or Social Justice Programs
* Look for a LGTBQ Center or organization on your college campus
* Get connected with LGTBQ, anti-discrimination, or human rights organizations in your community as a intern, volunteer or by getting a job working for them
*Register to vote, stay informed about political issues, and get involved with political and legislative campaigns
*Participate in a mentoring program for LGTBQ youth

Whatever direction seniors choose to take after graduation, whether continuing their education in college, working, or getting involved in community organizations, there are lots of opportunities to use the lessons learned and skills gained through involvement with GSAs to continue the fight against homophobia, transphobia and discrimination to make this a safer place for all people to live.

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+++++++++++++ GSA NETWORK ANNOUNCEMENTS +++++++++++++

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1. WIN $100!! Fill out GSA Network's Year-End Evaluation and be entered to win $100

Calling all GSA advisors, presidents, and active members! We need your feedback.
Tell us what worked this year, where you had challenges and how GSA Network can be of help for the 2006-2007 school year.

Go online and fill out the evaluation on www.gsanetwork.org/yearendeval/index.php and be entered to win $100 for your GSA!
Drawing June 2nd, 2006 - TWO MORE DAYS, DON'T DELAY

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2. GSA Network Activist Camps! APPLY ONLINE!

The GSA Activist Camps are youth-planned and youth-led intense 3-day events featuring hardcore community building, skill-building, political education, and leadership training for GSA members. All youth who will be involved in a high school or middle school GSA next year are strongly encouraged to apply.

Southern California Activist Camp - Los Angeles
July 14th - 16th, 2006

Northern California Activist Camp - Oakland
July 28th - 30th, 2006

Central Valley Activist Camp - Fresno
August 11th - 13th, 2006

APPLY ONLINE! Click here to get more info and apply online!

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3. March with GSA Network for PRIDE 2006

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Calling all SoCal GSAs interested in participating in the 2006 Los Angeles Pride Parade on Sunday, June 11th. GSA Network and GLSEN Los Angeles have begun the planning process for participation in this year's pride parade. We want youth to take over the streets this year with a HUGE turnout. We had 500 LGTBQ Youth and straight allies in Sacramento, can we beat that here in Los Angeles???

If your GSA is interested in participating or being involved in the planning process for L.A. Pride, contact Sandy with GSA Network at sandy@gsanetwork.org or 213-534-7162 or David with GLSEN, Los Angeles at glsenla@glsenla.org or 323-369-2024.

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NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
San Francisco Pride Parade - Commemorate-Educate-Liberate-Celebrate!
Sunday, June 25th. 10:30 AM
Marco Castro-Bojorquez
415-552-4229
marco@gsanetwork.org

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CENTRAL VALLEY
Fresno Rainbow Pride - 16th Annual GLBT Pride Parade & Festival
Saturday, June 3rd.
Contact: Ty Ryan
559-268-2780
ty@gsanetwork.org

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4. Support Youth Films at the SF LGBT Film Festival (San Francisco)

Frameline30
San Francisco International LGBT Film Festival
June 15-25, 2006
www.frameline.org/festival

Do It Yourself -- New Youth Films
Wednesday June 21 | 6:00 pm | Roxie
$9 members | $10 general | DOIT21R
Free for ages 18 and under (present ID at door)!

CO-PRESENTED BY Dimensions Clinic, Gay-Straight Alliance Network, and Teaching Intermedia Literacy Tools
Adolescence and young adulthood is a time of golden beauty, vivid dreams, disappointments and hope. Here's an incredible chance to see new work made by youth in collaboration with media arts organizations including Frameline, TILT, BAVC and the Media Arts Center of San Diego.

Jennifer Gilomen's "Queer Youth Speak: In and Out at the Library "follows two young people as they experience the queer past though an archive and add their own poetic voices to the history they witness. Johanna Malaret and Ethan van Thillo's documentary "Altared Lives" follows ten LGBTQ young adults as they explore religion, family, culture and sexuality.

The following films were made by the Wells Fargo/ Frameline Youth Filmmaker Workshop in collaboration with TILT. The lives of passengers briefly intersect on a BART train in erica sokolowershain's "Where have we been all this time?" When a queer teenager stains her clothes, she must find a way to come out to her parents without her lucky shirt in Juliana Spector's "Stainless."

QUEER YOUTH SPEAK: IN AND OUT AT THE LIBRARY dir Jennifer Gilomen 2005 USA 14 min video ALTARED LIVES dir Ethan van Thillo & Johanna Malaret 2006 USA 27 min video WHERE HAVE WE BEEN ALL THIS TIME ? dir ericka sokolowershain 2006 USA 7 min video STAINLESS dir Juliana Spector 2006 USA 10 min video
TOTAL RUNNING TIME: 58 Min

Frameline30, the 30th San Francisco International LGBT Film Festival, screening June 15-25 at the Castro Theatre, Roxie Film Center, Victoria Theatre, Cinearts@Empire, and the Parkway Theatre is the oldest and largest event of its kind in the world. Tickets go on sale to Frameline members Friday, May 26. General public ticket sales begin Friday, June 2. Tickets are available at Superstar Satellite video store located at 474 Castro Street (between Market and 18th Street in San Francisco), online at www.frameline.org/festival, by phone at 925 866 9559 and by fax at 925 866 9597.

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5. GSA Network is Hiring! - Development Coordinator and Operations Director

Development Coordinator: The GSA Network seeks a part-time (20 hours per week) Development Coordinator to coordinate and support all aspects of the organization's growing individual donor program and development department systems. The Development Coordinator will be the first development staff member at GSA Network, and will work closely with the Executive Director, and development and special events consultants, to implement the annual fundraising plan ($86,250 from individuals in 2006, which is 9% of GSA Network's total budget). GSA Network now has 600 individual donors who contribute through personal solicitations of the Board and Executive Director, direct mail, a monthly pledge program, one annual fundraising event, and occasional house parties. The Development Coordinator will play an important role in helping GSA Network expand all of these activities and build stronger relationships with all individual donors. A demonstrated passion for LGBTQ youth leadership and empowerment, an understanding of youth culture, and commitment to social change is required for all positions at GSA Network.

Operations Director: GSA Network is looking for a full-time Operations Director to work in our San Francisco office. The Operations Director is responsible for fiscal and administrative management, technology and information systems, operations, and some fund development projects for GSA Network. In 2006, GSA Network will be leaving its fiscal sponsor, The Tides Center, and establishing its own 501c3 status. The Operations Director will lead GSA Network through this transition and will help set up new financial, human resources, and administrative systems for our organization as an independent 501c3. A demonstrated passion for LGBTQ youth leadership and empowerment, an understanding of youth culture, and commitment to social change is required for all positions at GSA Network.

To get more information on the job descriptions and how to apply, visit: http://www.gsanetwork.org/about/index.html#jobs

Equal Opportunity Employer:
GSA Network, a project of the Tides Center, is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from youth, people of color, people of all sexual orientations and gender identities, and people with disabilities.

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++++++++++++++++ OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS ++++++++++++++++
GSA Network News is a publication of Gay-Straight Alliance Network. Events, resources, and news items listed under "Other Announcements" are not sponsored or written by GSA Network, and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of GSA Network.

Southern California
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6. Pride in Our Schools 2006! - June 11th

Join GSA Network as we March Proudly With Other SAFE SCHOOL LEADERS in the Christopher Street West Pride Parade
June 11, 2006 (A.M.), West Hollywood

STUDENTS | TEACHERS | GSA CLUBS | SCHOOL STAFF | ALLIES Unite!!
It's an exciting time to be showing off your support for SAFE SCHOOLS in California – free of harassment, name-calling and discrimination. Band together – show your support! JOIN dozens of Gay-Straight Alliance clubs (GSAs), students, school staff, teachers and their allies from all over southern California to march in this year's
annual school pride entry, PRIDE IN OUR SCHOOLS!

WANT TO JOIN US and receive updates and details of HOW TO MARCH with the PRIDE IN OUR SCHOOLS entry? Here's how: send an email message to prideinourschools@glsenla.org

Include:
YOUR NAME
YOUR PHONE NUMBER & E-MAIL ADDRESS
NAME OF SCHOOL | NAME OF GSA or OTHER CLUB
FACULTY ADVISOR'S NAME
FACULTY ADVISOR'S E-MAIL & PHONE NUMBER"Pride In Our Schools" - REGISTER TODAY to be a part of something BIG in the 2006 L.A. PRIDE Parade.

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Central Valley
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7. Fresno Pride - This Saturday

March with GSA Network
Fresno Rainbow Pride - 16th Annual GLBT Pride Parade & Festival
Saturday, June 3rd.
Contact: Ty Ryan
559-268-2780
ty@gsanetwork.org

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Northern California
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8. San Francisco Pride - June 25th

March with GSA Network
San Francisco Pride Parade - Commemorate-Educate-Liberate-Celebrate!
Sunday, June 25th. 10:30 AM
Marco Castro-Bojorquez
415-552-4229
marco@gsanetwork.org

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Statewide
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9. Receive a complimentary copy of the Trevor Survival Kit

LGBTQ youth face many social factors that put them at higher risk for self-destructive behaviors, including suicide. In 2001, the Massachusetts Youth Risk Behavior Survey (MAYRBS) concluded that LGB youth are “almost four (4) times as likely to have attempted suicide (31% vs. 8%)” and “more than five times as likely to have received medical treatment for a suicide attempt (16% vs. 3%)” than their heterosexual peers. The Trevor Project, a non-profit endeavor established to promote acceptance of gay and questioning teenagers and aid in suicide prevention among that group, believes that there is a cure for these grim findings.

To this end, the organization created The Trevor Survival Kit. This classroom tool for middle and high school teachers, is to be used in conjunction with the Academy Award-winning short film, Trevor—about a 13 year-old boy that attempts suicide after realizing he might be gay—to generate constructive discussion about the myriad of issues surrounding suicide, personal identity and sexual orientation. “Through education and frank, open discussions with all youth about the issues that cause them to feel isolated, alone, misunderstood and ‘different’ from their peers, we can make a difference,” stated Andy Scheer, the organization’s Program & Outreach Director. “By empowering our youth, we make them gatekeepers of one another’s lives.”

To receive a complimentary copy of The Trevor Survival Kit—which contains The Trevor Teaching Guide, short film Trevor, posters and other outreach materials—please send an email to Andy Scheer at Andy.Scheer@TheTrevorProject.org or call their administrative offices at 310.271.8845. To ensure proper delivery, please include your name, position, institution name, street address, and telephone number when emailing requests.

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10. In The Life highlights GSA Clubs

IN THE LIFE #1509
6/01 11pm (57:12*) (CC)

There are roughly 3000 gay-straight alliances (GSAs) in high schools across the country. These student-run groups promote dialogue and tolerance. Some have been openly welcomed, others bitterly opposed. In "I'm Still Emily," ItL travels to the heartland of the nation to meet 17-year-old Emily Frerichs, the only person to publicly come out in her rural community. Her efforts to start a GSA offer a window into what it means to be young, gay, and a devout Christian in middle America.

For more information: http://www.inthelifetv.org/inthelife/pressroom/index.php?id=28

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Scholarships
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11. Erika J. Glazer Family Scholarship Fund - 2006 Scholarship Program

Below are the guidelines for the Erika J. Glazer Family Scholarship Fund - 2006 Scholarship Program. Please note that the 2006 program is limited to students accepted to, or currently attending, California State University, Los Angeles.

Complete application packets must be received in our office no later than 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 15, 2006. Please refer to the guidelines and application for full details.

PLEASE DISTRIBUTE TO YOUR STUDENTS & OTHER APPROPRIATE CONTACTS.

Established by the Erika J. Glazer Trust of 1985, the Erika J. Glazer Family Scholarship Fund will award several multi-year scholarships of up to $7,000 per year (the total amount of scholarship funds available per year is $30,000-$40,000) to academically qualified students in need of financial assistance. However, the amount and number of recipients will be at the sole discretion of the scholarship committee appointed by the scholarship donors and the Liberty Hill Foundation.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

To be considered for the Erika J. Glazer Family Scholarship, applicants must meet all of the following criteria:

1. Meet the requirements of California Assembly Bill 540 (Nonresident Tuition Exemption).

2. Be a graduating high school senior or an undergraduate college student who has attended a public or private high school in Los Angeles County for at least three years.

3. Be accepted to, or currently attend, California State University, Los Angeles during the 2006-2007 school year and for all subsequent years of the scholarship, while pursuing a full course load for a Bachelor's degree in any discipline. Recipients must maintain good academic standing.

4. Be the child of immigrant parents.

5. Be ineligible for federal and state financial aid and demonstrate financial need. Please note that there is no particular threshold of financial need we are considering. It is up to the applicant to decide if she/he would be a competitive applicant given her/his particular circumstances.

6. Demonstrate leadership, merit, a commitment to community service and/or potential for academic achievement.

7. Provide clear and detailed information about any disciplinary or criminal record (e.g. school suspensions, arrests, convictions, etc.) and a full and detailed explanation of the circumstances leading to such actions.

8. Make every effort to be available for a personal interview should one be required.

9. Be willing to attend an awards ceremony on a date to be determined in Los Angeles should one be awarded a scholarship.

For Application email Carol Lee
Program Associate, Donor Advised Funds
Liberty Hill Foundation
2121 Cloverfield Boulevard, Suite 113
Santa Monica, CA 90404

Phone: (310) 453-3611, ext. 130
Fax: (310) 453-7806
Email: clee@libertyhill.org
Web: http://www.libertyhill.org/

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News
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12. NEWS: Schwarzenegger To Veto Gay Textbook Bill

by Mark Worrall
365Gay.com
May 25, 2006

(Sacramento, California) Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger will veto legislation that requires schools to teach LGBT history if it passes the Assembly his spokesperson says.
The measure already has been approved by the Senate.

California already requires that African Americans, native peoples, Mexicans, Asians and Pacific Islanders be included in textbook descriptions of "the economic, political and social development of California and the United States of America, with particular emphasis on portraying the role of these groups in contemporary society."

The bill, by Sen. Sheila Kuehl ( D-Los Angeles) adds gays, lesbians and the transgendered to that list.

The Senate voted 22 - 15 on May 11 to pass the measure.

"The governor believes that school curriculum should include all important historical figures, regardless of orientation. However, he does not support the Legislature micromanaging curriculum," Schwarzenegger's spokesperson, Adam Mendelsohn, told the Sacramento Bee.

The bill is currently in the Assembly but it is doubtful the measure would have enough support to override the threatened veto.

Kuehl said she is not prepared to accept Medelsohn's word that the governor intends to veto the legislation.

To read the full story, visit:
http://www.365gay.com/Newscon06/05/052506calschools.htm

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13. NEWS: Gay school bill in trouble
Spokesman says the governor plans to veto curriculum measure, but Kuehl insists it can still pass.

by Andy Furillo and Judy Lin
Sacramento Bee
May 25, 2006

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger will veto a bill passed by the Senate and pending in the Assembly to revise California's school curriculum to include the contributions of gays and lesbians to the state and nation, a gubernatorial spokesman said Wednesday.

"The governor believes that school curriculum should include all important historical figures, regardless of orientation," said Schwarzenegger's director of communications, Adam Mendelsohn. "However, he does not support the Legislature micromanaging curriculum."

Wednesday's announcement signaled a death blow to the efforts of state Sen. Sheila Kuehl, D-Santa Monica, the openly lesbian author of the measure, to obtain recognition for the contributions of gays, lesbians, transgender and bisexual people to the social and historical landscape.

Kuehl's bill had passed the Senate on a 22-15 vote on May 11 and was awaiting hearings in the Assembly. She expressed disbelief that Schwarzenegger, who traditionally has withheld comment on legislation until it passes the Legislature and reaches his desk, has broken with his own precedent and made up his mind on a bill that still hadn't been vetted by one house of the Legislature.

"He hasn't made up his mind, I don't care what some underling might have said," Kuehl said.

To read the full story, visit:
http://www.sacbee.com/content/politics/story/14260132p-15074105c.html

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14. NEWS: U.S. judge is pressed for ruling on T-shirt - Poway student and district at odds over anti-gay slogan

by Onell R. Soto
San Diego UNION-TRIBUNE
May 27, 2006

A San Diego federal judge was asked yesterday to decide whether Poway High School administrators acted properly when they pulled a student from class for wearing an anti-gay slogan on his T-shirt two years ago.

Lawyers for the Poway Unified School District and religious legal groups backing the student both asked Judge John A. Houston to find there is no need for a trial in the case, but for different reasons.

Lawyers for Tyler Chase Harper are asking Houston to find the school's ban on negative or offensive speech toward homosexuals unconstitutional.

The school district's lawyers are asking him to rule that school officials did nothing wrong when Harper wore a T-shirt with the words "Homosexuality is shameful," his paraphrase of a Bible verse.

Harper, now a senior, said his Christian beliefs compel him to warn others that homosexuality is dangerous. He wrote the slogans on his shirt in response to a "Day of Silence" promoting tolerance for homosexuals.

After hearing the arguments, Houston didn't say when he would issue a decision, but neither side expected his ruling to be the final word.

