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GSA Network News Email Archive - November 2006

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Sign Up for GSA Network News! Email:

November 29, 2006

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

GSA Network Highlight
World AIDS Day - "Keep the Promise"
Go directly to GSA Network highlight

GSA Network Announcements
1. GSA Network Leadership Training! (Oakland)
2. Save the Date! GSA Network Benefit in January! (Bay Area)
3. GSA Network is Seeking a Fall Intern! (San Francisco)
4. CONTEST: Enter the GSA Network T-shirt & Pin Design Contest! (Statewide)
5. Re-Register Your GSA Today - Get New Resources & Keep Informed!
6. Apply for GSA Network Youth Council! It's Cool! (Statewide)
7. Apply for GSA Network Advocacy Committee! It's Even Cooler! (Statewide)
8. Save the Date! Queer Youth Advocacy Day 2007! (Sacramento)
9. Liberation Ink Posters - Free For GSAs! (Statewide)
10. Sign-up for the High Contrast Photo Exhibit at Your School! (Bay Area)
Go directly to GSA Network announcements

Other Announcements
Northern California
11. The Other Side of the Closet (San Francisco)
12. Free Money for LGBT Youth! (Bay Area)
13. League of Youth Voices Accepting Applications (San Francisco)
Go directly to Northern California listings

National
14. Participate in a Research Study!
Go directly to National listings

Scholarships
15. PFLAG National Scholarships Available
Go directly to Scholarships listings

News
16. NEWS: Calif. Appeals Court Asked To Uphold Anti-Bully Ruling
17. NEWS: Davis Unified School District Addresses Discrimination
18. NEWS: Testimony will Start for Former Garden Grove Student
Go directly to News listings

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

World AIDS Day - "Keep the Promise"

Originating as an idea out of the 1988 World Summit of Ministers of Health on Programs for AIDS Prevention, World AIDS Day (always December 1) has been commemorated and observed by a variety of governments, community organizations, and charities around the world. It is a day to remember those that we have lost due to this virulent pandemic, and it is also a day to renew our vow to stop the spread of HIV.

The theme for World AIDS Day 2006 is “Stop AIDS: Keep the Promise.” According to the official World AIDS Day website, http://www.worldaidsday.org, recent figures indicate that over four million people became infected last year alone. Given that startling statistic, this year’s theme is intended to hold us all accountable for stopping the virus by disseminating information, educating ourselves and our peers on HIV prevention, and – perhaps most importantly – taking ACTION in our respective communities by “keeping the promise” not to exacerbate the spread of HIV.

What can your GSA do? Your GSA can begin raising awareness on your campus by wearing the trademark red ribbons (these are really cheap and easy to make!) on Friday, December 1. Your GSA can also collaborate with local HIV prevention agencies and hold safer sex workshops, discussion panels, and other events to begin the conversation as to how your school can do its part to stop the spread of HIV. You can also ask local HIV prevention agencies to come and hold a “testing day” at your school to test for HIV. Additionally, your GSA can hold a fundraiser in coalition with other school clubs and then donate the money to a charity dedicated to preventing HIV. Many more ideas are listed on the official World AIDS Day website. Plus, you can order from the website an “HIV packet” for your school that contains ideas, worksheets, and other informational materials for you to use!

World AIDS Day is this coming Friday, December 1, 2006. Will YOU be keeping the promise on this day, and every other day of the year?

For more information regarding World AIDS Day and resources, please visit these websites:

http://www.avert.org
http://www.thebody.com/hotlines/calif.html (A listing of HIV prevention agencies in California)

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

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1. GSA Network Leadership Training! (Oakland)

You are invited to a GSA NETWORK LEADERSHIP TRAINING!

This FREE event will be held on December 9 from 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. It includes breakfast and lunch!

So what is a GSA Network Leadership training?
Youth from various GSAs come together for a FUN, interactive, peer-to-peer training that provides students with the skills to fight homophobia and transphobia in schools. Led by other GSA leaders from around Northern California, the training will show students how to start and run a kick-ass GSA.

Topics include
* How to run a GSA meeting
* Outreach, membership building, and diversity
* Understanding gender and sexual orientation
* Understanding laws that protect LGBTQ youth in schools
* How to take action against slurs, harassment, and discrimination in your school.

This is a great opportunity to network with other GSAs in your area while learning some new skills to strengthen your club.

WHO: GSA members, potential members, and GSA advisors
WHEN: Saturday, December 9, 2006, 10am-4pm
WHERE: Oakland Public Library
125 14th Street
Oakland, CA 94612
COST: Free!

GSA Network values the participation of adult allies in our fight against oppression and injustice in schools, and thus welcomes GSA Advisors and other adult allies to the leadership training. That being said, we ask that they help us to maintain the youth focus of this training.

For more information or to RSVP, please contact
*Marco Castro-Bojorquez, GSA Network Northern California Program Coordinator, at 415-552-4229 or mailto:marco@gsanetwork.org
*Jessi Snow, Teen Outreach Librarian, Oakland Public Library, at 510-238-7233 or mailto:jsnow@oaklandlibrary.org

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2. Save the Date! GSA Network Benefit in January! (Bay Area)

*****SAVE THE DATE*****

Thursday, January 25, 2007

Last year, we brought you a private screening of RENT - The Movie...

This year, get ready for the WORLD PREMIERE of Legally Blonde - The Musical as it hits the stage of the Golden Gate Theatre in San Francisco!

Tickets will be available as a benefit for GSA Network!

More info coming soon about ticket prices, VIP tickets, and corporate sponsorship packages!

Thanks to a tiered-ticket structure, everyone from students to VIP underwriters will be able to enjoy an exclusive theatrical event together, all while helping raise much-needed funds for the only student-led organization that connects GSA clubs across California.

To learn more about Legally Blonde - The Musical visit: http://www.shnsf.com/shows/show.asp?key=18&subkey=513

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3. GSA Network is Seeking a Fall Intern! (San Francisco)

Intern Call Outs!

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

Duties May Include
*Outreach and technical assistance to high school and middle school GSAs
*Curriculum, resource sheet, and program material development
*Media or press work
*Lobbying and policy
*Event planning
*Individual donor fundraising
*Organizational spin-off
*Database systems.

Interns also have the option to participate in staff meetings, thus ensuring that their voices are heard and that 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.

Please note that this is a non-paid position and that the internship is for our San Francisco office.

Your Responsibilities
*If you are student, your school must take responsibility for setting the number of credits for the internship
*If you are coming from a considerable distance, you are responsible for your own housing, living expenses, and any other costs.

How to Apply
Please contact Kiely for an application. Thank you for applying!

Kiely Hosmon
Program Assistant
Phone - 415-552-4229
Fax - 415-552-4729
mailto:kiely@gsanetwork.org
http://www.gsanetwork.org

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4. CONTEST: Enter the GSA Network T-shirt & Pin Design Contest! (Statewide)

MAKE YOUR MARK ALL OVER CALIFORNIA!
Enter the GSA Network T-shirt & pin design contest!

We have re-opened the design contest due to lack of submissions!! Send us all of your artistic and creative designs for a chance to win money and free T-shirts and pins!!

Can you draw, design, or paint? Can you capture a thousand words with just a single image? Do you want to see your artwork worn by hundreds and hundreds of students all over the state? If so, please submit your designs to our contest today!!!