To read the full story, visit:
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/northcounty/20060527-9999-1mi27shirt.html

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15. NEWS: Sexual orientation important

by Shaun Rosenstein, Temecula
Letter to the Editor
5/28/2006

Dear Mr. Haynes,
I admire your ability to come forward and admit your faults so freely. Specifically, I am referring to your unashamed admission in your May 19, 2006 letter to this paper that "honestly, I don't know what transsexuals have done in history…" Highlighting our school's shortcomings with such a close, personal example is commendable. Therefore, it is a shame that you will be unable to reap the benefits of SB 1437, which requires that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (not transsexual, as you repeatedly incorrectly stated) persons' contributions be taught in our schools.

I do not believe that attacking legislation that requires students to learn more is the most conducive way to fixing the education system. You try to somehow draw an analogy that our schools do not require that students learn about George Washington, Thomas Jefferson or any other details about the civil war. To this I have a two-fold response: first, there is no school in California which fails to teach these basic lessons; there is no problem with students lacking in their history of the Civil War or knowledge of the first president of this nation. Secondly, if such a time ever did arise when this was a problem, let me assure you, Mr. Haynes, that I will be the first person writing a letter to you demanding that these lessons be required to be taught in our schools as well.

Furthermore, you state, "a great person in history is great regardless of their sexual orientation." Mr. Haynes, history is all about context. When Justice Sandra Day O'Connor was the first woman elected to the US Supreme Court, it was significant not merely because of her brilliant legal mind and contributions to the field but because as a woman she was a trailblazer and had to overcome unique adversity as the result of her gender. The same holds true for LGBT people throughout history; their context needs to be understood and not overlooked like it has been historically.

To read the full letter, visit:
http://www.temeculavalleynews.com/story.asp?story_ID=15279

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16. NEWS: 'Ex-Gays' Seek a Say in Schools
In response to campus programs supporting homosexuality, critics call for offering an alternative view: that people can go straight.

By Stephanie Simon
LA Times
May 28, 2006

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - Over the last decade, gay-rights activists have pushed programs to support gay and lesbian students in public schools. Their success is striking:

More than 3,000 Gay-Straight Alliance clubs meet across the country. Nearly half a million students take a vow of silence one day each spring in an annual event to support gay rights. California may soon require textbooks to feature the contributions of gays and lesbians throughout history.

Critics, mostly on the religious right, view all this as promoting the "homosexual lifestyle." Unable to stop it, they have turned to a new strategy: demanding equal time for their view in public schools and on college campuses.

Conservative Christians and Jews have teamed up with men and women who call themselves "ex-gay" to lobby - and even sue - for the right to tell teenagers that they can "heal" themselves of unwanted same-sex attractions.

To read the full story, visit:
http://www.latimes.com/news/education/la-na-exgay28may28,1,2810142.story?coll=la-news-learning&ctrack=1&cset=true

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17. NEWS: Calif. bill targets military recruiters in schools

Thu May 25, 2006
Reuters.com

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - California's Assembly approved on Thursday a bill that could make it more difficult for military recruiters to contact high school students.

The Democrat-led chamber passed the bill on a 43-30 vote. It now goes to the state's Democrat-controlled Senate.

The bill would require school districts to provide parents with the opportunity to the tell the districts if they do not want contact information given to third parties.

"Many parents have been shocked with the aggressiveness of military recruiters. In many cases, parents were not aware that their children's personal information would be released to recruiters, nor that they had the right to opt out of the release of information to the military," said Democratic Assemblywoman Sally Lieber, the bill's author.

The Assembly vote came as officials in San Francisco, host to some of the largest anti-war rallies in the nation in recent years, mull whether to evict Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps programs from city high schools to protest the Pentagon's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy toward gay troops.

To view the article, visit:
http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=domesticNews&storyID=2006-05-25T233127Z_01_N25273308_RTRUKOC_0_US-LIFE-RECRUITING.xml&archived=False

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May 24, 2006

In this issue of GSA Network News, you'll find:

GSA Network Highlight
GSA Activist Camp is Back!!
Go directly to GSA Network highlight

GSA Network Announcements
1. WIN $100!! Fill out GSA Network's Year-End Evaluation and be entered to win $100
2. 3 HOT! GSA Network Activist Camps! APPLY ONLINE!
3. March with GSA Network for PRIDE 2006
4. Santa Clara County GSA SUMMIT! (San Jose)
5. Support Youth Films at the SF LGBT Film Festival (San Francisco)
6. GSA Network is Hiring! - Southern California Program Coordinator and Operations Director
7. Become a Summer or Fall Intern with GSA Network
Go directly to GSA Network announcements

Other Announcements
Southern California
8. The Campbell Hall GSA - Movie Night (North Hollywood)
9. LGBT Summer Youth Institute at UCSB - Deadline Extended to May 31st (Santa Barbara)
Go directly to Southern California listings

Central Valley
10. Celebrate Fresno Gay Pride with Reel Pride (Fresno)
Go directly to Central Valley listings

Northern California
11. ACTION ALERT: "Historic First: Los Altos High School Gay Straight Alliance Wins Permit for Youth Pride Parade" (Los Altos)
12. Reserve now to bring The Other Side of the Closet tour to your school in 2006!
Go directly to Northern California listings

Scholarships
13. Erika J. Glazer Family Scholarship Fund - 2006 Scholarship Program
Go directly to Scholarships listings

Jobs
14. Interracial Family Pride- Junior Camp Counselors Needed (Oakland)
Go directly to Jobs listings

News
15. NEWS: Gays' place in textbooks: Debate is on
16. NEWS: California Senate Bill Set to Improve Equality of Education for LGBT Youth
Go directly to News listings

+++++++++++++++ GSA NETWORK HIGHLIGHT+++++++++++++++

GSA Activist Camp is Back!!

The GSA Activist Camp is a youth-led event that features in-depth leadership training, community building, and political education for GSA members. The Camp provides a positive experience for LGBTQ youth and straight allies who, in addition to the usual challenges of just being young, often face discrimination and homophobia/transphobia in their day-to-day lives. The event provides a supportive, safe, and creative environment by bringing diverse young people together to strengthen their community and share knowledge to counter the forms of violence and discrimination they experience.

“The GSA Activist Camp was the first ever LGBTQ event that I attended and it changed my life. I learned about the issues and consequences of harassment. The Camp taught me how to become a youth leader and I took everything I learned and implemented it in my school.”
Raul from Ida B. Wells High School in San Francisco, CA

The three day GSA Activist Camp is led by youth to support each other and learn about homophobia, transphobia and other oppressions. The Camp provides a variety of workshops and energetic activities to develop youth leaders who can successfully effect positive change in their schools and communities. Areas of focus include methods to counter violence, harassment, and discrimination in their schools and educate the school community about homophobia, gender identity, and sexual orientation.

“I loved learning leadership skills and activist techniques. It was great to unwind, chill out and dance at night with people who weren't shady toward me for my gender or sexual identity.”
Bit from Berkeley High School in Berkeley

Be active. Join us to have some fun and learn how you can become a powerful, positive force for change in your community.

"Networking. Networking. Networking. The gem of my GSA Camp experience was the group of friends that I met, connected with, and am still in touch with. Now I know people all over Southern California."
Junior from Mission Viejo High School in Mission Viejo, CA

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+++++++++++++ GSA NETWORK ANNOUNCEMENTS +++++++++++++

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1. WIN $100!! Fill out GSA Network's Year-End Evaluation and be entered to win $100

Go online and fill out the evaluation on www.gsanetwork.org/yearendeval/index.php and be entered to win $100 for your GSA!
Drawing June 2nd, 2006

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2. 3 HOT! GSA Network Activist Camps! APPLY ONLINE!

The GSA Activist Camps are youth-planned and youth-led intense 3-day events featuring hardcore community building, skill-building, political education, and leadership training for GSA members. All youth who will be involved in a high school or middle school GSA next year are strongly encouraged to apply.

Southern California Activist Camp - Los Angeles
July 14th - 16th, 2006

Northern California Activist Camp - Oakland
July 28th - 30th, 2006

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Calling all SoCal GSAs interested in participating in the 2006 Los Angeles Pride Parade on Saturday, June 10th. GSA Network and GLSEN Los Angeles have begun the planning process for participation in this year's pride parade. We want youth to take over the streets this year with a HUGE turnout. We had 500 LGTBQ Youth and straight allies in Sacramento, can we beat that here in Los Angeles???

If your GSA is interested in participating or being involved in the planning process for L.A. Pride, contact Sandy with GSA Network at sandy@gsanetwork.org or 213-534-7162 or David with GLSEN, Los Angeles at glsenla@glsenla.org or 323-369-2024.

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NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
San Francisco Pride Parade - Commemorate-Educate-Liberate-Celebrate!
Sunday, June 25th. 10:30 AM
Marco Castro-Bojorquez
415-552-4229
marco@gsanetwork.org

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CENTRAL VALLEY
Fresno Rainbow Pride - 16th Annual GLBT Pride Parade & Festival
Saturday, June 3rd.
Contact: Ty Ryan
559-268-2780
ty@gsanetwork.org

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4. Santa Clara County GSA SUMMIT! (San Jose)

The DeFrank Center and GSA Network present the Santa Clara County GSA SUMMIT!

Unite the South Bay GSAs! For students, advisors, and allies.

Thursday May 25th 6:30 - 9:30 pm
The Billy DeFrank LGBT Community Center
938 the Alameda
San Jose CA 95126
408-293-2429

Meet and greet other GSA members, socialize, network, share ideas, and learn how to better collaborate with each other.
Great food and fun activities!

For more info, contact Marco Castro-Bojorquez at marco@gsanetwork.org or Julianne Carroll at youthprog@defrank.org

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5. Support Youth Films at the SF LGBT Film Festival (San Francisco)

Frameline30
San Francisco International LGBT Film Festival
June 15-25, 2006
www.frameline.org/festival

Do It Yourself -- New Youth Films
Wednesday June 21 | 6:00 pm | Roxie
$9 members | $10 general | DOIT21R
Free for ages 18 and under (present ID at door)!

CO-PRESENTED BY Dimensions Clinic, Gay-Straight Alliance Network, and Teaching Intermedia Literacy Tools
Adolescence and young adulthood is a time of golden beauty, vivid dreams, disappointments and hope. Here's an incredible chance to see new work made by youth in collaboration with media arts organizations including Frameline, TILT, BAVC and the Media Arts Center of San Diego.

Jennifer Gilomen's "Queer Youth Speak: In and Out at the Library "follows two young people as they experience the queer past though an archive and add their own poetic voices to the history they witness. Johanna Malaret and Ethan van Thillo's documentary "Altared Lives" follows ten LGBTQ young adults as they explore religion, family, culture and sexuality.

The following films were made by the Wells Fargo/ Frameline Youth Filmmaker Workshop in collaboration with TILT. The lives of passengers briefly intersect on a BART train in erica sokolowershain's "Where have we been all this time?" When a queer teenager stains her clothes, she must find a way to come out to her parents without her lucky shirt in Juliana Spector's "Stainless."

QUEER YOUTH SPEAK: IN AND OUT AT THE LIBRARY dir Jennifer Gilomen 2005 USA 14 min video ALTARED LIVES dir Ethan van Thillo & Johanna Malaret 2006 USA 27 min video WHERE HAVE WE BEEN ALL THIS TIME ? dir ericka sokolowershain 2006 USA 7 min video STAINLESS dir Juliana Spector 2006 USA 10 min video
TOTAL RUNNING TIME: 58 Min

Frameline30, the 30th San Francisco International LGBT Film Festival, screening June 15-25 at the Castro Theatre, Roxie Film Center, Victoria Theatre, Cinearts@Empire, and the Parkway Theatre is the oldest and largest event of its kind in the world. Tickets go on sale to Frameline members Friday, May 26. General public ticket sales begin Friday, June 2. Tickets are available at Superstar Satellite video store located at 474 Castro Street (between Market and 18th Street in San Francisco), online at www.frameline.org/festival, by phone at 925 866 9559 and by fax at 925 866 9597.

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6. GSA Network is Hiring! - Southern California Program Coordinator and Operations Director

Southern California Program Coordinator: The Southern California Program Coordinator position is a full-time position located in Los Angeles. The Program Coordinator is responsible for supporting student leaders in grassroots school-based organizing and program implementation throughout their region. The Program Coordinator works directly with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) and straight ally youth and adult advisors involved with nearly 250 Gay-Straight Alliance clubs throughout Southern California. The Program Coordinator is responsible for providing the support and planning “behind the scenes” to enable youth to be the leaders of our work. A demonstrated passion for LGBTQ youth leadership and empowerment, an understanding of youth culture, and commitment to social change is required for all positions at GSA Network.

Operations Director: GSA Network is looking for a full-time Operations Director to work in our San Francisco office. The Operations Director is responsible for fiscal and administrative management, technology and information systems, operations, and some fund development projects for GSA Network. In 2006, GSA Network will be leaving its fiscal sponsor, The Tides Center, and establishing its own 501c3 status. The Operations Director will lead GSA Network through this transition and will help set up new financial, human resources, and administrative systems for our organization as an independent 501c3. A demonstrated passion for LGBTQ youth leadership and empowerment, an understanding of youth culture, and commitment to social change is required for all positions at GSA Network.

To get more information on the job descriptions and how to apply, visit: http://www.gsanetwork.org/about/index.html#jobs

Equal Opportunity Employer:
GSA Network, a project of the Tides Center, is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from youth, people of color, people of all sexual orientations and gender identities, and people with disabilities.

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7. Become a Summer or Fall Intern with GSA Network

As an intern, you will gain hands-on experience working for California’s most dynamic LGBTQ youth-driven organization. You will gain invaluable insight about a mid-sized non-profit as well as GSA Network's particular organizational and organizing model. You will also learn a broad range of skills while providing program and/or administrative support.

A great way to gain hands-on experience, build up your resume, and possibly get college credits.

These skills may include:
program
- outreach and technical assistance to high school and middle school GSAs
- curriculum development
- resource sheets and program material development
- working on media or press work
- lobbying and policy
- event planning
admin
- individual donor fundraising
- database systems

and many other exciting activities.

* Interns also have the option to participate in staff meetings thus ensuring their voices are heard and their opinions are valued.
*Each intern will have a supervisor who will be responsible for providing support, an evaluation, and a letter of recommendation upon the conclusion of the internship.

-GSA Network Internships are non-paid positions.
-This internship is located in our San Francisco Office and you must be available to work a minimum of 10 hours per week. Hours vary.

For more information or an application please contact tanya@gsanetwork.org or call Tanya @ 415-552-4229

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The Campbell Hall Gay-Straight Alliance will be holding its end of the year movie night on May 25th at 6:30 P.M. We will be showing "Imagine Me & You" (2005). (http://www2.foxsearchlight.com/imaginemeandyou/)

This event is open to all students and faculty from GSAs and their friends. This is a FREE event and snacks and drinks will be provided.

What: End-of-the-year movie night with snacks and drinks
When: May 25th @ 6:30 P.M.
Where: Third floor of the Ahmanson Academic Center, Campbell Hall
4533 Laurel Canyon Blvd.
North Hollywood, CA 91607

Any questions, contact Keri Borzello (borzelk@campbellhall.org).

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9. LGBT Summer Youth Institute at UCSB - Deadline Extended to May 31st (Santa Barbara)

The University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) is very excited to announce a one-of-a-kind opportunity for high school students to spend
one week at the university in July learning about lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) issues. The Youth Leadership & Advocacy Institute is designed for entering high school juniors and seniors and will be held July 16-22, 2006. This program is open to high school students of any sexual orientation or gender identity. Allies are welcome. We strongly encourage students of color and those of limited financial means to apply.

During this one-week institute, up to forty-two high school students will have the opportunity to come to UCSB and develop a greater understanding of LGBT issues. Daily workshops will introduce a variety of topics, such as LGBT history, high school Gay-Straight Alliances, LGBT and the media, homosexuality and religion, "coming out", dealing with homophobia/ heterosexism, community resources, and more. Students will also have the opportunity to meet and interact with current UCSB
college students, who will lead several of the workshops and provide supervision. Additional time will be spent exploring the sites and attractions of Santa Barbara - its beaches, cultural landmarks, and scenic beauty.

The institute is completely free to participants. A refundable deposit of $100 is required at the time of application to reserve a space. (The deposit will be refunded upon the completion of the one-week program.) The program includes housing, all meals, transportation within the program, tours, activities and any other necessary supplies (linens are not provided). The value of this program is over $1,000 per participant, but we are able to offer this program free of charge thanks to the generous support of several organizations that value the goals of the program and support equal opportunity: the UCSB Office of Academic Preparation and Equal Opportunity, Gill Foundation, and the Fund for Santa Barbara.

The application deadline has been extended to Wednesday, May 31.
Additional information and application materials are available on our website: www.sa.ucsb.edu/sgd/summer.asp. For more information, please feel free to contact me at kyle.richards@sa.ucsb.edu or (805) 893-5847.