The GSA Network is currently looking for individual artists or GSAs who want to impress everyone with their artistic skills and earn some cash! We need designs for two things: One design is for a GSA Network T-shirt, and the other is for a GSA Network button.

These designs should represent a strong, fierce message about youth activism and the GSA Network mission statement: "Empowering youth to fight homophobia and transphobia in schools." Show us what you see when you think about the power of coming together and creating change! For more information about GSA Network's mission statement and our work, please visit http://www.gsanetwork.org/about/index.html

The T-shirts and buttons will be distributed state-wide. Yes, this is your chance to get your artwork worn by many, many GSA members and other LGBTQ youth supporters all over California.

The winner for the T-shirt design will receive $100 + 5 free T-shirts!!!
The winner for the button design will receive $50 + 25 free buttons!!!

Rules…rules…there are always rules…
1) No profanity
2) No more than 3 colors for the T-shirt (This helps keep costs low so we can print up more shirts for everyone!)
3) Email your designs as JPEG or Adobe Photoshop attachments to mailto:kiely@gsanetwork.org, or mail them to our office: 1550 Bryant St, Ste 800, San Francisco, CA 94103
4) Designs will not be returned
5) The original artwork becomes property of GSA Network
6) Submission deadline: Friday, December 1, 2006.

Remember, the button designs should be tiny enough to show up easily on a small pin. T-shirt designs can be larger with more details. Words and phrases can also be used by themselves or incorporated with the artwork!

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5. Re-Register Your GSA Today - Get New Resources & Keep Informed!

Before you plan any events for your GSA, remember to register or re-register your group with GSA Network. Do it NOW to make sure you receive our student resource sheets, FREE posters, other resources, and notifications of future GSA Network or LGBT-related events. Please note that mailings will go out only to California GSAs in middle and high schools.

Register online at http://www.gsanetwork.org/register/index.php

For more info, email Tanya Mayo at mailto:tanya@gsanetwork.org or call 415-552-4229

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6. Apply for GSA Network Youth Council! It's Cool! (Statewide)

GSA Network is accepting applications for new Youth Council members.
Go to the website and apply: http://www.gsanetwork.org/about/ycapp.html

The GSA Network Youth Council is a diverse group of youth leaders from GSAs all over California. As a member of the Youth Council, you will learn skills to become a stronger activist and work toward creating a safer climate at your school for LGBTQ youth and straight allies. You will get support around mounting a campaign, planning events, and starting a GSA club on your campus. In addition, Youth Council members are responsible for giving input to GSA Network and helping to guide our programs. Youth Council members will represent the needs of GSAs and youth activists from their geographic region, as well as plan events and lead peer-to-peer workshops, leadership trainings, advocacy trainings, and activist camps.

As a member of the Youth Council, you will have monthly opportunities to
* Network with youth from throughout your region
* Get peer and staff support and feedback on your ongoing campaign, action, or event
* Give input on GSA Network's programs, policies, and curriculum development.

In addition, you may have an opportunity to
* Help plan and run a youth-led conference
* Present workshops at local conferences
* Plan and participate in GSA Network social activities, like Pride
* Apply to become a paid peer-to-peer youth trainer
* Discuss emerging trends in the LGBTQ and greater social justice movement
* Provide occasional technical assistance to other GSAs.

Requirements
* Willingness to commit to serving on Youth Council for one year
* Commitment to creating change for LGBTQ youth and fighting homophobia and transphobia in schools
* Interest in developing and suggesting ideas to strengthen GSA Network
* Must be a student in a public or private middle or high school in California.

Southern California
For more info, email mailto:carlos@gsanetwork.org or call 213-534-7162.

Central Valley
For more info, email mailto:robin@gsanetwork.org or call 559-268-2780.

Northern California
For more info, email mailto:marco@gsanetwork.org or call 415-552-4229.

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7. Apply for GSA Network Advocacy Committee! It's Even Cooler! (Statewide)

As a member of the Advocacy Committee, you will learn skills to become a stronger advocate to create statewide change and safer, more supportive schools for all students. Members are also responsible for providing input towards the planning of Queer Youth Advocacy Day (QYAD). QYAD is an annual, all-youth lobbying day held at the Capitol in Sacramento that brings hundreds of youth together to speak to lawmakers about the needs of LGBTQ students. In addition, members are responsible for giving input that will guide GSA Network's advocacy program and for providing feedback and recommendations on legislation being considered by GSA Network for future support, endorsement, or other kinds of action.

The Advocacy Committee generally meets once per month with GSA Network's Advocacy Coordinator via a toll-free telephone conference line.

As a member of the Advocacy Committee, you will have monthly opportunities to
* Network with youth from throughout California
* Get peer and staff support and feedback on your GSA's advocacy efforts
* Give input on GSA Network's statewide advocacy program
* Learn about and discuss legislation and policies affecting LGBTQ youth in schools
* Help plan Queer Youth Advocacy Day and recruit youth in your area to participate.

In addition, you may have an opportunity to
* Become an Advocacy Day Leader and train youth in your assigned district in advocacy skills
* Lead lobbying visits to lawmakers' offices
* Lobby lawmakers during visits to their district offices in your area
* Become a youth media spokesperson on advocacy issues for GSA Network.

Requirements
* Willingness to commit to serving on the Advocacy Committee for one year
* Commitment to creating statewide and local change for LGBTQ youth and to fighting homophobia and transphobia in schools all over California, specifically with a focus on legislative advocacy and policy change
* Interest in developing and suggesting ideas on how to strengthen the GSA Network's advocacy program
* Must be a student in a public or private middle school or high school in California.

For more info or to apply, email mailto:advocacy@gsanetwork.org or call 415-552-4229.

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8. Save the Date! Queer Youth Advocacy Day 2007! (Sacramento)

Mark your calendars for March 26, the date of Queer Youth Advocacy Day 2007!

Queer Youth Advocacy Day (QYAD) is a youth-led lobby day at the Capitol in Sacramento where hundreds of youth activists come together and educate lawmakers about the need for statewide policy that will make schools safer and more supportive for LGBTQ youth.

QYAD 2006 was huge success that brought 500 people to the Capitol, showed California legislators the power of youth activism, and opened a lot of people's eyes to the kind of harassment and discrimination still faced by many students. Now, it's time to go back to the Capitol and show them that we're still fighting for safer schools!

WHO: LGBTQ youth & their allies
WHERE: Crest Theater & the Capitol (Sacramento)
WHEN: Monday, March 26, 2007
WHY: To network with other youth activists, learn important advocacy skills, and help make change for schools all over California

Informational packets with additional details will be mailed out later this fall to all GSAs registered with GSA Network. Keep an eye on your mailboxes!

For more info, email mailto:advocacy@gsanetwork.org or call 415-552-4229.

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9. Liberation Ink Posters - Free For GSAs! (Statewide)

LIBERATION INK POSTERS AVAILABLE
FREE FOR GSAs IN CALIFORNIA!

Five poster designs (and two new ones expected by December 06) are available for GSAs, organizations, and individuals who are building a presence of youth voices for justice, peace, and youth empowerment while fighting against hatred, harassment, and discrimination of all kinds. Every GSA in California can receive 30 FREE posters to use at their school (each poster after 30 costs $1). From community organizations and individuals, we request a donation of $5 each for 1-10 posters and $4 each for 11-30 posters. Large quantity discounts are available.

You can view the designs and order posters on the Liberation Ink website: http://www.gsanetwork.org/freezone/liberation
Please note that we are currently out of POSTER #6. We should have this poster by late November.

HERE ARE SOME WAYS TO USE LIBERATION INK TO MAKE CHANGE AT YOUR SCHOOL:

* Attach information about your GSA to the posters to advertise and recruit members
* Encourage teachers to hang the posters in their classrooms
* Have GSA members lead discussions and activities related to the posters
* Use the posters as part of an anti-slur campaign
* Put the posters up in the courtyard with easels and/or use them while you're tabling
* Get the posters printed in your school or community newspaper with an article or announcement about your GSA
* Create an agreement for teachers to sign, and give them posters to symbolize their support
* Display the whole Liberation Ink series in one place, or fill a whole wall with posters in a grid
* Use the posters in conjunction with GLSEN'S Day of Silence (April), Transgender Day of Remembrance (November), LGBT History Month (October), LGBT Pride Month (June), National Coming Out Day (October 11), and/or Diversity Day or Week at your school.

Liberation Ink is a collaborative project of GSA Network, LYRIC, and Mission Grafica at the Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts in San Francisco. It is supported by Youth Initiatives Program of the Open Society Institute, San Francisco Arts Commission, and Walter and Elise Haas Fund.

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10. Sign-up for the High Contrast Photo Exhibit at Your School! (Bay Area)

GSA Network's High Contrast, a photo-narrative exhibit by youth for youth, is on the move again!

"I think it was powerful and provocative and sparked good conversations." - GSA Advisor

"There were at least 400 students that interacted with the exhibit. The whole week while High Contrast was there, the GSA and other groups on campus did workshops on hate crimes and ways to deal with them, letting students know that this is an issue that needs to be addressed." - GSA Student President

"Many students responded well to the universality of human issues and emotions. The emotions weren't just linked to being gay, they were feelings we all have." - GSA Advisor

In this exhibit we bring you our voices with hopes that you will hear us, see us... and identify. We use art as a means for change -- to show people what they might not choose to see, to incite dialogue, and to inspire transformation. We want to make schools free from harassment, discrimination, and violence. We don't want anyone to leave thinking, 'This isn't my issue.' Because all kinds of people are lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender. Because there are so many shades to our identities. Because we all deserve to be safe enough to learn. - High Contrast

High Contrast is now available for circulation. If you are a GSA in the Bay Area interested in bringing the High Contrast photo exhibit to your school, email mailto:highcontrast@gsanetwork.org

For more information on and pictures of High Contrast, go to http://www.gsanetwork.org/highcontrast/index.html

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Northern California
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11. The Other Side of the Closet (San Francisco)

THE NEW CONSERVATORY THEATRE CENTER PROUDLY PRESENTS:

A YouthAware Educational Theatre
FREE COMMUNITY PERFORMANCE
Underwritten by the Wells Fargo Corporation

Monday December 4, 2006 at 7:00 PM at the New Conservatory Theatre Center 25 Van Ness Ave. @ Market St.
Audience discussion with the cast and director immediately following the performance. Light refreshments will be served.

FOR YOUR FREE TICKETS, CONTACT OUR BOX OFFICE 415-861-8972
Please join us for this complimentary performance of The New Conservatory Theatre Center's YouthAware Educational Theatre presentation of a safe schools program, The Other Side of the Closet by Ed Roy.

We welcome friends, family, teachers, allies, administrators, parents, teens, LGBT community members, and anyone with an interest in previewing this compelling social issue theatre for youth. This program has educated teens all over Northern California since 2000, about homophobia, diversity, and the CA Student Safety Act, AB537, in an innovative and engaging format. Feel free to forward this notice to anyone interested in attending.

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12. Free Money for LGBT Youth! (Bay Area)

CALLING ALL BAY AREA LGBT YOUTH

-- Are you interested in making $25?

-- Do you want to help other lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth and their families?

WE NEED YOUR HELP to reach parents, foster parents, guardians and caregivers!!
Contact us to find out more and how you can get involved.

Call 415-522-8537 or 1-888-354-4222 or e-mail us at mailto:fap@sfsu.edu

The Family Acceptance Project is a research and education project of the Cesar E. Chavez Institute at San Francisco State University developed in 2002 to help increase family support for LGBT young people.

http://familyproject.sfsu.edu

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13. League of Youth Voices Accepting Applications (San Francisco)

What Is The League of Youth Voices?

The League of Youth Voices (LYV) is a network of youth groups in San Francisco dedicated to creating positive changes in their communities. Each group in the network will have a youth representative on LYV.

LYV is a youth networking opportunity for your group to:
o Spread the word about topics of concern.
o Promote events or projects.
o Get support for community change projects through min-grants.
o Network with a broad coalition of young groups
o Attend workshops to build leadership skills and abilities.

LYV will also plan city-wide events, participate in a state-wide teen conference, and visit each others’ program sites so that we may better understand and support the exciting work of young people in our city.

Commitments?
There are a few commitments we need from your program to make the year-long journey easy for all of us.
o Meetings once a month with dinner provided. (Day/time TBA.)
o Host a visit of your own program’s site for fellow LYV members.
o Have at least one adult ally (advisor etc.) and one youth.

How Do I Join LYV?
All you need to do is contact Michele for the application and mail them to the following address:
Michele Paolella
Youth Leadership Institute
246 First Street, Suite 400
San Francisco, California 94105

If you have any questions or concerns, or need assistance filling out the application please contact Michele Paolella at (415) 836-9160 or by email at mailto:mepaolella@hotmail.com

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National
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14. Participate in a Research Study!

Louisiana Tech University is conducting a study regarding gender roles and identity of lesbian and bisexual women. The study is conducted entirely online, and we are offering an incentive--participants may enter a drawing for a chance to win one of eight $25 prizes.

We are a group of researchers interested in learning more about the gender roles and identity of women who have sex with women. We are attempting to develop an instrument to measure gender roles and identity. If you are a woman (either biologically or not) who has sex with other women, and are willing to anonymously answer questions of a personal nature about yourself, please follow the link below.

You will be asked to answer questions designed to help determine the types of personal characteristics, relational behavior, and beliefs associated with gender roles and identity as they relate to women who have sex with other women. Some of the items are of an explicit, sexual nature and you will be asked to provide responses as they relate to you personally. Your information will not be analyzed on an individual level, but rather as a group with a number of other respondents ensuring your anonymity.

You may exit the study at any time, and will be reminded of the explicit nature of the study prior to seeing any of the more explicit items. If after answering the demographic questions you decide you no longer wish to respond to the intimate items you will be offered a formal opportunity to exit the study, in which case your responses to the demographic items will be retained. You may also close the browser and leave the study at any time during the study. The formal opportunity is just in place to assure you are aware of the nature of the study prior to exposure to the potentially sensitive items.

If you have any concerns about the study, feel free to contact one of the researchers listed below. Individuals who complete the entire survey will be given the opportunity to be entered into a drawing for one of eight $25.00 gift certificates that you will be able to redeem on line. In no way will your responses to the survey items be connected to your drawing entry. Thanks in advance for your time and consideration. We sincerely appreciate any level of participation.