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Central Valley

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10. Celebrate Fresno Gay Pride with Reel Pride (Fresno)

SAVE THE DATE: Saturday, June 3 2006
Buy Tickets Online - http://www.reelpride.com/2005/q_queens.php

Queens (Reinas)
Saturday, June 3 2006
3pm box office opens
2 Screenings!
4pm AND 8pm
Doors open 1/2 hour before film starts
DAY OF FILM - Cash only sales
$10 general admission
$5 VIP Members

'I'm getting married in the morning, ding-dong my bells are going to shine...' If you have any notion of getting hitched, then come see Queens: a big, glossy Spanish take on the country's first mass gay wedding. Your guides for the hour are five mothers coping not only with their sons' romantic problems but with some of their own as well. One is a nymphomaniac, another a needy nightmare and a third a well-to-do actress contemplating the social horror of her son marrying the gardener's lad. The boys are all hysterical (and cute). But as the special day comes round, the fates conspire to drown their looks in floods of tears and disappointment. Queens delivers highly on the laugh front with some great performances. Warning, however: whatever stage of commitment your relationship is at (and yes for all you singles, an imagined one is okay too) Queens may put you off white suits for life.
- Jonathan Keane - London Lesbian & Gay Film Festival

The cast digs in and finds the real people amid the wackiness. All of the mothers are delicious drama queens; Maura and Paredes are the bright sparks, as usual. And of the men, Salmeron registers strongest with the most complex role -- and the most illicit liaison. The interaction is goofy and faux-shocking, with complicated interrelationships, secrets and surprises, and even a rampaging shaggy dog.
- Rich Cline - SHADOWS ON THE WALL

Need to know more? www.reelpride.com/2005/q_queens.php

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Northern California
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11. ACTION ALERT: "Historic First: Los Altos High School Gay Straight Alliance Wins Permit for Youth Pride Parade" (Los Altos)

"Historic First: Los Altos High School Gay Straight Alliance Wins Permit for Youth Pride Parade After Two Year Struggle With City Council"

Where: Los Altos, CA
When: Sunday, June 4, 2006
Noon to 1:30 PM

"Celebrating Pride, Diversity, and Equality" is the theme announced for the historic first Pride Parade hosted by the Los Altos High School GSA. After a two year battle with City Council officials, the local GSA failed to overturn an anti-gay ordinance prohibiting an official "Gay Pride Proclamation" but won a permit for the city's first-ever gay pride event which celebrates and supports queer and questioning youth.

The Parade and Rally are scheduled for Sunday, June 4, starting at noon. Event organizers hope for a strong turn out from local area supporters to bolster the ongoing GSA campaign to get the City of Los Altos to issue an official proclamation of Gay Pride in 2007.

*Local Area GSAs, PFLAG, and other queer and questioning youth supportive groups are welcome to join the parade and enter floats.
*Marching Bands and Chorale Groups also welcome to join parade and rally which follows in City Square.
*Deadline for submitting entries is Saturday, May 20.
*Youth and adult volunteers also welcome to help with parade set-up 10 AM to Noon and Parade clean-up 2:30-3:30 PM.
*All donations to underwrite parade expenses and support the ongoing work of Los Altos GSA gladly received.

To submit a parade entry or make a donation please email GSAParade@los-altos.org. For More Information and Media Inquiries Please Contact: Ruth Gibbs, GSA Advisor Email: Ruth.Gibbs@mvla.net Telephone: 650-948-8086

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12. Reserve now to bring The Other Side of the Closet tour to your school in 2006!

YouthAware Educational Theatre Presents…
The Other Side of the Closet by Ed Roy Directed by Sara Staley
A Safe Schools Program for Teens

On Tour in Northern California October 24th - December 14th 2006
Thousands of students each year are targets of harassment based on their actual or perceived sexual orientation. The Other Side of the Closet by Ed Roy is a play for teens that supports a safer school curriculum wherein students, teachers and parents can learn about diversity and acceptance in an innovative and engaging format. This program has been touring Northern California middle and high schools each fall since 2000 as part of the YouthAware Educational Theatre program at the New Conservatory Theatre Center located in San Francisco. Set in and around a high school, this hard-hitting play tells the story of five teens who are grappling with issues of peer pressure, youth violence, homophobia, behavior norms, stereotypes, discrimination and identity. Each performance is followed by a facilitated discussion session with the actor/educators and student audience. Post-show lesson plans will also be provided for teachers. Appropriate for 7th - 12th graders, The Other Side of the Closet is available to tour to your school or community on Mondays through Thursdays from October 24th - December 14th 2006. The program is about 70 minutes in length and can be performed up to two times a day in any theatre, gymnasium, cafeteria or other multi-purpose room. We can also present the play in the evening for community events, and we are willing to stay overnight for multiple performances in areas that are too far to travel back and forth from San Francisco in a day, The New Conservatory Theatre Center is a non-profit organization, and a small donation is requested to cover production costs. Cost underwriting is available for low-income schools. Food and lodging must also be provided for our cast and crew of seven for any overnight travel. Please call for more information or to discuss logistics. (415) 861-4914 or email sara@nctcsf.org

You may also download a preview copy of the script from our web site at www.nctcsf.org/Other.html.
What audiences are saying about The Other Side of the Closet …

I really enjoyed the play. This is the first live action performance on the subject of tolerance that I have seen where multiple topics were brought into focus so well. I am glad a program like this exists and that finally the safe schools message, and the reality of the issue that a lot of us, maybe even all of us deal with every day, are so effectively being communicated to my generation.
- Student from Fremont High School in Sunnyvale

It got students to think about words such as "gay" and "fag" that are sometimes used negatively in casual conversation. The discussion helped many students realize that this can be offensive to individuals and entire group …. I think this is a great program that can really help open the minds of many teenagers.
- Student from Oceana High School in Pacifica

I really enjoyed your play. It really inspired me not to use disrespectful language or to treat others differently no matter if they are gay or not. You guys should continue to share your message with other high school students because many don't know about the respect you teach.
- Student from El Cerrito High School in El Cerrito

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Scholarships
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13. Erika J. Glazer Family Scholarship Fund - 2006 Scholarship Program

Below are the guidelines for the Erika J. Glazer Family Scholarship Fund - 2006 Scholarship Program. Please note that the 2006 program is limited to students accepted to, or currently attending, California State University, Los Angeles.

Complete application packets must be received in our office no later than 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 15, 2006. Please refer to the guidelines and application for full details.

PLEASE DISTRIBUTE TO YOUR STUDENTS & OTHER APPROPRIATE CONTACTS.

Established by the Erika J. Glazer Trust of 1985, the Erika J. Glazer Family Scholarship Fund will award several multi-year scholarships of up to $7,000 per year (the total amount of scholarship funds available per year is $30,000-$40,000) to academically qualified students in need of financial assistance. However, the amount and number of recipients will be at the sole discretion of the scholarship committee appointed by the scholarship donors and the Liberty Hill Foundation.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

To be considered for the Erika J. Glazer Family Scholarship, applicants must meet all of the following criteria:

1. Meet the requirements of California Assembly Bill 540 (Nonresident Tuition Exemption).

2. Be a graduating high school senior or an undergraduate college student who has attended a public or private high school in Los Angeles County for at least three years.

3. Be accepted to, or currently attend, California State University, Los Angeles during the 2006-2007 school year and for all subsequent years of the scholarship, while pursuing a full course load for a Bachelor's degree in any discipline. Recipients must maintain good academic standing.

4. Be the child of immigrant parents.

5. Be ineligible for federal and state financial aid and demonstrate financial need. Please note that there is no particular threshold of financial need we are considering. It is up to the applicant to decide if she/he would be a competitive applicant given her/his particular circumstances.

6. Demonstrate leadership, merit, a commitment to community service and/or potential for academic achievement.

7. Provide clear and detailed information about any disciplinary or criminal record (e.g. school suspensions, arrests, convictions, etc.) and a full and detailed explanation of the circumstances leading to such actions.

8. Make every effort to be available for a personal interview should one be required.

9. Be willing to attend an awards ceremony on a date to be determined in Los Angeles should one be awarded a scholarship.

For Application email Carol Lee
Program Associate, Donor Advised Funds
Liberty Hill Foundation
2121 Cloverfield Boulevard, Suite 113
Santa Monica, CA 90404

Phone: (310) 453-3611, ext. 130
Fax: (310) 453-7806
Email: mailto:clee@libertyhill.org
Web: http://www.libertyhill.org/

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Jobs:
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14. Interracial Family Pride- Junior Camp Counselors Needed (Oakland)

iPride (Interracial Family Pride http://www.ipride.org/, an agency that serves mixed heritage and transracially adopted youth and their families. Our annual Fusion Summer Camp for mixed heritage and transracially adopted youth is scheduled for this July in Oakland. We're looking for more junior camp counselors and we are looking for youth (ages 15-17).

Additionally, if you know people who may be interested in sending their children (ages 7-12) to the summer camp, the information is on the Fusion website http://www.fusionprogram.org. We do offer scholarships for the summer camp.

PS iPride is hosting a fabulous night of spoken word, comedy, and music featuring performers who are themselves of mixed heritage and/or transracially adopted on May 25th at La Pena. Email me at logangutierrezmock@yahoo.com for more info if you're interested! Childcare will be provided.

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News
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15. NEWS: Gays' place in textbooks: Debate is on

By Judy Lin
Sacramento Bee
Monday, May 22, 2006

Lance Chih first read Walt Whitman's inspiring poetry in his state-approved 10th-grade literature textbook. It was easy for the newly out-of-the-closet teen to connect with the beloved poet's messages, particularly those about celebrating one's own individuality and identity.

"The ones we read in class, it meant something to me," said Chih, now 18 and about to graduate from Folsom High School.

He thinks it would have been helpful, though, to learn, too, that Whitman's groundbreaking lines carried more than one man's view on slavery, the working man and the American landscape. Whitman's work, such as the Calamus poems, a series written in 1860 that articulated intense affection between males, later made him the poster child for the gay liberation movement.

But Chih didn't learn that in class. He learned it a year later through his own readings and through friends in the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.
Right now, California textbooks rarely broach the subject of sexual orientation. Students like Chih might see brief references to gays or lesbians in their social science textbooks, such as when being taught about the AIDS epidemic.

Senate Bill 1437, a state measure recently approved by the Senate that will now be vetted in the Assembly, seeks to change that by recognizing the contributions of the LGBT community in the social science curriculum in the same way the state has come to recognize the achievements of women and minorities.

To read the full story, visit:
http://www.sacbee.com/content/news/education/story/14258703p-15073075c.html

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16. NEWS: California Senate Bill Set to Improve Equality of Education for LGBT Youth

May 23, 2006
Ms. Magazine

The state of California is one step closer to achieving equity in education for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youth, after a bill introduced to the state legislature by openly gay state Senator Sheila Kuehl was passed by the Senate. Current anti-discrimination laws include protections for students based on race, sex, disability, and religion. California State Senate Bill 1437 (SB 1437) would amend the law to include categories of sexual orientation and gender to existing criteria used to create courses of study designed to promote diversity in the public school curriculum. In addition, SB 1437 would prohibit the inclusion of official teaching materials that reflect adversely on people because of their sexual orientation or gender.

To read the full story, visit:
http://www.msmagazine.com/news/uswirestory.asp?ID=9673

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May 17, 2006

In this issue of GSA Network News, you'll find:

GSA Network Highlight
Fresno Unified District-Wide Trainings Address Anti-LGBTQ Harassment and Discrimination
Go directly to GSA Network highlight

GSA Network Announcements
1. WIN $100!! Fill out GSA Network's Year-End Evaluation and be entered to win $100
2. 3 HOT! GSA Network Activist Camps! APPLY ONLINE!
3. March with GSA Network for PRIDE 2006
4. Historic LGBTQ-inclusive Curriculum Bill Passes Senate
5. Santa Clara County GSA SUMMIT! (San Jose)
6. Support Youth Films at the SF LGBT Film Festival (San Francisco)
7. GSA Network is Hiring! - Southern California Program Coordinator and Operations Director
8. Become a Summer or Fall Intern with GSA Network
9. You Could be a GSA Network Board Member
Go directly to GSA Network announcements

Other Announcement
Southern California
10. Queer film series at Crossroads (Los Angeles)
11. It's that time of the year again...time for Peer Party! (Los Angeles)
12. Pride Center (San Bernardino)
Go directly to Southern California listings

Northern California
13. Queer Young Woman's Video Project Screening (San Francisco)
14. The Felicia Park-Rogers Summer Internship Program at COLAGE (San Francisco)
15. Make some $$ at Gay Pride (Sacramento)
16. Intergenerational Story Telling Project (San Francisco)
17. Two Pride Events with LYRIC (San Francisco)
18. THIS SATURDAY!! Unchained Conference - Young Women's Health Fair - Unchained Dance (San Francisco)
19. Unite with Education Not Incarceration for Youth (Oakland)
20. TODAY! EMERGENCY RALLY to demand foll rights to ALL Immigrants (San Francisco)
Go directly to Northern California listings

National
21. DesiQ2006, a conference on South Asian lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues.
Go directly to National listings

News
22. NEWS: Students applaud gay, lesbian textbook bill
23. NEWS: History lessons (by Sheila Kuehl)
24. NEWS: State Senate Endorses Teaching of Gays' Historical Achievements
Go directly to News listings

+++++++++++++++ GSA NETWORK HIGHLIGHT+++++++++++++++

Fresno Unified District-Wide Trainings Address Anti-LGBTQ Harassment and Discrimination

Over the past year, the GSA Network has worked to help coordinate a proactive approach to help create a safer climate for all Fresno Unified students. In September of 2005, GSA Network youth offered their voice to this process by helping train teachers, staff and administrators for the district. These youth shared stories about their school experiences in and outside of the classroom, while also allowing educators to ask questions in a non-threatening environment. After the initial trainings took place, the educators who went through the September trainings became trainers for their co-workers and this Spring have been conducting training around what they learned about LGBTQ sensitivity.

For the past two weeks, GSA Network has been working with Fresno Unified to train peer educators to conduct on-site peer-to-peer trainings for all 9th grade classes. Some of the comments from Fresno Unified student trainers include…

“The presentation I give will help make Bullard into a more tolerant school.”
~ 11th grade trainer at Bullard High School

“I feel that the process we are going through is important because it shows us how to deal with many of the situations that we deal with in our everyday lives. I think that the training is fun and I want to do it again in the future. It is an excellent learning experience for everyone involved.”
~ 10th grade trainer at Edison High School

”The training was an amazing experience. I loved the role playing because it got everyone involved.”
~ 11th grade trainer at Duncan Polytechnical High School

"I have a friend, he's gay. They say the meanest things about him every day, and I see how much he hurts. I am here training today for him."
~11th grade trainer, Roosevelt High

After the youth leaders conducted the peer education workshops the 9th grade students have responded with comments…..

"I learned today that everybody--gay, lesbian, whatever--is equal. We should remember that when we talk to each other."
~9th grader, Roosevelt High

“I appreciate that we touched on this subject because I feel that these issues are getting worse day by day, instead of better. From now on I will definitely watch myself to not say, “That’s so gay!” as we often do. If I hear someone harassing another person for whatever reason, I will step in and tell the person to leave them alone or report it.”
~ 9th grader, Hoover High School

“I think it was very educational and I liked how the peer educators acted out the examples. They gave out a lot of important information.”
~ 9th grader, Hoover High School

“I did understand them and I did learn a lot. I learned not to talk about things that would offend somebody else because it could hurt them. No matter what people do or think you should always work to show tolerance.”
~ 9th grader, Hoover High School

“I think that today’s discussion was very interesting. It reminded me of where I should draw the line between my opinion and attacking someone. I didn’t think that my opinion would hurt someone else’s feelings. Next time I will think before saying things.”
~ 9th grader, Hoover High School

As of May 18th, GSA Network and FUSD will have helped to facilitate trainings for the entire district, including 10-12th curriculum about LGBTQ sensitivity. One administrator was quoted as saying, “WOW! This really works!” after watching peer educators conduct an on-site training.

This process has been a valuable learning experience for everyone involved. Knowing that one of the largest school districts in the Central Valley has started to work on such an important issue as creating safe places to learn brings hope to the possibility that other school districts in the generally conservative region will follow their lead.

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+++++++++++++ GSA NETWORK ANNOUNCEMENTS +++++++++++++

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1. WIN $100!! Fill out GSA Network's Year-End Evaluation and be entered to win $100

Go online and fill out the evaluation on www.gsanetwork.org/yearendeval/index.php and be entered to win $100 for your GSA!
Drawing June 2nd, 2006

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Northern California Activist Camp - Oakland
July 28th - 30th, 2006

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
San Francisco Pride Parade - Commemorate-Educate-Liberate-Celebrate!
Sunday, June 25th. 10:30 AM
Marco Castro-Bojorquez
415-552-4229
marco@gsanetwork.org

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CENTRAL VALLEY
Fresno Rainbow Pride - 16th Annual GLBT Pride Parade & Festival
Saturday, June 3rd.
Contact: Ty Ryan
559-268-2780
ty@gsanetwork.org

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4. Historic LGBTQ-inclusive Curriculum Bill Passes Senate

GSA Network is pleased to announce that SB 1437 (The Bias-Free Curriculum Act) passed the Senate on Thursday. The bill now moves to the Assembly.