Link to Survey: http://www.latech.edu/tech/education/psychology/phpQ/fillsurvey.php?sid=10

Desireé LeBoeuf-Davis
Counseling Psychology Doctoral Student
Louisiana Tech University
Ruston, LA 71272
(318) 257-3413

Dr. Tony Young
Interim Associate Dean
College of Education
Louisiana Tech University
Ruston, La 71272
(318) 257-3229

Diana Cabrera
Counseling Psychology Doctoral Student
Louisiana Tech University
Ruston, LA 71272
(318) 257-3413

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Scholarships
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15. PFLAG National Scholarships Available!

2007 scholarship materials now available!!

Application materials can be downloaded by students and financial aid administrators from our website,
http://www.pflag.org/scholarships.html

While parental support of, or consent to, the submission of an application to the PFLAG National Scholarships Program is desirable, it is not a requirement of the program. Special consideration is given to students in need, and to students who are living independently of their parents. Furthermore, in many cases students that are ineligible for federal funding may apply to the Program for support.

The National Scholarships are restricted to graduating high school seniors with a minimum GPA of 3.0 who will be attending 2 or 4 year colleges for the first time in fall 2007. Other requirements are set out in the enclosed materials. Application packets
should be mailed to the following address postmarked no later than February 14, 2007:

PFLAG National Scholarships Program
1726 M Street, NW, #400
Washington, DC 20036

Students awarded a scholarship by a local PFLAG scholarship program are still eligible for a national award. Consequently, there should not be any conflict of interest between the National Scholarships Program and local PFLAG scholarship programs. Students who are related to your chapter members or who have been closely involved with your chapter are welcome to apply for one of the National Scholarships.

If you have questions about the Program, please contact the scholarships administrator at (202) 467-8180 extension 219, or mailto:schools@pflag.org.

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NEWS
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16. NEWS: Calif. Appeals Court Asked To Uphold Anti-Bully Ruling

by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff
November 22, 2006

(San Diego, California) Lawyers for two students at a San Diego area school have asked a California appeals court to uphold a ruling that found the Poway Unified School District responsible for not protecting LGBT students.

Joey Ramelli and Megan Donovan were students at Poway High School, a school in the Poway Unified School District in northern San Diego County. Over the course of their junior year other students relentlessly taunted them with antigay slurs and Joey was even physically assaulted and his car was vandalized.

The two students found the harassment so brutal that they both had to drop out of Poway High School and completed studies toward their high school diploma at home. Represented by Lambda Legal they took the district to court in 2005.

During the trial the court was told that both Donovan and Ramelli reported the harassment to school officials but nothing was done. The jury found that the officials took "minimal or no action at all" when they reported the incidents. Further, the jury found that the harassment was so "severe and pervasive" that they awarded a combined $300,000 to the students.
Ramelli was awarded $175,000 and Donovan $125,000. They had sought $225,000 each.

"I kept a log of the times when I was called 'fag' and other derogatory words and when I was physically assaulted or my life was threatened," Ramelli said.

To read the full story, visit:
http://www.365gay.com/Newscon06/11/112206school.htm

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17. NEWS: Davis Unified School District Addresses Discrimination

Local teen's home egged, parents' car set on fire

By: Michael Bott
The California Aggie
November 27, 2006

In light of a recent incident in which a Harper Junior High School student submitted the names of 14 students who he alleged had been harassing him because of his gay parents, the Davis school board is focusing on spreading tolerance and awareness throughout Davis schools.

Guy Fischer, one of the boy's fathers, composed an e-mail about the incidents with his partner Richard. He said in the e-mail, which was sent to UC Davis student James Schwab, that he felt two incidents that occurred in October were related to his son's harassment.

"On October the 14, 2006, we awoke to see our car engulfed in flames in our front driveway, victim of a horrible arson," Fischer said. "A week after the firebombing of the car, our home was toilet papered and egged. We have since found out that the toilet papering and egging were related to homophobia our son has faced at his school."

Lt. Colleen Turay of the Davis Police Department said that although the DPD has not made any arrests in the arson case, officers apprehended three juveniles suspected of vandalizing the Fischers' house. The motivation, said Turay, was not hate based.

"When they gave us the info that they had been vandalized, they gave us a list of 14 kids who had been making some disgusting comments to [the boy]," Turay said. "These kids that we have identified as the vandals were not on the list."

Turay attributed the crime to a dispute between Fischer's son and the vandals, which she said was unrelated to homophobia. She added that the DPD had no evidence to suspect the arson was a hate crime.

Ryken Grattet, a UC Davis professor of sociology, said adolescents often get away with serious offenses with a slap on the wrist when they come from affluent neighborhoods.

To read the full story, visit:
http://www.californiaaggie.com/media/storage/paper981/news/2006/11/27/CityNews/Davis.Unified.School.District.Addresses.Discrimination-2507993.shtml?norewrite200611291560&sourcedomain=www.californiaaggie.com

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18. NEWS: Testimony will Start for Former Garden Grove Student

By KNX1070 NewsRadio Staff
November 28, 2006

SANTA ANA, CA (CNS) -- Testimony will start at a trial held to decide a lawsuit that a former high school student filed against the Garden Grove Unified School District, alleging her privacy rights were violated when her mother was told she was gay.

Charlene Nguon sued the district on September 7, 2005, alleging that Ben Wolf, principal of Santiago High School, told her mother about Nguon's sexuality at a parent meeting in 2004, something her mother did not know at the time.

The suit also claimed Nguon suffered discrimination when she was singled out for discipline for kissing and hugging her girlfriend when similar activity by heterosexual couples at the school was ignored.

The suit asked that a district policy regarding displays of affection be applied equally to gay and heterosexual students.

Alan Trudell, a spokesman for the district, has asserted that the district does not engage in discriminatory practices.

In court papers on the privacy claim, the district said Nguon lost that right to privacy because she was openly gay on campus.

A year ago, Selna refused a motion to dismiss the case.

Selna ruled that Nguon ''has a legally protected privacy interest in information about her sexual orientation.''

Christine Sun, an attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California, said Selna left intact virtually every one of Nguon's claims in the lawsuit.

Nguon said she was suspended, then forced to attend another school when she refused to stop exhibiting affection for her girlfriend.

To read the full story, visit:
http://www.knx1070.com/pages/134573.php?contentType=4&contentId=248633

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November 22, 2006

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

GSA Network Highlight
Youth Empowerment Summit (YES) a Success!
Go directly to GSA Network highlight

GSA Network Announcements
1. Save the Date! GSA Network Benefit in January! (Bay Area)
2. CONTEST: Enter the GSA Network T-shirt & Pin Design Contest! (Statewide)
3. Re-Register Your GSA Today - Get New Resources & Keep Informed!
4. Apply for GSA Network Youth Council! It's Cool! (Statewide)
5. Apply for GSA Network Advocacy Committee! It's Even Cooler! (Statewide)
6. GSA Network Leadership Training! (Oakland)
7. Save the Date! Queer Youth Advocacy Day 2007! (Sacramento)
8. Liberation Ink Posters - Free For GSAs! (Statewide)
9. Sign-up for the High Contrast Photo Exhibit at Your School! (Bay Area)
10. GSA Network is Seeking a Fall Intern! (San Francisco)
Go directly to GSA Network announcements

Other Announcements
Central Valley
11. Reel Pride Night OUT! (Fresno)
Go directly to Central Valley listings

Northern California
12. The Other Side of the Closet (San Francisco)
13. Free Money for LGBT Youth! (Bay Area)
14. Paid Focus Group for Female Queer Youth (San Francisco)
15. Youth Making A Change Ally Gathering (San Francisco)
16. CUAV Speakers Bureau Training (San Francisco)
Go directly to Northern California listings

Jobs
17. Transgender Law Center Policy Advocate (San Francisco)
Go directly to Jobs listings

News
18. NEWS: Florida School District Sued For Refusing Gay Club
19. NEWS: Anti-Homophobia Play Could Bring Drama to Manteca School
20. NEWS: California Student Journalists Win Free-Speech Fight
21. NEWS: A Stand Against Hate
Go directly to News listings

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

Youth Empowerment Summit (YES) a Success!

More than three hundred and fifty youth from all over Northern and Central California attended this year's Youth Empowerment Summit, a youth-led conference, on November 18, 2006. "It was a day of great networking, awesome workshop presenters, and amazing positivity," said one participant.

The third annual YES Conference certainly achieved its goal of educating and empowering youth to fight homophobia and transphobia in schools. The conference featured a total of thirty workshops throughout the day, which included such topics as transgender rights, safer sex tips, drug abuse prevention, and coming out. A favorite workshop of one youth participant was "Beyond the Binary: Gender Campaigning" because "the session taught me, as a queer youth advocate, how to reach out beyond just trying to represent the lesbian, gay, bisexual, male, and female populations, but also those who are non-gender conforming." An adult conference participant enjoyed the "Queer History 101" workshop: "It really helped youth and adults to be more aware of the queer past, as well as bridge the gap between the generations that attended the conference." Another popular workshop was "Letters from Home," a short film about one transgender man's transition and how it affected his relationship with his family. One participant commented about this workshop: "It was amazing and inspiring. I'm going to use what I learned and take it to my Gay-Straight Alliance at school and really break ground."

The all-day conference also featured a resource fair in which twenty community organizations participated, a dance and drag show in the evening, as well as entertainment by a Bay Area transgender performer, Katastrophe.

The sharing of knowledge and connections created between community members really made the day a success. In the words of one youth participant: "I felt comfortable and like I fit in. This conference made me feel very proud to be gay." Youth and adults alike left the conference empowered and ready to make positive changes in their own communities.

Thanks to all the volunteers who helped make this event run smoothly! Please send any pictures of the event you would like to share to mailto:yes@gsanetwork.org

GSA Network hopes to see you all again next year for the fourth annual YES Conference!

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

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1. Save the Date! GSA Network Benefit in January! (Bay Area)

*****SAVE THE DATE*****

Thursday, January 25, 2007

Last year, we brought you a private screening of "RENT - The Movie"...

This year, get ready for the WORLD PREMIERE of "Legally Blonde - The Musical" when it hits the stage at the Golden Gate Theatre in San Francisco!

Tickets will be available as a benefit for GSA Network!

More info coming soon about ticket prices, VIP tickets, and corporate sponsorship packages!

Thanks to a tiered-ticket structure, everyone from students to VIP underwriters will be able to enjoy an exclusive theatrical event together, all while helping raise much-needed funds for the only student-led organization that connects GSA clubs across California.

To learn more about Legally Blonde - The Musical visit: http://www.shnsf.com/shows/show.asp?key=18&subkey=513

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2. CONTEST: Enter the GSA Network T-shirt & Pin Design Contest! (Statewide)

MAKE YOUR MARK ALL OVER CALIFORNIA!
Enter the GSA Network T-shirt & pin design contest!

For more info, email Tanya Mayo at mailto:tanya@gsanetwork.org or call 415-552-4229.

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4. Apply for GSA Network Youth Council! It's Cool! (Statewide)

GSA Network is accepting applications for the Youth Council.
Go to the website and apply: http://www.gsanetwork.org/about/ycapp.html

The GSA Network Youth Council is a diverse group of youth leaders from GSAs all over California. As a member of the Youth Council, you will learn skills to become a stronger activist and work toward creating a safer climate at your school for LGBTQ youth and straight allies. You will get support around mounting a campaign, planning events, and starting a GSA club on your campus. In addition, Youth Council members are responsible for giving input to GSA Network and helping to guide our programs. Youth Council members will represent the needs of GSAs and youth activists from their geographic region, as well as plan events and lead peer-to-peer workshops, leadership trainings, advocacy trainings, and activist camps.

As a member of the Youth Council, you will have monthly opportunities to
* Network with youth from throughout your region
* Get peer and staff support and feedback on your ongoing campaign, action, or event
* Give input on GSA Network's programs, policies, and curriculum development.

In addition, you may have an opportunity to
* Help plan and run a youth-led conference
* Present workshops at local conferences
* Plan and participate in GSA Network social activities, like Pride
* Apply to become a paid peer-to-peer youth trainer
* Discuss emerging trends in the LGBTQ and greater social justice movement
* Provide occasional technical assistance to other GSAs.

Requirements
* Willingness to commit to serving on Youth Council for one year
* Commitment to creating change for LGBTQ youth and to fighting homophobia and transphobia in schools
* Interest in developing and suggesting ideas to strengthen GSA Network
* Must be a student in a public or private middle or high school in California.

Southern California
For more info, email mailto:carlos@gsanetwork.org or call 213-534-7162.

Central Valley
For more info, email mailto:robin@gsanetwork.org or call 559-268-2780.

Northern California
For more info, email mailto:marco@gsanetwork.org or call 415-552-4229.

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5. Apply for GSA Network Advocacy Committee! It's Even Cooler! (Statewide)

As a member of the Advocacy Committee, you will learn skills to become a stronger advocate to create statewide change and safer, more supportive schools for all students. Members are also responsible for providing input towards the planning of Queer Youth Advocacy Day (QYAD). QYAD is an annual, all-youth lobbying day held at the Capitol in Sacramento that brings hundreds of youth together to speak to lawmakers about the needs of LGBTQ students. In addition, members are responsible for giving input that will guide GSA Network's advocacy program and for providing feedback and recommendations on legislation being considered by GSA Network for future support, endorsement, or other kinds of action.

The Advocacy Committee generally meets once per month with GSA Network's Advocacy Coordinator via a toll-free telephone conference line.

As a member of the Advocacy Committee, you will have monthly opportunities to
* Network with youth from throughout California
* Get peer and staff support and feedback on your GSA's advocacy efforts
* Give input on GSA Network's statewide advocacy program
* Learn about and discuss legislation and policies affecting LGBTQ youth in schools
* Help plan Queer Youth Advocacy Day and recruit youth in your area to participate.

In addition, you may have an opportunity to
* Become an Advocacy Day Leader and train youth in your assigned district in advocacy skills
* Lead lobbying visits to lawmakers' offices
* Lobby lawmakers during visits to their district offices in your area
* Become a youth media spokesperson on advocacy issues for GSA Network.

Requirements
* Willingness to commit to serving on the Advocacy Committee for one year
* Commitment to creating statewide and local change for LGBTQ youth and to fighting homophobia and transphobia in schools all over California, specifically with a focus on legislative advocacy and policy change
* Interest in developing and suggesting ideas on how to strengthen the GSA Network's advocacy program
* Must be a student in a public or private middle school or high school in California.

For more info or to apply, email mailto:advocacy@gsanetwork.org or call 415-552-4229.

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6. GSA Network Leadership Training! (Oakland)

You are invited to a GSA NETWORK LEADERSHIP TRAINING!

This FREE event will be held on December 9 from 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. It includes breakfast and lunch!