GSAs all over the state have been lobbying hard for this important legislation since Queer Youth Advocacy Day on March 6. Most recently, a group of Queer Youth Advocacy Day Leaders (Nicholas Chin, Justin Daley, Marina Gatto, Raul Hernandez, Kiran Savage-Sangwan, Yvonne Neis, and Garrett Rubin) returned to the Capitol to speak to legislators and drop off support letters during Equality California's Lobby Day on Monday, May 8.

You and your GSA can help to assure that SB 1437 passes and anti-LGBTQ bias is kept out of textbooks. Please visit www.gsanetwork.org/qyad to learn how you can reach out to your lawmakers by writing a letter, sending a postcard, sending an email message, and/or visiting your legislator at his/her district office.

May 11, 2006
SENATE PASSES HISTORIC BIAS-FREE CURRICULUM ACT
Sacramento, CA - Today, the Senate passed a bill that would prohibit biased curriculum and require that the contributions of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community, like other underrepresented groups, be included in the social science curriculum. The measure was approved by a 22-15 vote and now moves to the Assembly for consideration.

"The invisibility of LGBT people in history materials in schools exacerbates already hostile school climates in which homophobic bullying, harassment and violence are rampant. Studies show that a bias-free and LGBT-inclusive curriculum fosters tolerance, resulting in greater feelings of student safety and less bullying of students who are perceived to be lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender," said the bill's author Senator Shelia Kuehl (D-Santa Monica). "Today's vote brings us one step closer to our goal of safe schools for all children, and I am very grateful that so many of my colleagues in the California Senate saw the pressing need for this bill."

"All students deserve to learn history from a fair and balanced perspective," said Geoffrey Kors, Executive Director of Equality California (EQCA) who sponsored the bill. "SB 1437 also permits teachers to use their discretion and develop age appropriate materials within the social science curriculum."

According to the Gay Lesbian Straight Education Network's 2005 National School Climate Survey, in the last school year, 64% of LGBT students reported instances of anti-gay verbal harassment and an alarmingly 36% reported physical harassment on the basis of sexual orientation. These circumstances led to nearly two-thirds of LGBT students surveyed to feel unsafe at school, an outcome that manifests itself in the form of increased absenteeism, drop-out, depression and even suicide. According to the California Safe Schools Coalition's Safe Place to Learn report, California is no exception to this national trend, with more than 200,000 students estimated to experience harassment based on sexual orientation each year.

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5. Santa Clara County GSA SUMMIT! (San Jose)

The DeFrank Center and GSA Network present the Santa Clara County GSA SUMMIT!

Unite the south bay GSAs! For advisors, students, and allies.

Saturday May 25th 6:30 - 9:30 at
The Billy DeFrank LGBT Community Center
938 the Alameda
San Jose CA 95126
408-293-2429

Meet and greet other GSA members, socialize, network, share ideas, and learn how to better collaborate with each other.

PRE- SUMMIT OPEN HOUSE for Parents and Advisors
Saturday May 13th, 12-2 p.m. Come get a tour of the DeFrank Center and have your questions answered!

For more info, contact Marco Castro-Bojorquez at marco@gsanetwork.org.

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6. Support Youth Films at the SF LGBT Film Festival (San Francisco)

Juliana Spector form the GSA Network Northern California Youth Council, will be screening her movie "Stainless" on June 21 6:00 p.m. Roxie Film Center. Come and Join us to support Juliana!

San Francisco International LGBT Film Festival
June 15-25, 2006

The San Francisco International LGBT Film Festival celebrates its 30th anniversary this year with Frameline30, 11 days of the best queer cinema from home and abroad. Cinematic stories of love, lust, friends, family, good deeds and bad behavior span countries and communities, revealing a stunning diversity of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender aesthetics and experiences. Festival favorites such as Charles Busch, Margaret Cho and François Ozon return with new features, icons such as Tony Kushner and George Michael are profiled in hard-hitting documentaries, and there'll be plenty of fun in boys' and girls' shorts.

Advance tickets go on sale May 26 at the Frameline30 ticket outlet located inside Superstar Satellite, 474 Castro Street (between Market and 18th). Ticket Outlet hours are 1:00 pm-8:00 pm daily beginning Friday, May 26 (for Frameline members) and Friday, June 2 (for general). Tickets also are available online (www.frameline.org), by phone (925.866.9559), and by fax (925.866.9597). Unless otherwise noted, tickets are $10 general, $9 members; and $7 general, $6 members for screenings beginning at 5:00 pm or earlier. Castro Passes, good for admission to all screenings other than Opening Night and Closing Night, are available for $175. Daytime Matinee Passes, good for admission to all daytime screenings at the Castro Theatre on Friday, June 16 and Monday, June 19 through Friday, June 23 starting no later than 5pm, are available for $35. For more information, visit www.frameline.org.

Pick up a Program Guide starting Tuesday, May 23 for complete information on screenings at the magnificent Castro Theatre, CinéArts @ Empire, Roxie Film Center and Victoria Theatre in San Francisco, and the Parkway Theater in Oakland.
The complete schedule of Frameline30 films and events will be announced on May 23.

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7. GSA Network is Hiring! - Southern California Program Coordinator and Operations Director

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8. Become a Summer or Fall Intern with GSA Network

As an intern, you will gain hands-on experience working for California’s most dynamic LGBTQ youth-driven organization. You will gain invaluable insight about a mid-sized non-profit as well as GSA Network's particular organizational and organizing model. You will also learn a broad range of skills while providing program and/or administrative support.

A great way to gain hands-on experience, build up your resume, and possibly get college credits.

These skills may include:
program
- outreach and technical assistance to high school and middle school GSAs
- curriculum development
- resource sheets and program material development
- working on media or press work
- lobbying and policy
- event planning
admin
- individual donor fundraising
- database systems

-GSA Network Internships are non-paid positions.
-This internship is located in our San Francisco Office and you must be available to work a minimum of 10 hours per week. Hours vary.

For more information or an application please contact tanya@gsanetwork.org or call Tanya @ 415-552-4229

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9. You Could Be a GSA Network Board Member

Are you...
- Passionate about GSA Network and our mission of empowering youth activists to fight homophobia and transphobia in schools?
- Able to commit to attending 4 board meetings a year (in person) plus committee calls by phone?
- Interested in learning how a nonprofit organization works and eager to help GSA Network?
- You are: 1) in high school now, 2) no more than a year past your graduation from high school, or 3) 19 years old or younger?

If you answered yes to these questions, you should apply to GSA Network's Governing Board.

GSA Network's Governing Board is a group of youth and adult allies who oversee the organization. Board members are responsible for organizational planning, evaluating, fundraising, and governing. The board meets four times a year in person, rotating between Southern, Northern, and Central California. Youth board members' travel expenses are paid. Youth board members' terms are for 1 year.

To apply, email mailto:carolyn@gsanetwork.org to request an application. Applications will be due by Monday, May 22nd. We hope to fill several board slots by July, so don't delay!

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As part of the queer film series at Crossroads, sponsored by FLAG (our gay/straight alliance), we will be having our last movie screening of the year on Wednesday, May 17th, from 6:00 - 9:00 p.m. We invite you to join us for a great event!

We'll be screening the wonderful movie, My Beautiful Laundrette, starring a young and sexy Daniel Day-Lewis (see description below).

All students and faculty from Gay/Straight alliances and their friends are welcome. It's a great way to meet new friends, or see old ones. We've had students from many different GSAs at our films this year and it's been a blast!

The movie is FREE and free pizza and drinks will be provided (though donations always gladly accepted)! But please reply and let us know if you might come, so we have an idea of how much pizza to get. Directions are below.

**NOTE: This is our LAST movie of the year, your last chance to come and enjoy. You don't want to miss it!

My Beautiful Laundrette
DIR: Stephen Frears, 1985
In this film, Daniel Day Lewis gives an outstanding performance as a gay punk Londoner who falls in love with a young Indian laundromat owner (played compellingly by www.imdb.com/name/nm0912376/ Gordon Warnecke. This movie won multiple awards, was nominated for an Oscar for Best Screenplay, and is a favorite among critics and queer audiences. It touches on issues of race, class, sexuality, and how to have a lot of fun with soap suds.

Directions:
Crossroads is at 1714 21st St. in Santa Monica, at the corner of 21st St. and Olympic Blvd.
The screening room we're meeting in is on the 2nd floor of the Arts Building.
Here's what you do--when you turn onto 21st from Olympic, take an immediate right onto
a driveway-looking street and find a place to park. You'll see our "quad" which looks like a parking lot
or an alley, and which we call (of course) the alley. Walk to the end of the alley to the tall building on the left, enter and climb the stairs to the 2nd floor. You should see people....
Hope the directions aren't too confusing. It's not really that hard once you see it, and you can always ask people.

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11. It's that time of the year again...time for Peer Party! (Los Angeles)

Peer Party is the youth section of the Christopher Street West L.A. Pride Festival. Peer Party provides LGBQT youth under 24 a safe place to socialize, express themselves, feel empowered, and enjoy a weekend filled with youth-oriented activities. Peer Party's main attractions this year are the "West Hollywood Idol" singing contest and the "Walk 4 Youth Empowerment". The Peer Party Planning Committee is led by youth leaders from the community.

Check out our all-new web site for more info, photos from Peer Party over the years, a writing contest, and more! The address is: www.cityx1.com/peerparty4

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12. Pride Center (San Bernardino)

After a three month break, the Rainbow Pride Youth Alliance is once again up and running in our new, permanent location. Learn more at www.RPYA.org

We now serve GLBTQ youth, and their straight allies ages 13 to 20. If you or anyone you know wants to know more, please contact us directly at youth@rpya.org or (909)725-0417

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Northern California

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13. Queer Young Woman's Video Project Screening (San Francisco)

Thursday, May 25th, 5pm to 6pm: Queer Young Women's Video Project Screening. See the world through the eyes of young women! 4 short films. 4 young women. 1 big event. Women sharing their perspectives on violence against women. See the final culmination of the Queer Young Women's Video Project at the FREE screening, hosted by Bay Are Video Coalition (BAVC) at 2727 Mariposa Street, 2nd Floor, San Francisco, CA 94110. BAVC is ADA accessible to people with disabilities. In order to make our events as accessible as possible, we're happy to provide reasonable accommodations upon request (e.g. reserved seating, larger print documents, ASL interpreters/translation services, etc.). Please let us know if there are ways that we can support your involvement in the Queer Young Women's Video Project Screening!

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14. The Felicia Park-Rogers Summer Internship Program at COLAGE (San Francisco)

Come work in the national headquarters of COLAGE this summer! COLAGE engages, connects and empowers people to make the world a better place for children of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and/or transgender (LGBT) parents and families.

The Felicia Park-Rogers Internship Program

The COLAGE Summer Internship Program is named for our visionary former director Felicia Park-Rogers who started the summer internship program during her leadership of COLAGE. We honor her commitment to people with LGBT parents, creativity, energy and years of leadership through 10-week internships that promote development of young leadership, allow participants a hands-on look at the non-profit field, teach interns about LGBT families issues, and promise to be a lot of fun!

COLAGE is the only national organization serving people with LGBT parents, therefore presenting a unique perspective on LGBT issues, and providing a once in a lifetime opportunity for interns. This is a hands-on job: you won't just be filing, you'll get to use your creativity and initiative. We are looking for team players who are motivated to learn, share, play, and work hard in support of COLAGE's mission. Interns will assist the staff on current or new projects, with both local and national events, and with office management.

Preferred qualifications
· Computer literate (especially on PC's), knowledge ofOffice 2000, FileMaker Pro, HTML, and desktop publishing programs a plus.
· Experience and comfort with email and phone-based organizing and networking.
· Experience and comfort working with youth and families
· Self-motivated, flexible, and full of initiative
· People with LGBT parent/s

Requirements
Summer interns receive a modest stipend (DOE $1500-2500) for a ten-week, full time internship including some evenings and weekends. We will help you find low-cost or free housing when possible.
· Must make at least a ten-week, full-time commitment during the summer.
· Must be 18 or over if not from the Bay Area, 15 or over from the Bay Area.
· Must be LGBT-positive

COLAGE is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer
· People of color, people with disabilities, and people with LGBT parents especially encouraged to apply.

How to Apply for Summer Internships
Deadline: Wednesday, May 24th
Please mail, email, or fax us the following information:
1. Your resume;
2. A cover letter sharing your interest in working for
COLAGE and qualifications;
3. Contact information for two people who will serve as references and can attest to your experience and skills.

We ideally are looking for folks to work June 12th- August 18th in our San Francisco office.

COLAGE also has fall/spring work-study internships; if you are interested contact COLAGE for more information.

Need more info? Want to apply?
COLAGE, 1550 Bryant St., Suite 825
SF CA 94103
phone: 415-861-5437 fax (415) 255-8345,
www.colage.org

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15. Make some $$ at Gay Pride (Sacramento)

We're looking for someone to help us recruit participants at our booth at the Sacramento Gay Pride Festival (www.sacpride.org) on Saturday June 10, 2006.

We are an Evanston Northwestern Healthcare research group and are conducting a study on the genetics of sexual orientation (http://www.gaybros.com). The group, led by Alan Sanders, M.D., is seeking one helper to assist on June 10th, from 10 am to 6 pm, with the distribution of brochures and collection of names and contact information. The helper will be paid $100 each in cash at the end of the day along with up to $20 worth of food/beverage at the festival.

If you or anyone you know (such as students, research assistants, LGBT activists, etc.) might be interested, please feel free to forward this email or reply to Jules more information @ jules@northwestern.edu

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16. Intergenerational Story Telling Project (San Francisco)

Attention LGBTQQ Young People!
You are invited to be a part of the LYRIC/New Leaf Intergenerational Story Telling Project "Sharing Our LGBTQ History"

WHAT IS THE STORYTELLING PROJECT?
Seeking LGBTQQ identified young people interested in participating in a storytelling project with elders within the LGBT Community.
This intergenerational experience will provide participants with a unique opportunity to exchange life stories with LGBT Elders. The
stories will be recorded and edited in a radio/audio format.

ELIGIBILITY
LGBTQQ young people 24 and under.

COST?
The cost of participation is FREE. Participants will receive a monetary stipend for participation of at least $100.00 and may be
eligible for a paid internship.

WHEN?
1. Orientation May 13: 1-4 pm (EVRC)
2. Storytelling/Interviewing Skills May 21: 1-4pm (LYRIC)
3. Using Audio equipment May 24: 4:30 ˆ 6:30 pm (EVRC)
4. Actual Recording of Stories Week of April 29 - June 3 - (TBA)
5. Presentation of Stories & Wrap Up June 10: 1-4pm (EVRC)

WHERE?
LYRIC & Eureka Valley Recreation Center (EVRC) Both are located on Collingwood St. (corner of 18th). LYRIC is at 127 Collingwood and
EVRC is across the street.HOW CAN YOU BE A PART OF THIS EXCITING PROJECT?

To learn more about the Storytelling Project you can attend an information session at LYRIC on May 9th or May 11th from 5 - 6pm.
Contact Don Sanders at (415) 703-6150 X 16 (don@lyric.org) for more information or to sign up to participate.

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17. Two Pride Events with LYRIC (San Francisco)

Event 1:
Friday, June 23rd, 3pm-6pm: LYRIC's All Ages BBQ and Picnic! Dolores Park, 19th Street and Dolores Street. We are inviting you and your crew to LYRIC's all ages BBQ. Bring your mom, dad, sister, brother, uncle, boyfriend, girlfriend, best friend, or just your favorite person and have some great food and good times in Dolores Park! Dolores Park is accessible on MUNI's 33, 26, and J Lines. In order to make our events as accessible as possible, we're happy to provide reasonable accommodations upon request (e.g. reserved seating, larger print documents, ASL interpreters/translation services, etc.). Please let us know if there are ways that we can support your involvement in LYRIC's Pride Events! Like all LYRIC events, the picnic is a clean and sober space. For more information, visit the event website http://www.lyric.org/pride.html or e-mail Erica Newport at Erica@lyric.org.

Event 2:
Friday, June 23rd 8pm-12am: Pop my Skittles! LYRIC's Annual Pride Dance is at Eureka Valley Recreation Center, 100 Collingwood Street and 18th Street (across the street from LYRIC). Dance the night away! DJ LUNA will be spinning tasty beats all night long! The dance is for folks 24 and under. Like all LYRIC events the dance is FREE! Snacks and refreshments aplenty. The Eureka Valley Recreation Center is accessible on MUNI's M, L, K, 33, and 24 Lines. In order to make our events as accessible as possible, we're happy to provide reasonable accommodations upon request (e.g. reserved seating, larger print documents, ASL interpreters/translation services, etc.). Please let us know if there are ways that we can support your involvement in LYRIC's Pride Events! Like all LYRIC events, the dance is a clean and sober space. For more information, visit the event website http://www.lyric.org/pride.html or e-mail Erica Newport at Erica@lyric.org.