So what is a GSA Network Leadership training?
Youth from various GSAs come together for a FUN, interactive, peer-to-peer training that provides students with the skills to fight homophobia and transphobia in schools. Led by other GSA leaders from around Northern California, the training will show students how to start and run a kick-ass GSA.

Topics include
* How to run a GSA meeting
* Outreach, membership building, and diversity
* Understanding gender and sexual orientation
* Understanding laws that protect LGBTQ youth in schools
* How to take action against slurs, harassment, and discrimination in your school.

This is a great opportunity to network with other GSAs in your area while learning some new skills to strengthen your club.

WHO: GSA members, potential members, and GSA advisors
WHEN: Saturday, December 9, 2006, 10am-4pm
WHERE: Oakland Public Library
125 14th Street
Oakland, CA 94612
COST: Free!

GSA Network values the participation of adult allies in our fight against oppression and injustice in schools, and thus welcomes GSA Advisors and other adult allies to the leadership training. That being said, we ask that they help us to maintain the youth focus of this training.

For more information or to RSVP, please contact
*Marco Castro-Bojorquez, GSA Network Northern California Program Coordinator, at 415-552-4229 or mailto:marco@gsanetwork.org
*Jessi Snow, Teen Outreach Librarian, Oakland Public Library, at 510-238-7233 or mailto:jsnow@oaklandlibrary.org

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7. Save the Date! Queer Youth Advocacy Day 2007! (Sacramento)

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8. Liberation Ink Posters - Free For GSAs! (Statewide)

LIBERATION INK POSTERS AVAILABLE
FREE FOR GSAs IN CALIFORNIA!

You can view the designs and order posters on the Liberation Ink website: http://www.gsanetwork.org/freezone/liberation
Please note that we are currently out of POSTER #6. We should have this poster by late November.

HERE ARE SOME WAYS TO USE LIBERATION INK TO MAKE CHANGE AT YOUR SCHOOL:

*Attach information about your GSA to the posters to advertise and recruit members
*Encourage teachers to hang the posters in their classrooms
*Have GSA members lead discussions and activities related to the posters
*Use the posters as part of an anti-slur campaign
*Put the posters up in the courtyard with easels and/or use them while you're tabling
*Get the posters printed in your school or community newspaper with an article or announcement about your GSA
*Create an agreement for teachers to sign, and give them posters to symbolize their support
*Display the whole Liberation Ink series in one place, or fill a whole wall with posters in a grid
*Use the posters in conjunction with GLSEN'S Day of Silence (April), Transgender Day of Remembrance (November), LGBT History Month (October), LGBT Pride Month (June), National Coming Out Day (October 11), and/or Diversity Day or Week at your school.

Liberation Ink is a collaborative project of GSA Network, LYRIC, and Mission Grafica at the Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts in San Francisco. It is supported by Youth Initiatives Program of the Open Society Institute, San Francisco Arts Commission, and Walter and Elise Haas Fund.

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9. Sign-up for the High Contrast Photo Exhibit at Your School! (Bay Area)

GSA Network's High Contrast, a photo-narrative exhibit by youth for youth, is on the move again!

"In this exhibit we bring you our voices with hopes that you will hear us, see us... and identify. We use art as a means for change -- to show people what they might not choose to see, to incite dialogue, and to inspire transformation. We want to make schools free from harassment, discrimination, and violence. We don't want anyone to leave thinking, 'This isn't my issue.' Because all kinds of people are lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender. Because there are so many shades to our identities. Because we all deserve to be safe enough to learn." - High Contrast

High Contrast is now available for circulation. If you are a GSA in the Bay Area interested in bringing the High Contrast photo exhibit to your school, email mailto:highcontrast@gsanetwork.org

For more information on and pictures of High Contrast, go to http://www.gsanetwork.org/highcontrast/index.html

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10. GSA Network is Seeking a Fall Intern! (San Francisco)

Intern Call Outs!

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

Please note that this is a non-paid position at our San Francisco office.

Your Responsibilities
*If you are student, your school must take responsibility for setting the number of credits for the internship
*If you are coming from a considerable distance, you are responsible for your own housing, living expenses, and any other costs.

How to Apply
Please contact Kiely for an application. Thank you for applying!

Kiely Hosmon
Program Assistant
Phone - 415-552-4229
Fax - 415-552-4729
mailto:kiely@gsanetwork.org
http://www.gsanetwork.org

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Central Valley
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11. Reel Pride Night OUT! (Fresno)

Reel Pride Night OUT!
Another Gay Movie

Friday November 24, 2006
8pm - Tower Theatre
6pm box office opens
Doors open 1/2 hour before film starts
DAY OF FILM - Cash only sales

$10 general admission
$5 VIP and Host Committee Members
To purchase tickets online please visit:
http://www.reelpride.com/2006/f_q_anothergaymovie.php

In the throbbing vein of modern day, kitschy and colorful films, Another Gay Movie takes a crate of neon Crayolas, some fabulous Eichler style, mid-century modern homes, and Brady/Leave It To Beaver suburban flair (even the movie's font title is pulled from the Brady archives) to take a literal "poke" of fun at all the gay clichés.
Kim Owens, http://kaffeinebuzz.com

For more information on Reel Pride, please visit http://www.reelpride.com

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Northern California
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12. The Other Side of the Closet (San Francisco)

THE NEW CONSERVATORY THEATRE CENTER PROUDLY PRESENTS:

A YouthAware Educational Theatre
FREE COMMUNITY PERFORMANCE
Underwritten by the Wells Fargo Corporation

Monday December 4, 2006 at 7:00 PM at the New Conservatory Theatre Center 25 Van Ness Ave. @ Market St.
Audience discussion with the cast and director immediately following the performance. Light refreshments will be served.

FOR YOUR FREE TICKETS, CONTACT OUR BOX OFFICE 415-861-8972
Please join us for this complimentary performance of The New Conservatory Theatre Center's YouthAware Educational Theatre presentation of a safe schools program, The Other Side of the Closet by Ed Roy.

We welcome friends, family, teachers, allies, administrators, parents, teens, LGBT community members, and anyone with an interest in previewing this compelling social issue theatre for youth. This program has educated teens all over Northern California since 2000, about homophobia, diversity, and the CA Student Safety Act, AB537, in an innovative and engaging format. Feel free to forward this notice to anyone interested in attending.

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13. Free Money for LGBT Youth! (Bay Area)

CALLING ALL BAY AREA LGBT YOUTH

-- Are you interested in making $25?

-- Do you want to help other lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth and their families?

WE NEED YOUR HELP to reach parents, foster parents, guardians and caregivers!!
Contact us to find out more and how you can get involved.

Call 415-522-8537 or 1-888-354-4222 or e-mail us at mailto:fap@sfsu.edu

The Family Acceptance Project is a research and education project of the Cesar E. Chavez Institute at San Francisco State University developed in 2002 to help increase family support for LGBT young people.

http://familyproject.sfsu.edu

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14. Paid Focus Group for Female Queer Youth (San Francisco)

A California women's non-profit is holding a focus group about what it's like to be a teen today!

A California women’s non-profit is looking for female queer youth between the ages of 16 and 18 to participate in a focus group on November 30th between 3:30pm and 6pm in downtown San Francisco. All participants will be paid $100 for their time.

If interested, email your name, phone number, sexual identity, age, and the name and phone number of one parent/guardian to mailto:bayarearesearch@aol.com.

Space is limited so be sure to send your information in as soon as possible. All emails must be received by November 23, 2006

Parental Permission Required!
Participation is anonymous

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15. Youth Making A Change Ally Gathering (San Francisco)

You are invited to our Jobs Campaign Ally Gathering. We want to give all our closest folks an update about what's new with our campaign. We will have food and information at the gathering. YMAC is ready to launch an exciting new campaign and we need your support.

OUR GOALS:
-Get more quality jobs for youth under 18 years old
-Get the S.F Ballpark to Increase the Number of Jobs Available For Youth
-To prevent youth violence by creating better employment opportunity's for youth.

When: November 29,2006 @ 4:30pm
Where: 459 Vienna St. and Persia in the Excelcior District S.F CA. 94112

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16. CUAV Speakers Bureau Training (San Francisco)

CUAV Speakers Bureau is more in demand than ever-but we have had to turn teachers and other community leaders down simply because we don't have enough speakers.

We have set the date for an all-ages open training for new speakers. Make a huge difference by spreading the word to your friends, partners, school buddies-anyone you know that you think would make a great LGBTQ speaker.

The dates for the next SPEAKERS BUREAU training will be Sat/Sun January 20th and 21st 2007, in SF.

The training is a full 2-day training (although we generally end early on Sundays) lunch, snacks, and beverages provided.

Interested folks can contact Connie Champagne at mailto:connie@cuav.org

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Jobs
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17. Transgender Law Center Policy Advocate (San Francisco)

The Transgender Law Center (http://www.transgenderlawcenter.org), founded in 2002, is a multi-disciplinary social justice organization working throughout California to ensure that all of us are able to fully and freely express our gender identities. Our Transforming Institutions Project is one of TLC's core means of achieving this goal. Through community organizing, public policy and media advocacy, and public education, TLC engages with institutions in order to make them more transgender friendly. Currently, our work is divided up into programs related to: economic empowerment, health care access, leadership development, safe bathrooms, student safety, and transitioning the bar. TLC also works on other important policy issues on an ad-hoc basis.

The Policy Advocate will work primarily on expanding our health care access work into different counties around California, but also on our projects related to leadership development, safe bathrooms, and student safety. The Policy Advocate will work with TLC staff, consultants, partners, and volunteers to carry out these transformative social change initiatives. Because TLC is a statewide organization, this position will include some amount of travel throughout California (including availability to travel on weekends).

Responsibilities:

·Coordinate TLC's statewide organizing and advocacy campaign to increase access to transgender specific health care in county and community clinics. In addition to assisting with existing efforts, the Advocate will help expand TLC's existing county specific organizing and advocacy efforts into several additional counties.
·Work with students, parents, student safety advocates, and school personnel to advance adoption and implementation of California's Student Safety law on local and statewide level.
·Continue TLC's ground-breaking work on bathroom safety through educating business owners, public officials, and employers about need for supportive policies related to bathroom use and gender-neutral bathrooms.
·Participate in expanding TLC's leadership development program beyond our annual work on the California Transgender Leadership Summit, including possibly initiating a year-long leadership fellows program.
·Translate our policy and advocacy work into written publications similar to Beyond the Binary and Peeing in Peace (both are available on our website).

Required Qualifications:

·Demonstrable cultural competency in working with transgender communities
·Minimum of two years of experience in a paid or volunteer position advocating for the rights of transgender people or other underserved communities.
·Excellent communication skills, including the ability to write clearly, speak in public, and facilitate large and small meetings. Demonstrated experience tailoring messages to different types of audiences is also necessary.
·A degree in law, public policy, public health, social change OR substantial and related real world experience.
·Proven ability to work with a group to plan and implement social change strategies to address a pressing problem of systemic discrimination, isolation, and/or oppression.
·Ability to work without close supervision on both assigned and self-initiated tasks.
·Commitment to a multi-disciplinary approach to social change.

Preferred Qualifications:

·Spanish proficiency and experience working with native Spanish speaking activists and community members.
·Experience creating publications that explain policy proposals in easily understood language.
· Experience creating and implementing media campaigns to support public policy efforts.

Annual salary range: $37,000 - $42,000 DOE

To apply, please send a cover letter and resume as Word attachments to Chris Daley at mailto:chris@transgenderlawcenter.org. Competitive candidates will be invited for first-round, telephone interviews beginning sometime after December 15th.

Feel free to email questions not answered by this posting to the same address. No phone calls, please.

Anticipated start date: February 1, 2007 (earlier and later start dates will be considered)

The Transgender Law Center is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.

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News
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18. NEWS: Florida School District Sued For Refusing Gay Club

by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff
November 15, 2006

(Okeechobee, Florida) The American Civil Liberties Union of Florida today filed a federal lawsuit against the School Board of Okeechobee County after school district administrators allegedly prevented students who formed the Gay-Straight Alliance of Okeechobee High School (GSA) to meet on high school grounds.

The school recognizes other extracurricular clubs - including the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, the Key Club, and the Rodeo team - all of which meet regularly on school grounds.

According to students, anti-gay harassment and discrimination are serious problems at Okeechobee High School. Students Yasmin Gonzalez, Amber Sewell and Erica Rodriguez say school officials have made the problem worse by discriminating against LGBT students.

Gonzalez, Sewell, Rodriguez and others decided to form the GSA to discuss problems caused by anti-gay bias at OHS after school officials refused to allow Gonzalez and her girlfriend to attend the prom as a couple.

They say they hoped the GSA would promote equality and open-mindedness among students, administrators and staff of the high school.

"Straight kids cannot turn their backs on the plague of violence and discrimination against gay and lesbian students," said Amber Sewell, one of the club's founders and straight members. "When students aren't safe, we can't learn. Only when we stand together will we find a solution."

The GSA, which currently meets at a local restaurant, has elected officers and adopted a constitution. The GSA now has approximately 50 members.

"The purpose of the GSA is to provide a safe, supportive environment for students to talk about anti-gay bias, harassment and violence and to work together to promote tolerance, understanding and acceptance of one another, regardless of sexual orientation," said GSA President Yasmin Gonzalez.

To read the full story, visit:
http://www.365gay.com/Newscon06/11/111506school.htm

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19. NEWS: Anti-Homophobia Play Could Bring Drama to Manteca School

By Christian Burkin
Stockton Record
November 15, 2006

MANTECA - Students at East Union High School might get a dramatic lesson in tolerance.

Principal John Alba wants to bring a play about homophobia and teenage coming-out to East Union. On Monday night, he sought advice from Manteca Unified School District's diversity advisory committee about the play, "The Other Side of the Closet."

The play is about five high school students who discover one of their group is gay. The San Francisco-based New Conservatory Theatre Center has been touring schools in Northern California since 2000 performing the piece.

At Monday's meeting, committee members supported the idea but worried about a possible backlash from parents over language used in the play.

"You may not want to offend one group while you defend another," committee member Paul Bennett said.

Jason Messer, district assistant superintendent for education, said that despite the potential for controversy, the play's subject matter is appropriate for high school students.

"It's about how people should be treated and how they actually are treated," he said.

The play's Manteca debut could still be a long way off. Alba said he hoped to bring the performance to East Union this season, but Sara Staley, the play's director, said the school isn't on its schedule, and the season ends Dec. 14th. The new season doesn't begin until next fall.

The price to schools for a performance of "The Other Side of the Closet" is just $250, which Staley said could be worked around through donors.