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18. THIS SATURDAY!! Unchained Conference - Young Women's Health Fair - Unchained Dance (San Francisco)

Saturday, May 20th
1 day! 3 big events for LGBTQQ youth!
Join over 400 hundred youth for a day of workshops, food, performances, and an opportunity to connect with community organizations from around the Bay Area!
Register online and learn more about these events at www.lyric.org

Unchained Conference and Young Women's Heath Fair, two of LYRIC's most popular events, are together at last! The conference is a chance for queer youth and their allies of all backgrounds to connect with their peers, learn from one another, and have some fun. The fair is a sex-positive event for lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and queer women-attend workshops, get resources, and did we mention gift bags?!
WHO: LGBTQQ youth (24 & under) and their allies (including teachers/adult allies!)
WHAT: New workshops, new performers, and a chance to connect with other youth!
WHEN: Saturday, May 20th, 10a.m. - 6p.m.
WHERE: Everett Middle School , 450 Church St. (@ 17th St.), San Francisco , CA

The Unchained Dance ©it's back! At a new location, at a new time, and with new DJs. Come to the conference and fair, but make sure you stay
for the dance!WHO: LGBTQQ youth (24 & under)
WHAT: A bangin' after-party with guest DJs and door prizes!
WHEN: Saturday, May 20th, 8p.m. - 12a.m . (midnight)
WHERE: EVRC, 100 Collingwood St. (@ 18th St.), San Francisco , CA (Castro District)
Wanna lead a workshop, provide a resource table, become an event volunteer, or perform?

If so, go to www.lyric.org/Unchained06.html and submit your workshop, tabling, volunteer, or performance proposal online! All proposals are due this Thursday, April 20th. Questions? Contact Denny David at 415.703.6150 x28 or email denny@lyric.org and find out how you can get involved with these upcoming events.

LYRIC is thrilled to bring you the 2nd annual Unchained Conference and the 11th annual Young Women's Health Fair, co-sponsored by GLSEN San Francisco-East Bay, Spectrum, and Billy DeFrank LGBT Community Center.

The Unchained Conference is a hot opportunity for queer youth and their allies of all backgrounds to connect with their peers in an inclusive and safe space, to build relationships with other youth, and to gain skills/tools to effect positive change in oneself and one's community. This conference seeks to prioritize youth of color by developing content that reflects the experiences of their communities.

The Young Women's Health Fair, now in its 11th year, is a progressive and sex positive event - an opportunity for LBTQQ young women to come together to talk and learn about sex and controversial topics that are not discussed in mainstream health education.

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19. Unite with Education Not Incarceration for Youth (Oakland)

Empowerment Day to Stop Youth Pushouts from School and Into Prison

Saturday, June 3rd, 6-9PM
McClymonds Educational Complex, 2607 Myrtle Street
Featuring: Lennox Hinds, Barbara Becnel, Camila Chavez & R&B/Pop Artist Raz B (formerly of B2K);
Suggested Donation:$10-$15 for Adults; $5-$10 for
Youth No-one will be turned away for lack of funds!!

In inner-cities over 50% of African American males do not finish high school; 72% of these pushouts were jobless in their 20s; by their mid-thirties, 60% had spent time in prison*. Latino , Native American and Asian Pacific Islander students face similar plights.
In Oakland, statistics are higher. 73% of African American males do not finish school; over 50% of our entire student body!** On June 3, join us in developing solutions!Lennox Hinds is the lawyer for Nelson Mandela and South Africa, the Rwandan genocide, and former lawyer of Angela Davis; Barbara Becnel is the lawyer for Stanly "Tooki" Williams and a gubernatorial candidate, and Camila Chavez is the daughter of Dolores Huerta and founder of the Dolores Huerta Foundation. Students will also have an opportunity to meet and hear words of support from famous R&B Pop artist Raz B, formerly of B2K.

Education Not Incarceration (www.ednotinc.org) has a three year history of developing curriculum and engaging students ranging from K-12 in taking action to change their world. Our history has also included mobilization of a coalition of community, parent, youth, educator, labor and interfaith organizations to acheachievee equitable funding for our schools and less funding for the prison industrial complex. Our curriculum has been featured on the California Teachers Association and National Education Association websites.

More Information: www.ednotinc.org, or email ednotinc@riseup.net or 510.533.3204

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20. TODAY! EMERGENCY RALLY to demand foll rights to ALL Immigrants (San Francisco)

MI GENTE!

Last night President Bush announced that 6,000 troops are going to patrol the border between Mexico and the USA!

Congress is moving to pass a bill that will effect us all!

Join us for an EMERGENCY Rally and March Wednesday, May 17, 2006 at 5 PM at the United Nations Plaza

Attached is the flyer pleasssssssssse pass it on to everyone on your e list! Make copies and pass them out today por favor!

Si Se Puede!

En La Lucha!

Sponsored by the Bay Area May 1st Coalition for Immigrant Rights / For more info call (650)291-0293 or (415)821-6545.

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21. DesiQ2006, a conference on South Asian lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues.

Trikone (www.trikone.org) is proud to host DesiQ2006, a conference on South Asian lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues.

At DesiQ 2006, we will be taking a moment to look at the overall picture, revisit the visions from 2000 and formulate an action plan to move forward. This conference aims at encouraging and empowering individuals to get involved and act, as independent contributors or leaders to unify the community towards greater political and social strength. More info on this at www.desiq.org

Although the event is in San Francisco, we are hoping participants not only from all of bay area, but all of US and some from other countries too. We will try to arrange carpools if necessary.

Register NOW so we get a better idea as to how many people are coming. Your registration fees and donations will help us get more speakers and make this conference a big success. If you can not register for the whole conference, there are options to register for a day or even just show up for one of the entertainment events like the Queer film night, Queer artists performances or the friday evening gala. Please Please Please... Register fast.

We have a lot of interesting workshops that we are considering. Nothing is final yet and your input is most welcome. Tell us what you would like to discuss and we will try to get a workshop on the matter.
Queer Spaces, Places, and Gender: Gender Queer Tropologies
Delectable Diva Dykes workshop (presented in 2000) - Variation or same
HIV/AIDS and Community Building workshop
The Bollywood Closet
Workshop on S. 377
Queer Leathersex or what makes kinky sex hot!
American Indian Two Sprits
Media training on how to become effective spokespeople for their issues
Panel discussion and/or workshop on Queer South Asian Media.
Marriage - Same Sex Marriage Case
Creating Change
"Non-South Asian allies in LGBTQ South Asian
organizations: a presentation and discussion"
Criminalization of Queer History
Bi-Sexualtiy
Healing from Violence, same-sex violence
Hijra
Sharing Field Experiences of Documenting Profiles of Lesbian
women and the Formation of Parma women's same sex relationship support
group, Gujarat, India
How to understand and appreciate Kathak Dance. A lecture demonstration on the Art of Kathak Dance with viewer participation that will give the participants an actual feeling of the dance.
Coalition Building: Threading Through Non-Queer Community
Fuzzy Boundaries: Gender, Sex and Sexuality among South Asians.
Domestic Violence/Relationship Violence in the Queer API Community
To Wed or Just to Bed On human spirituality and sexuality -
TRANSGENDER IN THE SOUTH ASIAN CONTEXT
Hand gestures(Hastamudra), body movements(Angikabhinaya) & Eye Movements (Drishti Bheda)
Thats a long list. Now... we are still getting more proposals... and the workshops committe will shortlist the workshops finally.

The DesiQ Core Team,
Rajat, Roke, Rakesh, Punam, Hrishi and Nony
Contact email: desiq06@gmail.com

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22. NEWS: Students applaud gay, lesbian textbook bill

By Matt King
Santa Cruz Sentinel
May 14, 2006

Since Joya Cazel began identifying as a lesbian last year, she's been harassed, heckled and hazed, called a faggot and worse.

"I have had a lot of harassment happen to me at school," the eighth-grader at Shoreline Middle School said. "Some of the things that are said to me are horrible."

Jacob Breslow didn't have such a hard time because "somebody walking down the street wouldn't look at me and think, 'Oh, that person is gay.' Because of that I wasn't stereotyped."

But Breslow, now a freshman at UC Santa Cruz who works with gay and lesbian youth, said he's seen and heard plenty of abuse since he came out in eighth-grade.

"It wasn't all directed personally at me, but the climate of the school was pretty bad," Breslow said of growing up in Lafayette. "There were a lot of slurs."

Gay and lesbian students may soon have a new ally in their fight for acceptance - a proposed state law that, if passed, would require California textbooks to note the accomplishments of gays and lesbians in history and ban any materials that criticize people based on their sexual orientation.

"I think including gay history in textbooks will throw a more positive bent on the homosexual population instead of the negative things I hear every day," Cazel said. "It's because people are not educated. I don't know who my gay heros in history are, and if I don't know, then nobody else at my school does and that's sad."

But the controversial bill - written by Sen. Sheila Kuehl, the state's first openly gay legislator - is reviving a long-running debate about the intersection of morality and sexual orientation with traditional classroom subjects. Parents of gay youth and other supporters argue that teaching children about notable gay figures will inspire youth struggling with their sexual orientation and make schools safer and more tolerant.

To read the full article, visit:
http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/archive/2006/May/14/local/stories/01local.htm

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23. NEWS: History lessons

May 13, 2006
LA Times

I was extremely disappointed to read your May 9 editorial on my Senate Bill 1437, which would extend curricular protections and inclusion to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.

You fail to mention that the bill would amend two sections of current law that protect many other categories of students. To this we add gay and lesbian people. The law prohibits the adoption of official teaching materials that reflect adversely on people because of their race, sex, disability, nationality and religion. To this we add sexual orientation and gender.

The invisibility of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in the history curriculum only exacerbates school climates in which homophobic bullying, harassment and violence are rampant. Studies show that a bias-free and inclusive curriculum fosters tolerance, resulting in greater feelings of student safety and less bullying. The idea behind SB 1437 is not a new or a radical one. SB 1437 simply would add our community into existing sections of the law.

STATE SEN. SHEILA KUEHL
(D-Santa Monica)

To read the full story, visit:
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/california/la-le-saturday13.4may13,1,6766609.story?coll=la-headlines-pe-california

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24. NEWS: State Senate Endorses Teaching of Gays' Historical Achievements

By Jordan Rau
LA Times Staff Writer
May 12, 2006

SACRAMENTO ˜ Saying more role models could help reduce the social estrangement and high suicide rates of gay and lesbian students, the state Senate voted Thursday to require that the historical contributions of homosexuals in the United States be taught in California schools. Apparently the first of its kind nationwide, the measure passed with no Republican support. It must also be approved by the Assembly and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who has taken no position on it. California's Legislature last year became the first to authorize gay marriage, but Schwarzenegger vetoed the measure. If passed, the textbook bill could have national implications.

California is a huge portion of the textbook market, where it often sets trends, and many publishers put out a specific edition for the state that others can also use.

Textbooks meeting the bill's requirements would not be incorporated into California classrooms until 2012. Social science courses would then include "an age-appropriate study" of the "role and contributions" that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people have made to the "economic political and social development" of California and the United States.

Schools are already required to teach the historical and social roles of blacks, women, Native Americans, Latinos, Asians and other ethnic groups. "Even though we passed an anti-harassment bill seven years ago, it's still pretty obvious that there's a hostile environment for kids who are gay or lesbian ˜ or even thought to be gay or lesbian," said Sen. Sheila Kuehl (D-Santa Monica), the bill's author and one of six openly gay legislators. "Part of that stems from the fact that nobody reads about any positive examples."

Social conservatives responded harshly to the Senate's action. "Happy Mothers Day, California," said a statement issued by Randy
Thomasson, president of Campaign for Children and Families, a Sacramento group. "By passing SB 1437, Democrat politicians have declared war on mothers and fathers and their children."

The bill passed the Senate 22 to 15, with all 14 Republicans opposed. Democrat Dean Florez of Shafter voted against the bill, and two of his colleagues, Michael Machado of Linden and Denise Ducheny of San Diego, abstained, which effectively count as "no" votes.

Sen. Bill Morrow (R-Oceanside) called the bill "dangerous" and "insidious" because it lumps sexual orientation ˜ something he said was a "cultural or behavioral lifestyle" ˜ together with race and sex, which are biological. He also said there was no reason for a textbook to point out historical figures' sexual orientation when "their contribution to history has nothing to do with their sexual proclivities."

Kuehl's bill would make the state Board of Education responsible for integrating the subject into curricula. The legislation does not specify what should be included or at what grade level the new material should be taught.

Advocates said subjects might include the 1978 assassination of San Francisco Supervisor Harvey Milk. Geoffrey Kors, executive director of the gay-rights group Equality California, said textbooks might also specify the sexual orientation of well-known Americans such as writer Langston Hughes.

Kors said that when the state Board of Education approved the latest social science curriculum in 2003, his group asked unsuccessfully for gay issues to be included.

To read the full story, visit:
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-books12may12,0,3298642.story?coll=la-home-headlines

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May 10, 2006

In this issue of GSA Network News, you'll find:

GSA Network Highlight
URGENT: Action Needed to Support Safer Schools Legislation
Go directly to GSA Network highlight

GSA Network Announcements
1. WIN $100!! Fill out GSA Network's Year-End Evaluation and be entered to win $100
2. Anti-LGBTQ youth legislation defeated in Senate Education Committee
3. 3 HOT! GSA Network Activist Camps! APPLY ONLINE!
4. Join GSA Network at Y Fest 2006! (San Francisco)
5. Santa Clara County GSA SUMMIT! (San Jose)
6. Support Youth Films at the SF LGBT Film Festival (San Francisco)
7. GSA Network is Hiring! - Southern California Program Coordinator and Operations Director
8. Become a Summer or Fall Intern with GSA Network
9. You Could be a GSA Network Board Member
10. Looking for GSAs to Participate in L.A. Pride 2006 (Los Angeles)
Go directly to GSA Network announcements

Other Announcements
Southern California
11. LGBTQ Youth Prom (Los Angeles)
12. Free Bowling for LGBTQ Youth (Los Angeles)
13. UCSD Queer People of Color Youth Conference (San Diego)
Go directly to Southern California listings

Northern California
14. Faith-based leadership program for API youth and other youth of color (Berkeley)
15. Take Back Our Schools Week of Action (Bay Area)
16. Two Pride Events with LYRIC (San Francisco)
17. Transsexuals Share Personal Stories (Aptos)
18. Unchained Conference - Young Women's Health Fair - Unchained Dance (San Francisco)
Go directly to Northern California listings

National
19. Are you getting ready for prom? - A message from Lambda Legal
20. Make a Video, Make a Difference
Go directly to National listings

Scholarships
21. SCHOLARSHIP: The Center Orange County Scholarships (Orange County)
Go directly to Scholarships listings

News
22. NEWS: New Anti-Gay T-Shirt Suit Threatened
23. NEWS: Los Altos Reverses Stand, Gay Pride Now OK
Go directly to News listings

+++++++++++++++ GSA NETWORK HIGHLIGHT+++++++++++++++

URGENT: Action Needed to Support Safer Schools Legislation

SPEAK OUT! SPEAK UP! Postcards Are On The Way To GSAs!

TAKE ACTION!
GSA Network sent copies of postcards to every single GSA in California for you to send to your legislators. Be on the the look-out! Please continue supporting AB 606 and SB 1437 bills by copying, cutting, and filling out the postcards and mailing them to your lawmakers. Every single member of your club can send a postcard! You can also download copies of the postcards from www.gsanetwork/qyad.

To locate your legislator's office, visit the CA Legislature website at http://www.legislature.ca.gov/ and go to the section that says "Find My District." Enter your home address and you will then be told who your Senator is and what the address of his/her office is.

AB 606, The Safe Place to Learn Act, will ensure that the state non-discrimination law protecting LGBTQ students (also known as AB 537, The CA Student Safety and Violence Prevention Act of 2000) is fully implemented in every school.

SB 1437, The Bias-Free Curriculum Act, will ensure that textbooks and school-sponsored activities don't discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity and that CA's curriculum will include positive portrayals of LGBT people.

WRITE A LETTER!
Lawmakers read the letters to the editor section of their local papers! So, it's really important that GSA members and supporters of AB 606 and SB 1437 write letters to the editor of your local newspaper. Express your opinion about how important these pieces of legislation are to ensuring safe schools for ALL youth!

In the last few days, several anti-SB 1437 editorials have been published in major newspapers such as the LA Times and Sacramento Bee. Let's make sure those papers - and every local paper in the state - hear from students and our allies about why WE NEED SB 1437.

Read the recent press on SB 1437:

The Sacramento Bee
Editorial: California history -- What's sexual preference got to do with it?
http://www.sacbee.com/content/opinion/story/14252883p-15068913c.html

The LA Times
Politically correct history
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/editorials/la-ed-textbooks09may09,0,6490743.story?coll=la-news-comment-editorials

The San Francisco Chronicle, by Jonathan Zimmerman
Straight history: The danger of trying to put a 'positive' face on the past
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2006/05/07/EDGKAIHFOJ1.DTL

The Orange County Register
Intense debate surrounds bill about gays in textbooks
http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/news/atoz/article_1127886.php

Tips on Letters to the Editor
1. Keep it short! Short letters are much more likely to be read -- and published -- than longer ones. Make your point, illustrate it, state your conclusion. NO MORE THAN 200 WORDS.
2. Have one -- and only one -- point that you want to make. This is your “MESSAGE”.
3. Share your personal experience as a student. People would rather read about what happened to a young person at school or why YOU personally care about this issue - than about abstract ideas/statistics, although tying the two together is best of all.
4. It is always stronger to refer to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth as "we" and "us" rather than "they" and them" -- if you are LGBT, that is. If you're a straight ally, though, tell why you care about LGBT people. Why is this issue important to you as an ally?
5. Don't be shy about using the words "gay,” "lesbian", “bisexual,” and “transgender”. The more the public hears and reads them, the sooner they will get used to them
6. Important! Spell-check your letter, then read it through aloud once or twice to check for sentence structure and continuity.
7. Who is your audience? Make it relevant to your local community if possible.
8. Got friends? – Ask at least 2 other friends to join you in writing a letter to the editor on this same issue. The more letters the editor receives – the more likely one of them will be published.

* Don’t forget! Always include your name, address and phone number where you can be reached for verification purposes. The newspaper won’t publish it, but they may want to contact you to verify that you are the one who wrote the letter.

* If you want help writing or editing your letter, Coral Lopez from the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) has offered her expert media advice. Her email is: lopez@glaad.org

NEED MORE INFO?
To find out more about what your GSA can do to help, please contact Lai-San Seto at advocacy@gsanetwork.org or 415-552-4229.

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+++++++++++++ GSA NETWORK ANNOUNCEMENTS +++++++++++++

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1. WIN $100!! Fill out GSA Network's Year-End Evaluation and be entered to win $100

Go online and fill out the evaluation on www.gsanetwork.org/yearendeval/index.php and be entered to win $100 for your GSA!
Drawing June 2nd, 2006

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2. Anti-LGBTQ youth legislation defeated in Senate Education Committee

In a victory for free speech and CA students, GSA Network is pleased to announce that both AB 2311 (Mountjoy-Monrovia) and AB 2891 (LA Malfa-Richvale) failed to pass the Senate Education Committee on Wednesday, May 3. AB 2311 sought to broadly prohibit discussion of LGBTQ issues in public schools. This might have even led to worried school administrators shutting down GSAs in an attempt to comply with the vaguely worded legislation.

AB 2891 sought parental permission from parents before students could be surveyed about sexual orientation or gender identity. If passed, it would have made it more difficult for schools to create comprehensive health and safety programs for young people.

For more information about the defeated bills, please visit www.eqca.org

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3. 3 HOT! GSA Network Activist Camps! APPLY ONLINE!

The GSA Activist Camps are youth-planned and youth-led intense 3-day events featuring hardcore community building, skill-building, political education, and leadership training for GSA members. All youth who will be involved in a high school or middle school GSA next year are strongly encouraged to apply.

Southern California Activist Camp - Los Angeles
July 14th - 16th, 2006

Northern California Activist Camp - Oakland
July 28th - 30th, 2006

Central Valley Activist Camp - Fresno
August 11th - 13th, 2006

APPLY ONLINE! Click here to get more info and apply online!

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4. Join GSA Network at Y Fest 2006! (San Francisco)

YFEST 2006
Saturday May 13, 2006
12:00-5:00 p.m.
Justin Herman Plaza- San Francisco,CA

GSA Network will be there!

What is Y Fest?
A free rally/festival celebrating the power youth have, as individuals and collectively, to make a difference in local, national and global issues.

A day of music, spoken word, art, and speeches to celebrate the fact that young people are not the problem, but instead a critical part of the solution to problems faced by our community and world!

Performances: Youth Only! Performers and the type of music/art that they bring to the stage range from rock to blues to hip hop to Mexican folklorico dance... The common thread is that each performer is young, talented, living in the Bay Area and donating their skills and time to help us celebrate the positive changes young people are making in our communities and world.

Returning artists from last year include The Gnomes from Mill Valley and Youth Movement Records of Oakland.

New Y Fest contributing artists include The DJ Project, Oakland High's "Junior Mafia" Dance Troupe and a special performance by the Latin Jazz Youth Ensemble of San Francisco.

Action: There will be chances to participate in the following activities:
YPW's Talking Wall - a place to write your thoughts on important issues.
Speak Your Mind Video Interviews - a chance to speak up and out on issues important to you.
Help Kick AIDS Out of Tanzania... literally! Soccer-goal-kicking challenge to raise money for EMIMA.
Letters for Change - A chance to write letters to government leaders on the issues that concern you most.
Power of Youth Art Contest - Do you have a talent for drawing, painting or poetry? How would you convey the power of youth action in the face of our greatest challenges? Their will be a table for doing art work on-site, and/or instructions for submitting art to YPW via mail/email. Winners' art will be featured on our website! Prizes TBA.

More info at http://yfest2006.org/yfest2006.html

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5. Santa Clara County GSA SUMMIT! (San Jose)

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7. GSA Network is Hiring! - Southern California Program Coordinator and Operations Director

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GSA Network Internships are non-paid positions.

For more information contact tanya@gsanetwork.org or call Tanya @ 415-552-4229

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10. Looking for GSAs to Participate in L.A. Pride 2006

Calling all SoCal GSAs interested in participating in the 2006 Los Angeles Pride Parade on Saturday, June 10th. GSA Network and GLSEN Los Angeles have begun the planning process for participation in this year's pride parade. We want youth to take over the streets this year with a HUGE turnout. We had 500 LGTBQ Youth and straight allies in Sacramento, can we beat that here in Los Angeles???

If your GSA is interested in participating or being involved in the planning process for L.A. Pride, contact Sandy with GSA Network at sandy@gsanetwork.org or 213-534-7162 or David with GLSEN, Los Angeles at glsenla@glsenla.org or 323-369-2024.

See you at pride!

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Friends of Project 10 Inc. invites all youth, ages 14 to 23, to the annual LGBTQ Youth Prom, to be held on Friday evening, May 19, 2006 from 8 pm to 12 midnight, at the Friendship Auditorium in Los Angeles. Enjoy a wonderful evening of dance, great food, camaraderie, and more. Student discounted tickets are $30 if purchased no later than May 12, 2006. Tickets purchased at the door are $40 for youth. Personal checks are not accepted (see the Web site for more information). Please visit the www.modelsofpride.org web site for more information about the prom and to download a ticket order form. All tickets will be held at the door.

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12. Free Bowling for LGBTQ Youth (Los Angeles)

LA SHANTI YOUTH - AFTERNOON OF FREE BOWLING
For LGTBQ Youth ages 15 - 24

Where: Lucky Strike Lanes @ Hollywood & Highland
When: Saturday, May 20th, from 1-3pm
Meet people just like you and learn about the community you share and
what it can offer you.

You must RSVP to guarantee a space on a lane!!!
call 323-962-8197 ext. 313

This is a substance free social event sponsored by L.A. Shanti

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13. UCSD Queer People of Color Youth Conference (San Diego)

UCSD Queer People of Color (QPOC) @ University of California - San Diego
Presents its Sixth Annual

High School and Youth Conference

Generation Q
Rise Up! Rebirth of a Revolution!

Saturday, May 13, 2006
UCSD Main Campus

To build community and empower the next generation!
Food, entertainment, and fun for all who attend. Admission is free with
registration.

To register and for more information visit:
http://www.qpoc.org

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Northern California

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14. Faith-based leadership program for API youth and other youth of color (Berkeley)

Do you know any Asian Pacific Islander (API) or other young people of color who are leaders in their communities?
Do you know any API youth or other youth of color who are asking deep questions about church and the world?
Do you know any API youth or other youth of color trying to connect faith and justice?

Please help get the word out to them about Represent to Witness (R2W)! -- Application deadlines are fast approaching!

Represent to Witness is a youth leadership project at the PANA Institute that engages API youth leaders and other youth of color in the study of API histories and cultures, theological inquiry and reflection, leadership training, and examination of local and global issues so that they might provide faithful Christian witness in the world.

The Summer Youth Institute (ages 16-19)
The R2W Summer Youth Institute is a 14-day residential program for high school youth with fieldtrips to local neighborhoods and spiritual spaces and workshops led by ministers, artists, and community actions groups. This year's Institute will take place July 9-22, 2006 at the Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, California. R2W will cover travel to and from Berkeley, room, board and the cost of all program activities for the full two weeks for youth who are selected to participate. We ask that each selected participant contribute a $150 registration fee (sliding scale).

"R2W has equipped my son with tools that have helped him express his faith and his identity in ways he wasn't able to before. The program connects to the pulse of today's Asian American youth who strive and struggle to be part of a faith community. What they learn in R2W empowers them to explore who they are called to be, who their community calls them to be, and who God might possibly call them to be."
~ Cisa Payuyo, parent of R2W participant

The Congregational Leaders Internship (ages 17-23)
The Congregational Leaders Internship (CLI) is a year-round program for advanced high school students and college-age young adults. Interns participate in quarterly study and action retreats, design their own social justice projects, and receive peer and mentor support designed to improve their leadership skills and deepen their work and ministry. This year's Internship will begin in October 2006.

"Engaging our Asian American and Pacific Islander youth in a critical faith encounter with biblical texts was a highlight in my ministry as a professor of the Bible. The probing questions they raised revealed the depth of their faith commitment as well as their intellectual capability to think critically. If we can continue to foster their leadership growth, the Asian American and Pacific Islander faith communities of tomorrow will be in good hands!"
~ Professor Kah-Jin Jeffrey Kuan, Pacific School of Religion

We are looking for young people who are independent thinkers and who are up for a challenging program to stretch, grow, and deepen their knowledge of who they are, where they come from, and what they are about in church and society as a whole. We especially encourage working class and low-income API youth, middle class API youth, and LGBT and questioning API youth to apply. We also welcome non-API youth and youth of other faiths who want to be allies and want to learn from a program rooted in API culture and consciousness.

Young people who are interested in the R2W Summer Youth Institute or the Congregational Leaders Internship should call Michael James at (510)849-8202 or go to our website at http://www.represent2witness.org to get an application. Priority deadline for the R2W Summer Youth Institute 2006 applications is May 15th, 2006. Priority deadline for CLI 2006 applications is September 1st, 2006. Late applications will also be considered if space is available.

For questions or more information, contact Michael James, R2W Director of Youth Programs(510) 849-9202, mailto:mjames@psr.edu or check out our website at http://www.represent2witness.org.

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15. Take Back Our Schools Week of Action (Bay Area)

ORGANIZE DA BAY COALITION
Take Back Our Schools Week of Action

May 9 and May 15-19, 2006

In honor of the historic Brown v. Board of Education decision, which promised equal public education to all on May 17, 1954, a growing number of youth, educators, parents, union members, community members and organizations are calling for a quality and equitable education for all students.

This is why Organize Da Bay Coalition-a coalition of youth dedicated to collective action to reclaim public education-is organizing the "Take Back Our Schools Week of Action" May 9th-19th, 2006.

Our demands are the following:

1. IMPLEMENT WILLIAMS
We demand that the State of California be accountable to full implementation of the Williams Case settlement.

2. SETTLE MoFo
We demand that the State of California settle the Morrison and Foerster lawsuit in favor of students and award diplomas to all students that meet all graduation requirements besides the California High School Exit Exam.

3. FULLY FUND OUR SCHOOLS
We demand that our local districts advocate at the statewide level for fully funded schools and equitable resources across school sites.

Actions in the works:
Tuesday May 16
BANNER DROPS!
In Oakland, Berkeley and Richmond

COMMUNITY SPEAK OUT!
"Students of Color being Left Behind in BUSD"
4:30pm @ Berkeley Alternative High School 2701 Martin Luther King Jr Way Berkeley

Wednesday May 17
STEP UP TO THE PLATE SO WE CAN GRADUATE
OUSD Accountability Session
4:15-5:30pm @ Lincoln Recreation Center in the GYM 250-10th Street, Oakland

Thursday May 18
TEST TAKERS TAKING ON TEST MAKERS
March-out to exit exam test Centers!
In Concord, meeting at _______________park @ 12noon and have a program and march @ 1pm
DETAILS TBA

For more information contact Santi Salazar at 510-645-9210, OR
Theresa at 510-452-2736
Also visit http://www.organizedabay.org

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16. Two Pride Events with LYRIC (San Francisco)

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17. Transsexuals Share Personal Stories (Aptos)

Please join us on Friday, May 12
7:00 p.m.
room 403
Cabrillo College, located at 6500 Soquel Drive, in Aptos

The event is free
All are welcome to attend and ask questions

For many years, transsexual people have lived either on the fringes of society, or quietly within, often evading detection. With the recent release of the film, Transamerica, and the appearance of transsexual individuals on television talk shows, people are becoming aware of transsexuals and those who do not conform to traditional gender roles.

Triangle Speakers and the Diversity Center will host an all transgender speaker panel open to the public. A group of transgender individuals will share their personal stories and experiences, as will some of their partners. Prepare to be impressed with their candor and heart. Afterward, the panel will answer questions from the audience ˆ all questions will be welcome. This is a great opportunity to learn more about the lives of transgender people.

LuLu Manus, The Diversity Center‚s Transgender Program Coordinator says, "Being transsexual is really just another way to be in the world." She goes on to say, "I struggled for a little over fifty years until I finally could not go on without accepting the fact that I am not really a man, but a transsexual woman. Nobody would choose to be something that is not really accepted in our society, but that‚s what I am, a transsexual. To finally accept myself is a totally self-actualizing experience."

For more information please contact LuLu Manus at The Diversity Center, (831)425-5422 or Marcia at Triangle Speakers, (831) 4567-2934.

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18. Unchained Conference - Young Women's Health Fair - Unchained Dance (San Francisco)

Saturday, May 20th
1 day! 3 big events for LGBTQQ youth!
Join over 400 hundred youth for a day of workshops, food, performances, and an opportunity to connect with community organizations from around the Bay Area!
Register online and learn more about these events at www.lyric.org

Unchained Conference and Young Women's Heath Fair, two of LYRIC's most popular events, are together at last! The conference is a chance for queer youth and their allies of all backgrounds to connect with their peers, learn from one another, and have some fun. The fair is a sex-positive event for lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and queer women-attend workshops, get resources, and did we mention gift bags?!
WHO: LGBTQQ youth (24 & under) and their allies (including teachers/adult allies!)
WHAT: New workshops, new performers, and a chance to connect with other youth!
WHEN: Saturday, May 20th, 10a.m. - 6p.m.
WHERE: Everett Middle School , 450 Church St. (@ 17th St.), San Francisco , CA

The Unchained Dance ©it's back! At a new location, at a new time, and with new DJs. Come to the conference and fair, but make sure you stay
for the dance!WHO: LGBTQQ youth (24 & under)
WHAT: A bangin' after-party with guest DJs and door prizes!
WHEN: Saturday, May 20th, 8p.m. - 12a.m . (midnight)
WHERE: EVRC, 100 Collingwood St. (@ 18th St.), San Francisco , CA (Castro District)
Wanna lead a workshop, provide a resource table, become an event volunteer, or perform?

If so, go to www.lyric.org/Unchained06.html and submit your workshop, tabling, volunteer, or performance proposal online! All proposals are due this Thursday, April 20th. Questions? Contact Denny David at 415.703.6150 x28 or email denny@lyric.org and find out how you can get involved with these upcoming events.

LYRIC is thrilled to bring you the 2nd annual Unchained Conference and the 11th annual Young Women's Health Fair, co-sponsored by GLSEN San Francisco-East Bay, Spectrum, and Billy DeFrank LGBT Community Center.

The Unchained Conference is a hot opportunity for queer youth and their allies of all backgrounds to connect with their peers in an inclusive and safe space, to build relationships with other youth, and to gain skills/tools to effect positive change in oneself and one's community. This conference seeks to prioritize youth of color by developing content that reflects the experiences of their communities.

The Young Women's Health Fair, now in its 11th year, is a progressive and sex positive event - an opportunity for LBTQQ young women to come together to talk and learn about sex and controversial topics that are not discussed in mainstream health education.

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National
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19. Are you getting ready for prom? - A message from Lambda Legal

Are you getting ready for prom? Read below!

A Message from Lambda Legal:
Prom should be about celebration, not discrimination. To educate LGBTQ students about their rights, Lambda Legal has created a Q&A answering common questions about the prom, including whether schools can legally require permission slips or enforce a dress code based on gender stereotypes. If you are gearing up for prom season in your school, please visit Lambda Legal's newly re-designed youth/ safe schools subsite at www.lambdalegal.org/osr to access the pdf version of the prom Q & A. In addition to other online resources, you can also find a sample demand letter to send to your school if you experience prom-related discrimination. If you would like to receive e-communications from Lambda Legal, including monthly newsletters and action alerts, please sign up at www.lambdalegal.org/subscribe.

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20. Make a Video, Make a Difference

CURRENT AND THIRD MILLENNIUM FOUNDATION
SEEDS OF TOLERANCE

Make a Video, Make a Difference

As we launch our biggest call-out ever for viewer created content (VC2), Current is trying to change the way we see each other.
In partnership with the Third Millennium Foundation, Current is unveiling “Seeds of Tolerance,” an opportunity for aspiring young journalists and filmmakers to produce short-form videos, or “pods,” on the issue of unlearning intolerance and understanding diversity.

Tentatively scheduled to start May 15, our audience is encouraged to submit stories, thoughts, poems, and anecdotes on the concept of tolerance. The video pieces can relate to racism, sexism, homophobia, economic or social class, disability, age or religion.

We’re asking our audience: what does tolerance means to you?

$100,000 for the Producer
Out of all the entries, five semifinalists will air on the network, and the grand prize winner will earn $100,000 cash, along with an additional $15,000 to a relevant charity of his or her choice. Two finalists will walk away with $10,000 each. All of the entries are eligible to be aired on the network.

Judges
Current is also reaching out to celebrity judges to help select our best videos, who will help select our semi-finalists along with a panel of Current and Third Millennium staff that reflects diversity in race, gender, ethnicity and sexual orientation. The final vote will be cast by our viewers, who will select the grand prize winner and two finalists online at www.current.tv/tolerance.

Marketing
Using a strategy that focuses on low-hanging fruit, the marketing campaign focuses on building relationships with non-profit and film organizations, with creative that challenges the assumptions we all make about each other.

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Scholarships
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21. SCHOLARSHIP: The Center Orange County Scholarships (Orange County)

The Center Orange County is proud to announce the availability of scholarships for 2006. The Center Orange County Scholarship Program makes a difference. We support and honor lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning and allied (straight and supportive of LGBT issues) students, as well as students from LGBT families. In 2006 we will award for post-secondary education, including nontraditional programs, creative study and vocational training. Our scholarships are open to residents of Orange County, California or to students currently enrolled in an accredited postsecondary education programs in Orange County. All of our awards consider commitment to human and civil rights. The application is due on May 15, 2006 and can be downloaded at:
http://www.thecenteroc.org/Programs/Scholarships

12752 Garden Grove Blvd, Suite 106
Garden Grove, CA 92843
714-534-0862

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News
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22. NEWS: New Anti-Gay T-Shirt Suit Threatened

by Mary Ellen Peterson, 365Gay.com
May 4, 2006

(Sacramento, California) A conservative Christian law practice says it is considering a lawsuit on behalf of more than a dozen students suspended for wearing T-shirts denouncing homosexuality on the National Day of Silence.

The Pacific Justice Institute says that thirteen students at Oakmont High School, in the Sacramento suburb of Roseville were suspended when they refused to remove T-shirts that read, "Homosexuality is sin. Jesus can set you free."

The school told the students to remove or cover the T-shirts after students participating in the Day of Silence at the school complained.

"The school did not address whether religious students might have been equally offended by pro-homosexual expression connected with the Day of Silence," the Institute said in a statement.

To read the full story, visit:
http://www.365gay.com/Newscon06/05/050306studt.htm

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23. NEWS: Los Altos Reverses Stand, Gay Pride Now OK

by Mary Ellen Peterson, 365Gay.com San Francisco Bureau
May 10, 2006

(Los Altos, California) The Los Altos City Council faced with condemnation from throughout the state for turning down a request for a Gay Pride Day parade and proclamation has reversed itself in a meeting that dragged into the early hours of Wednesday.

Students from Los Altos High School's Gay Straight Alliance first asked for the Gay Pride Day proclamation two years ago. They're returned every year since. And, the third time, in February, was definitely not lucky.

In a 3-2 vote the council, in the city only a stone's throw from San Francisco, decided to pass a law forbidding any Gay Pride Day proclamations. The legislation called pride "discriminatory" because it promotes a particular sexual orientation.

"For our community of Los Altos, we don't want to take positions on controversial issues whether it be Right to Life or Gay Pride,'' Mayor Ron Packard said at the time.

The vote sparked criticism far and wide. San Francisco mayor Gavin Newsom invited the GSA members to join him in his city's gay pride parade Jun 25. San Jose's gay community invited the GSA to be a collective grand marshal at its parade on June 12.
With the city being painted as a "right wing haven" pressure mounted to have the issue revisited.

What was to have been a simple vote Tuesday night turned into hours of debate and public presentations by both sides.

To read the full story, visit:
http://www.365gay.com/Newscon06/05/051006altpri.htm

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May 3, 2006

In this issue of GSA Network News, you'll find:

GSA Network Highlight
GSAs Break the Silence all over California!
Go directly to GSA Network highlight

GSA Network Announcements
1. WIN $100!! Fill out GSA Network's Year-End Evaluation and be entered to win $100
2. SB 1437 Passes Senate Education Committee
3. 3 HOT! GSA Network Activist Camps coming soon! Apply today!!
4. GSA Network is Hiring! - Southern California Program Coordinator and Operations Director
5. Become a Summer or Fall Intern with GSA Network
6. You Could be a GSA Network Board Member
7 . Looking for GSAs to Participate in L.A. Pride 2006 (Los Angeles)
Go directly to GSA Network announcements

Other Announcements
Southern California
8. LGBTQ Youth Prom (Los Angeles)
Go directly to Southern California listings

Northern California
9. This Saturday!! WOAH 2006 - Workshops Organized Against Homophobia (Contra Costa)
10 . Sacramento's LGBT Prom: the 3rd Annual GSA Dance May 6 (Sacramento)
11. Free tickets for the Santa Cruz Queer Youth Leadership Awards (Santa Cruz)
12. Dinner and a Blank (San Francisco)
13. Reserve now to bring The Other Side of the Closet tour to your school in 2006!
14. A Day of Rejuvenation & Self-Care For Youth Workers (San Francisco)
15. Outlet GSA Coalition brings you... LGBTQQ Youth and Allies Dance (Palo Alto)
16. Unchained Conference - Young Women's Health Fair - Unchained Dance (San Francisco)
Go directly to Northern California listings

National
17. FREE! Order today! The Trevor Survival Kit
18. GenderYOUTH Leadership Summit in Washington D.C. on May 18-20
Go directly to National listings

Scholarships
19. SCHOLARSHIP: Alston/Bannerman Fellowship Program
20. SCHOLARSHIP: Models of Excellence scholarship competition
Go directly to Scholarships listings

News
21. NEWS: Bill would require textbooks to mention gays' contributions
22. NEWS: Gay rights face-off, Day of Silence spurs protests, suspensions
23. NEWS: Students suspended for defying dress code, T-shirts had messages for, against homosexuality
24. NEWS: Two-thirds of gay students face violence, harassment: report, Survey shows little change since '03
25. NEWS: Parents sue school for failure to notify about gay teachings
Go directly to News listings

+++++++++++++++ GSA NETWORK HIGHLIGHT+++++++++++++++

GSAs Break the Silence all over California!

Hundreds of GSAs and thousands of high school and middle students all over the state celebrated Day of Silence last week. Some students put up posters and sold T-shirts. Others brought in speakers and sponsored public forums. No matter what they did, everyone helped to educate people in their schools and communities about individuals who have been oppressed because of their sexual orientation, gender identity, or other parts of their identities. Due to STAR testing, many clubs will be holding their events this week.

Below is a sample of some of what's gone on:

Sacramento-area GSAs:
Sacramento-area GSAs came together again for the 2nd annual Sacramento Day of Silence march. Approximately 100 students and supporters marched from the Lambda Center to the Capitol where they rallied for several minutes before marching back to the Lambda Center. On the way, the marchers stopped by the Department of Education where they were greeted by agency representatives who exlained the ins and outs of the Uniform Complaint Procedure.

GSAs and local supporters successfully lobbied the Sacramento Unified School District school board to pass a pro-Day of Silence resolution the week before.

Tamalpais High School, Mill Valley:
"We started our Day of Silence early in the week with tables around our school giving out information to the students about the Day of Silence... We wanted to make sure that everyone understood our reasoning for recognizing the Day of Silence, because in previous years many students did not know why some of their peers were taking a vow of silence. On the evening of the Day of Silence we organized a public event which we called "Breaking the Silence." To begin the night we had student work (poetry and skits), and then we welcomed our main speaker, Sylvia Guerrero. The event was very moving, and I talked to many people afterwards who said that they were touched, and affected by the stories."
---Reported by Remy Mercer-Slomoff, senior

Sunnyside High School, Fresno:
Around forty students from Sunnyside's GSA and neighboring GSAs came together for a fabulous afternoon Breaking the Silence celebration at Sunnyside High. Students chatted and shared stories about what happened that at area schools.

Marina High School, Huntington Beach:
"I participated and (so did) almost 30 other people. There were two students that lashed out against Day of Silence and a lot a mocking but we reached a few people. One person cried, they were so moved… Good news is that we went farther than last year with recognition because we used a marker and silver duct tape and wrote "Day of Silence" on our shirts and some of us managed the whole day with it on our mouths… Today, after school was open forum…I saw about five people crying- they were that moved…There was a lot of issues with religion brought up again like last year. Tomorrow is Movie Night and we got it on the big electric sign up front so hopefully we'll have more of a turn out than the years before. It's good to know we are slowly and surely taking over the world."
--Reported by Sara Lynn Graham, student

Scripps Ranch High School, San Diego:
"This year's Day of Silence was amazing. We had 336 participants--the most Scripps Ranch High has ever had by ONE student. That means that every single person who signed up mattered because without just one of them, we would not have held the record this year. At first we faced alot of opposition: all of our sign-up/advertising flyers were ripped down over one weekend. But in the end, this opposition only strengthened us. People would come up to me and ask if it was true that all the flyers got taken down, and when i told them it was they would be convinced to particpate in DOS. Not only to participate in, but they would want to know what they could do to help. I got the school to Xerox over 200 more flyers, bought tape, and sent people out in a massive flyer campaign. We put them up quicker than whoever opposed us could get them down."
---Reported by Larissa Salmon, senior

Francisco Bravo Medical Magnet High School, Los Angeles:
Francisco Bravo GSA students created and wore T-shirts on Day of Silence that had LGBTQ-related quotes on them.
"This was my second year of doing the Day of Silence and it (2005) was a pretty difficult time to handle. There weren't many participants doing the Day of Silence. People were accusing me of being gay. That was (last year). This year it was great. As the President of the GSA club we were losing some of our members because of lack of interest or that our activities weren't "fun" enough. This year we had triple the amount of participants and it was announced all over the school. I was very proud on how we spread the word and meaning of the Day of Silence."
---Reported by Erika Gonzalez, junior

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+++++++++++++ GSA NETWORK ANNOUNCEMENTS +++++++++++++

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1. WIN $100!! Fill out GSA Network's Year-End Evaluation and be entered to win $100

Go online and fill out the evaluation on www.gsanetwork.org/yearendeval/index.php and be entered to win $100 for your GSA!
Drawing June 2nd, 2006

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2. SB 1437 Passes Senate Education Committee

GSA Network News is pleased to announce that SB 1437 (The Bias-Free Curriculum Act) passed the CA Senate's Judiciary Committee today. The bill had previously passed the Senate Judiciary Committee on April 4 and was available for a full floor vote for a few weeks. But, the bill was referred back to Senate Education Committee where it was the subject of a hearing today. Mercy High School (Burlingame) senior Marina Gatto testified about how educating more youth about the historical achievements of LGBTQQ Americans would help to create safer, more supportive schools for LGBTQQ students.

SB 1437 will once again become available for consideration for a full floor vote in Senate. Please contact your State Senator and ask him/her to vote YES on SB 1437.

To email your Senator's office, visit the CA Legislature website at http://www.legislature.ca.gov/ and go to the section that says "Find My District." Enter your home address and you will then be told who your Senator is. Click on his/her name and you will be taken directly to his/her website where you can email him/her.

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3. 3 HOT! GSA Network Activist Camps coming soon! SAVE THE DATE!!

The GSA Activist Camps are youth-planned and youth-led intense 3-day events featuring hardcore community building, skill-building, political education, and leadership training for GSA members. All youth who will be involved in a high school or middle school GSA next year are strongly encouraged to apply.

Southern California Activist Camp - Los Angeles
July 14th - 16th, 2006

Northern California Activist Camp - Oakland
July 28th - 30th, 2006

Central Valley Activist Camp - Fresno
August 11th - 13th, 2006

Online applications are coming soon! Stay tuned!

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4. GSA Network is Hiring! - Southern California Program Coordinator and Operations Director

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5. Become a Summer or Fall Intern with GSA Network

As an intern, you will gain hands-on experience working for California’s most dynamic LGBTQ youth-driven organization. You will gain invaluable insight about a mid-sized non-profit as well as GSA Network's particular organizational and organizing model. You will also learn a broad range of skills while providing program and/or administrative support.

A great way to gain hands-on experience, build up your resume, and possibly get college credits.

These skills may include:
program
- outreach and technical assistance to high school and middle school GSAs
- curriculum development
- resource sheets and program material development
- working on media or press work
- lobbying and policy
- event planning
admin
- individual donor fundraising
- database systems

GSA Network Internships are non-paid positions.

For more information contact tanya@gsanetwork.org or call Tanya @ 415-552-4229

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6. You Could Be a GSA Network Board Member

Are you...
- Passionate about GSA Network and our mission of empowering youth activists to fight homophobia and transphobia in schools?
- Able to commit to attending 4 board meetings a year (in person) plus committee calls by phone?
- Interested in learning how a nonprofit organization works and eager to help GSA Network?
- You are: 1) in high school now, 2) no more than a year past your graduation from high school, or 3) 19 years old or younger?

If you answered yes to these questions, you should apply to GSA Network's Governing Board.

GSA Network's Governing Board is a group of youth and adult allies who oversee the organization. Board members are responsible for organizational planning, evaluating, fundraising, and governing. The board meets four times a year in person, rotating between Southern, Northern, and Central California. Youth board members' travel expenses are paid. Youth board members' terms are for 1 year.

To apply, email mailto:carolyn@gsanetwork.org to request an application. Applications will be due by Monday, May 22nd. We hope to fill several board slots by July, so don't delay!

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7. Looking for GSAs to Participate in L.A. Pride 2006

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Northern California
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9. This Saturday!! WOAH 2006 - Workshops Organized Against Homophobia (Contra Costa)

WOAH 2006 (Workshops Organized Against Homophobia)
The premier conference for queer youth and straight allies in Contra Costa County.

REGISTRATION IS FROM 9am-10am
(this conference is FREE!)

Who?
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Two Spirit, Transgender, Queer and Questioning Youth. 23 and Under
(Straight and Adult Allies more than welcome to attend)
What?
Bringing together sexually diverse communities to network, gather resources and hook up!
(Youth from all over the Bay Area should see what Contra Costa County has to offer.)When?
May 6, 2006 9am 5pm
Where?
Pittsburg High School, 250 School Street Pittsburg, CA
Why?
Because homophobia, racism, transphobia, sexism and other forms of oppression are still an issue.
(Lets make our communities safe.)

REMEMBER THIS CONFERENCE IS FREE TO PARTICPANTS!
REGISTER ONLINE OR AT THE CONFERENCE www.chd-prevention.org

For more info contact Mario at 925.687.8844 x 304 or mario@chd-prevention.org
A project of the Center for Human Developments Empowerment Program in collaboration with the Contra Costa Safe Schools Coalition.
With support from the Keller Canyon Mitigation Fund, The California Endowment, Contra Costa Health Services (AIDS Program), Horizons Foundation, and Wells Fargo.

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10 . Sacramento's LGBT Prom: the 3rd Annual GSA Dance May 6 (Sacramento)

With success comes a time to party! Saturday is almost here... the 3rd Annual GSA Dance, the area's only truly welcoming prom for students of all orientations--straight, gay, bi, queer, questioning, or those who don't wish to be categorized. High school students (18 and under) come from across the greater Sacramento area and unite and dance the night away. Come enjoy dancing, prizes, fun, and food in school-friendly attire. Saturday, May 6 from 7 to 11 pm at Hiram Johnson High School, 65th Street and 14th Avenue. This year's theme is "Funky Formal"... so creative fashion is a must! (Inappropriate attire will not be allowed, however. Hey... this is an event at a high school!)

General admission tickets are $5 at the door. The GSA with the most guests receive a portion of the profits.
Need more information? Contact Lance or Yvonne at sacregionalgsa@hotmail.com.

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11. Free tickets for the Santa Cruz Queer Youth Leadership Awards (Santa Cruz)

The Santa Cruz County Task Force for LGBTIQ Youth proudly presents ... 9th ANNUAL SANTA CRUZ COUNTY QUEER YOUTH LEADERSHIP AWARDS

Sunday, May 21, 2006
4:00 pm - 6:30 pm Variety Show and Awards Ceremony
6:30 pm - 8:00 pm Buffet / Refreshments / Social
Henry J. Mello Center for the Performing Arts, Watsonville

Please join the queer and queer-friendly community of Santa Cruz County as they honor Queer Youth Leaders And Their Allies in these categories:

THE QUEER YOUTH LEADERSHIP AWARD
Designed to honor the leadership of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender or Intersexed (GLBTI) youth people in our community. Six $500 awards will be given to Queer Youth who are 12 to 18 years of age.

THE ALLIES TO QUEER YOUTH AWARD
Two non-monetary awards designed to honor allies of any age who have made significant contributions to improving the lives of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, or Intersexed youth and youth who have GLBTI family members.

THE QUEER YOUTH ORGANIZATIONAL ALLIANCE AWARD
One non-monetary award designed to honor an organization that has made significant contributions to improving the lives of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, or Intersexed youth in Santa Cruz County.

FREE tickets to GSA members and their guests.

Please contact us to let us know how many tickets your GSA needs and if any special accommodations are needed at qytf@diversitycenter.org or (831) 427-4004.
Info: www.diversitycenter.org/qytf/2006qyla

All Youth and Adults Welcome!

The Queer Youth Leadership Awards is a project of the Santa Cruz County Task Force for LGBTIQ Youth, an affiliate of the Diversity Center, a community center serving the LGBTIQ community of Santa Cruz County. Co-sponsored, in part, by Pajaro Valley Unified School District.

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12. Dinner and a Blank (San Francisco)

For Drop-In this week, we're doing a faux date:
We'll romantically make our own dinner, then talk of date scenarios over our dinner. Come with your appetite and friends!
5-7pm at A&PI Wellness
730 Polk St 4th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94109

One more thing:
Youth Leadership & Advocacy Institute UCSB will host a 1-week Youth Leadership & Advocacy Institute for high school juniors and seniors July 16-22, 2006. 42 students will develop a greater understanding of LGBT issues. This free program includes housing, food, transportation, etc. Contact Joel if you are interested at joel@apiwellness.org.

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13. Reserve now to bring The Other Side of the Closet tour to your school in 2006!

YouthAware Educational Theatre Presents…
The Other Side of the Closet by Ed Roy Directed by Sara Staley
A Safe Schools Program for Teens

On Tour in Northern California October 24th - December 14th 2006
Thousands of students each year are targets of harassment based on their actual or perceived sexual orientation. The Other Side of the Closet by Ed Roy is a play for teens that supports a safer school curriculum wherein students, teachers and parents can learn about diversity and acceptance in an innovative and engaging format. This program has been touring Northern California middle and high schools each fall since 2000 as part of the YouthAware Educational Theatre program at the New Conservatory Theatre Center located in San Francisco. Set in and around a high school, this hard-hitting play tells the story of five teens who are grappling with issues of peer pressure, youth violence, homophobia, behavior norms, stereotypes, discrimination and identity. Each performance is followed by a facilitated discussion session with the actor/educators and student audience. Post-show lesson plans will also be provided for teachers. Appropriate for 7th - 12th graders, The Other Side of the Closet is available to tour to your school or community on Mondays through Thursdays from October 24th - December 14th 2006. The program is about 70 minutes in length and can be performed up to two times a day in any theatre, gymnasium, cafeteria or other multi-purpose room. We can also present the play in the evening for community events, and we are willing to stay overnight for multiple performances in areas that are too far to travel back and forth from San Francisco in a day, The New Conservatory Theatre Center is a non-profit organization, and a small donation is requested to cover production costs. Cost underwriting is available for low-income schools. Food and lodging must also be provided for our cast and crew of seven for any overnight travel. Please call for more information or to discuss logistics. (415) 861-4914 or email sara@nctcsf.org>sara@nctcsf.org.

You may also download a preview copy of the script from our web site at www.nctcsf.org/Other.html.
What audiences are saying about The Other Side of the Closet …

I really enjoyed the play. This is the first live action performance on the subject of tolerance that I have seen where multiple topics were brought into focus so well. I am glad a program like this exists and that finally the safe schools message, and the reality of the issue that a lot of us, maybe even all of us deal with every day, are so effectively being communicated to my generation.
- Student from Fremont High School in Sunnyvale

It got students to think about words such as "gay" and "fag" that are sometimes used negatively in casual conversation. The discussion helped many students realize that this can be offensive to individuals and entire group …. I think this is a great program that can really help open the minds of many teenagers.
- Student from Oceana High School in Pacifica

I really enjoyed your play. It really inspired me not to use disrespectful language or to treat others differently no matter if they are gay or not. You guys should continue to share your message with other high school students because many don't know about the respect you teach.
- Student from El Cerrito High School in El Cerrito

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14. A Day of Rejuvenation & Self-Care For Youth Workers (San Francisco)

Dear Collegues,
I wanted to let you know about this fabulous FREE training event for youth workers. This event will include stress management techniques, some light breath and body work, and the opportunity to network with peers. Please spread the word.

The Youth Development Peer Network and SF Buddhist Center humbly invite you to A Day of Rejuvenation & Self-Care For Youth Workers

Friday, May 12, 2006 , 10:00-2:00pm
San Francisco Buddhist Center
37 Bartlett Street, San Francisco (@ Valencia and 21st)

With guidance from members of the SF Buddhist Center, we will pause from our busy schedules to reflect on and practice new ways to bring awareness and intention to our lives and work.

Comfortable dress suggested.

Light vegetarian lunch will be provided

Cost: This gift from the YDPN is free of charge. Spaces are limited. RSVP with scott@cnyd.org by Wednesday, May 10.

The Youth Development Peer Network is a project of CNYD.

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15. Outlet GSA Coalition brings you... LGBTQQ Youth and Allies Dance (Palo Alto)

Friday, May 5 – CINCO de MAYO!!!
7-11pm
Mitchell Park Community Center– Main Hall
3800 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto
FREE Event! Donations encouraged!
13-18 years old welcome, please bring either student or CA ID.
No bags, purses will be checked at door.
This is an alcohol and drug free event.
For more information, call 650-965-2020 ext. 22 or email eross@chacmv.org

**OUT TO EAT! Save the date, Thursday, April 27th! **

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16. Unchained Conference - Young Women's Health Fair - Unchained Dance (San Francisco)

Saturday, May 20th
1 day! 3 big events for LGBTQQ youth!
Join over 400 hundred youth for a day of workshops, food, performances, and an opportunity to connect with community organizations from around the Bay Area!
Register online and learn more about these events at www.lyric.org

Unchained Conference and Young Women's Heath Fair, two of LYRIC's most popular events, are together at last! The conference is a chance for queer youth and their allies of all backgrounds to connect with their peers, learn from one another, and have some fun. The fair is a sex-positive event for lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and queer women-attend workshops, get resources, and did we mention gift bags?!
WHO: LGBTQQ youth (24 & under) and their allies (including teachers/adult allies!)
WHAT: New workshops, new performers, and a chance to connect with other youth!
WHEN: Saturday, May 20th, 10a.m. - 6p.m.
WHERE: Everett Middle School , 450 Church St. (@ 17th St.), San Francisco , CA

The Unchained Dance ©it's back! At a new location, at a new time, and with new DJs. Come to the conference and fair, but make sure you stay
for the dance!WHO: LGBTQQ youth (24 & under)
WHAT: A bangin' after-party with guest DJs and door prizes!
WHEN: Saturday, May 20th, 8p.m. - 12a.m . (midnight)
WHERE: EVRC, 100 Collingwood St. (@ 18th St.), San Francisco , CA (Castro District)
Wanna lead a workshop, provide a resource table, become an event volunteer, or perform?

If so, go to www.lyric.org/Unchained06.html and submit your workshop, tabling, volunteer, or performance proposal online! All proposals are due this Thursday, April 20th. Questions? Contact Denny David at 415.703.6150 x28 or email denny@lyric.org and find out how you can get involved with these upcoming events.

LYRIC is thrilled to bring you the 2nd annual Unchained Conference and the 11th annual Young Women's Health Fair, co-sponsored by GLSEN San Francisco-East Bay, Spectrum, and Billy DeFrank LGBT Community Center.

The Unchained Conference is a hot opportunity for queer youth and their allies of all backgrounds to connect with their peers in an inclusive and safe space, to build relationships with other youth, and to gain skills/tools to effect positive change in oneself and one's community. This conference seeks to prioritize youth of color by developing content that reflects the experiences of their communities.

The Young Women's Health Fair, now in its 11th year, is a progressive and sex positive event - an opportunity for LBTQQ young women to come together to talk and learn about sex and controversial topics that are not discussed in mainstream health education.

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National
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17. FREE! Order today! The Trevor Survival Kit

A tool for middle and high school teachers, used in conjunction with the Academy Award-winning short film, Trevor—about a 13 year-old boy that attempts suicide after realizing he might be gay—to generate constructive discussion about the myriad of issues surrounding suicide, personal identity and sexual orientation.

To receive a complimentary copy of The Trevor Survival Kit—which contains The Trevor Teaching Guide, short film Trevor, posters and other outreach materials—please send an email to Andy Scheer at Andy.Scheer@TheTrevorProject.org or call their administrative offices at 310.271.8845. To ensure proper delivery, please include your name, position, institution name, street address, and telephone number when emailing requests.

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18. GenderYOUTH Leadership Summit in Washington D.C. on May 18-20.

For a $60 registration fee, your participants will:
• have the opportunity to network with other Youth Leaders from various Colleges and Universities from across the country
• participate in three days of education, training and mobilizing against the pervasive violence—ranging from taunting and bullying to murder—caused by gender
stereotypes
• watch a sneak preview of the upcoming new film Straightlaced
• listen to not only our Keynote speaker, Sylvia Guerrero, civil rights activist and mother of Gwen Araujo, but also TJ Jourian, cast member of the TransGeneraton
docu-series
• take part in the 11th annual National Gender Lobby Day
• attend the 6th annual Great Big International Drag King Show

If you have additional questions, please contact youth@gpac.org or call 202-462-6610 and ask for either Tyrone Hanley or Sam Sewell.

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Scholarships
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19. SCHOLARSHIP: Alston/Bannerman Fellowship Program

The Alston/Bannerman Fellowship Program is committed to advancing progressive social change by helping to sustain long-time activists of color. The program honors those who have devoted their lives to helping their communities organize for racial, social, economic and environmental justice. Each year, ten Fellows receive an award of $15,000 to take sabbaticals of three months or more for reflection and renewal. The sabbaticals may be used to explore new interests, travel, relax, visit with other activists, or do whatever the Fellows think is necessary to prepare for their future work. The application deadline is December 1, annually. Visit the website listed above for more information.
For more information, see: www.alstonbannerman.org

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20. SCHOLARSHIP: Models of Excellence scholarship competition (Statewide)

Friends of Project 10 Inc. announces its annual Models of Excellence scholarship competition. The scholarship is open to any senior high school student who is graduating from a California school (public, private, and parochial), and who is going onto higher education. The student needs to demonstrate a commitment to LGBT civil rights. Scholarships are awarded in $500 and $1,000 amounts.

Applications are due no later than Friday, April 28, 2006.

Contact Friends of Project 10 Inc. at 626.577.4553 or project10@hotmail.com for applications and for more information.

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News
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21. NEWS: Bill would require textbooks to mention gays' contributions

STEVE LAWRENCE
Associated Press
4/30/2006

SACRAMENTO - State Sen. Sheila Kuehl says a key aspect of history is missing from school textbooks - the contributions that homosexuals have made to California and the nation.

Kuehl, D-Santa Monica, has introduced a bill that would fill that void by requiring textbooks and other social science materials to discuss contributions that gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender people have made to the state and nation's economy, politics and society.

The bill also would prohibit textbooks from criticizing people because of their sexual orientation. Current law sets that standard for discussions of race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, gender and disabilities.

It's scheduled to be considered Wednesday by the Senate Education Committee.

To read the full story, visit:
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/breaking_news/14468138.htm

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22. NEWS: Gay rights face-off, Day of Silence spurs protests, suspensions

By Deepa Ranganathan, Kim Minugh and Laurel Rosenhall
The Sacramento Bee
Thursday, April 27, 2006

The national debate over gay rights became a divisive force on Sacramento-area school campuses this week, as religious Christian students wore T-shirts expressing their disapproval of homosexuality as others participated in a Day of Silence to honor gay and lesbian peers.

Thirteen students at Oakmont High School in Roseville were suspended Tuesday when they refused to take off T-shirts that declared: "Homosexuality is sin." The students hired a lawyer who appealed 12 of the suspensions to the district Wednesday.

Other schools in the region have disciplined students in recent weeks for refusing to remove T-shirts condemning homosexuality. Two students at Mira Loma High School said they were sent home Wednesday, and one student was suspended this month at San Juan High School.

Anna Choban, the 16-year-old sophomore at San Juan, said she refused to take off her shirt because she wanted to stand strong in her beliefs. "I want other people to know the truth," she said.

The T-shirts, students say, are a form of protest against the national Day of Silence, a student-run effort to promote tolerance and highlight the struggles of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender students. About 500,000 students participated nationally, organizers said, staying quiet all day and often handing out cards to explain their actions.

The Oakmont High students haven't yet filed a complaint in court. But if their attorney does, they will accelerate a debate that began with the first Day of Silence in 1996.

They also may test a controversial ruling by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals last week.

In a 2-1 vote, the court decided schools can forbid students from wearing a shirt that demeans gay and lesbian students. At the heart of the case was a Poway High School student in San Diego who wore a T-shirt calling homosexuality "shameful."

Gay and lesbian students "have the right to 'be secure and be let alone,'" wrote Judge Stephen Reinhardt, referencing a seminal 1969 case, Tinker v. Des Moines.

In that case, students in an Iowa school district were suspended after they wore black armbands to school to protest the Vietnam War.

To read the full story, visit:
http://www.sacbee.com/content/news/story/14248330p-15065706c.html

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23. NEWS: Students suspended for defying dress code, T-shirts had messages for, against homosexuality

By: Nathan Donato-Weinstein
The Roseville Press-Tribune
Friday, April 28, 2006

Oakmont High School was abuzz with talk of constitutional law this week after dozens of students donned T-shirts both decrying and supporting homosexuality, resulting in 14 suspensions of those on both sides of the debate.

Tuesday, one day before the National Day of Silence gay rights action was scheduled to take place at schools nationwide, between 20 and 25 Oakmont students arrived with shirts declaring "Homosexuality is a sin."

Because the shirts violated the school's dress code that prohibits offensive messages, the students were called to the office and asked to turn them inside out or wear a loaner shirt, Oakmont principal Kathleen Sirovy said.

Although some of them agreed, 13 did not comply with the directive and were suspended for defying authority and disruption on campus.

To read the full story, visit:
http://www.thepresstribune.com/articles/2006/04/29/news/top_stories/03oakmonst.txt

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24. NEWS: Two-thirds of gay students face violence, harassment: report, Survey shows little change since '03

By ELIZABETH WEILL-GREENBERG
Southern Voice
Apr 26, 2006

Seventeen-year-old Jessie Liberatore has been spit on, called a dyke and even pushed down the stairs at her public school in Havre de Grace, Md.

The harassment started even before she came out in the ninth grade when there were just rumors about her sexual orientation.

"It was worse at the beginning," she said. "I'm lucky in that I've gone to Havre de Grace public schools my entire life. They realize I'm still the same person that they've known."

According to a new survey by the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network, the experiences of Liberatore, who is gay, are not uncommon.

In 2005, GLSEN surveyed 1,732 lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students between the ages of 13 and 20 from all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The survey results were released this week.

Almost two-thirds of those surveyed said they were verbally harassed because of their sexual orientation. About half reported they were harassed for their gender identity, according to the survey results. More than a third of those surveyed suffered anti-gay physical harassment and 25 percent experienced anti-transgender physical harassment, the survey found.

The study also reported that only 16.5 percent of students surveyed said that a school staff member often intervened when they heard anti-gay insults. About 18 percent of respondents said they had actually heard staff make homophobic comments.

To read the full story, visit:
http://www.southernvoice.com/thelatest/thelatest.cfm?blog_id=6414

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25. NEWS: Parents sue school for failure to notify about gay teachings

By Jay Lindsay, Associated Press Writer
Boston Globe
April 27, 2006

BOSTON --Two couples who say Lexington school officials undermined their rights as parents by giving out and reading storybooks with gay themes without notification filed suit Thursday.

David and Tonia Parker and Joseph and Robin Wirthlin claim in a lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Boston that the officials broke state law and violated their civil rights. They claim the school is indoctrinating their children about a lifestyle they consider immoral.

"In this case, there's a huge conflict and a huge explosion and a huge collision," said their attorney Jeffrey Denner.

But school superintendent Paul Ash says the schools have no agenda and have done nothing illegal.

The suit names the town, Ash, school committee members, the director of education, an elementary school principal, a teacher and the coordinator of health. It seeks unspecified compensatory and punitive damages.

Last month, the Wirthlins objected when a teacher read a storybook about two princes who fall in love to their son's second grade class without notifying them.

Parker was jailed last year after he refused to leave a school when officials declined to exclude his 6-year-old son from discussions of gay parents. Parker initially complained after his son brought home a "diversity book bag" with a book that depicted a gay family.

To read the full story, visit:
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2006/04/27/parents_sue_school_for_failure_to_notify_about_gay_teachings/

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