The idea to bring the play to Manteca came from East Union senior Dane McKinley, president of the school's Gay-Straight Alliance, which works to fight homophobia. McKinley praised the school's administration for its open-mindedness.

To read the full story, visit:
http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061115/A_NEWS/611150334/-1/A_NEWS01

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20. NEWS: California Student Journalists Win Free-Speech Fight

November 16, 2006
www.gay.com

After an 18-month legal battle, students in Kern County, Calif., angered over suppression of gay-themed articles will "exercise freedom of speech and of the press," according to a court order obtained by the American Civil Liberties Union.

Superior Court Judge Sidney P. Chapin was expected to file a court order Thursday mandating speech and press rights for students and saying that "school officials may turn to censorship only as a last resort."

Students at Bakersfield's East High School sued the Kern School District after a series of articles that students wished to publish in the second-to-last 2005 edition of their award-winning paper, The Kernal, about gay student life were censored by their principal.

The students were careful to make sure that they had full consent of the students they interviewed and their parents, the ACLU argued. Administrators blocked publication, claiming vague threats against the LGBT students interviewed but not substantiating any such threats to the students, their parents or police.

Janet Rangel, who graduated from the high school in 2005, was interviewed for the series.

"When our principal said the articles on sexual orientation could not be published in The Kernal, it made me feel like I was back in the closet again, hiding," Rangel said Thursday in a written statement.

"I'm glad that because we didn't back down the articles will be printed. It's important for schools to be a place where students learn and feel comfortable," Rangel said.

To read the full story, visit:
http://www.gay.com/news/article.html?2006/11/16/6

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21. NEWS: A Stand Against Hate

Nov 17, 2006
By Jeff Hudson and Lauren Keene
Davis Enterprise

School board gets earful over anti-gay harassment at Harper

After hearing three hours of emotional testimony Thursday about recent incidents of anti-gay harassment at Harper Junior High School, the Davis Board of Education reaffirmed its commitment to safe schools.

A standing-room-only crowd turned out for the discussion, which stemmed from a case involving a 13-year-old Harper eighth-grader, Zachary Fischer, who last month revealed that, for about a year, he had been the subject of anti-gay harassment from other students because of his father's relationship with another man.

Several students have been disciplined for their role in the harassment, but Zachary's father Guy Fischer is asking for more.

Board members asked Mel Lewis, the district's school climate coordinator, to draw up an action plan designed to reduce or eliminate harassment not just at Harper but at all Davis schools.

Zachary's revelation followed an incident in which the family's South Davis home and car were toilet-papered and splattered with a dozen eggs on the morning of Oct. 21 - exactly a week after the family's Mercedes was torched in the driveway.

To read the full story, visit:
http://www.davisenterprise.com/articles/2006/11/19/news/044new0.txt

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November 15, 2006

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

GSA Network Highlight
Creating Change Conference Underscores Importance of Inclusivity and Coalition Building
Go directly to GSA Network highlight

GSA Network Announcements
1. Don't miss the Youth Empowerment Summit (YES)! (Bay Area)
2. CONTEST: Enter the GSA Network T-shirt & Pin Design Contest! (Statewide)
3. Re-Register Your GSA Today - Get New Resources & Keep Informed!
4. Apply for GSA Network Youth Council! It's Cool! (Statewide)
5. Apply for GSA Network Advocacy Committee! It's Even Cooler! (Statewide)
6. Save the Date! GSA Network Leadership Training! (Oakland)
7. Save the Date! Queer Youth Advocacy Day 2007! (Sacramento)
8. Liberation Ink Posters - Free For GSAs! (Statewide)
9. Sign-up for the High Contrast Photo Exhibit at Your School! (Bay Area)
10. GSA Network is Seeking a Fall Intern! (San Francisco)
Go directly to GSA Network announcements

Other Announcements
Southern California
11. LifeWorks Thanksgiving Dinner (West Hollywood)
12. ThanXgiving Youth Social (West Hollywood)
Go directly to Southern California listings

Northern California
13. November and December Programs at the DeFrank! (San Jose)
14. South Bay Transgender Day of Remembrance Ceremony (San Jose)
15. Free Money for LGBT Youth! (Bay Area)
16. Present an LGBT Speakers Panel At Your School! (Bay Area)
17. LGBT Literature Course Open to High School Students! (San Jose)
18. Making Substance Abuse Programs Work For LGBTQ Adolescents (Concord)
Go directly to Northern California listings

News
19. NEWS: East Bay Parents Gather to Discuss School Problems
20. NEWS: San Francisco School Board Votes to Dump JROTC Program
21. NEWS: South Africans OK Gay Marriage
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+++++++++++++++ GSA NETWORK HIGHLIGHT+++++++++++++++

Creating Change Conference Underscores Importance of Inclusivity and Coalition Building

Every year, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force gathers together activists from across the country for a 5-day conference called Creating Change. The largest conference in the U.S. of its kind, it attracts thousands of participants. The 2006 Creating Change conference was held in Kansas City, Missouri. It was the 19th annual conference.

This year, the honored speakers discussed the current political landscape and focused on the need to build genuine coalitions among different identity groups and political organizations within our LGBTQ movement. For instance, one speaker discussed the importance of connecting the reproductive rights movement to sexual identity freedoms in general, and how the two movements are intertwined. After all, the critical freedom at stake in both of these movements is privacy. Others spoke to the fact that although we made political gains in some progressive areas this past election (such as stopping the ban on abortion in South Dakota, stopping parental notification for abortion in CA and Oregon, and stopping the anti-marriage equality constitutional amendment in Arizona), we suffered defeat in several key immigration and affirmative action measures. In addition, disability rights activists advocated for greater awareness of ableism and greater visibility within the LGBTQ movement. An HIV/AIDS activist (CEO of Gay Men's Health Crisis and the first African American to hold the position) spoke to the fact that the HIV epidemic is about poverty, racism, and the lack of adequate education. She called on those present to make connections between these forms of oppression and other social justice issues that affect the LGBTQ movement.

The take-home message from the conference speakers was that these and other social justice issues are all connected. To be truly progressive, the LGBTQ movement must not leave any of its members behind and must work to address all forms of oppression.

In addition to guest speakers, there were five days of workshops, film screenings, skills academies, and networking sessions for participants to attend. Many events focused on the rights of youth and subjects of interest to youth activists. For instance, workshops included: "A Dialogue With Youth: Talking About Sex and Sexual Freedom," "A Youth HIV Social Marketing Campaign," "An Interactive Poetry Workshop Featuring Alix Olson," "No Longer Alone: Serving Rural Youth," and "Youth in the Crosshairs: The 3rd Wave of Ex-Gay Activism."

The Gay-Straight Alliance Network was represented this year by Executive Director, Carolyn Laub, and Legal Fellow, Natalie Nardecchia, who co-led a seminar with GLSEN entitled "Making Schools Safe: Laws and Policies for Today's Classrooms." The Skills Academy emphasized that the passage and implementation of effective, comprehensive safe schools law and policy is the necessary foundation to ensure that all students have the right to an education.

"It was really inspiring to see the progressive and conscientious work of so many different individuals and organizations within our broad LGBTQ community," Nardecchia said. "There was a sense of hope, but also the call to work harder to make our movement more inclusive and stronger."

Next year, the Creating Change conference will be held in Detroit, MI from November 7-11. To learn more, visit http://www.creatingchange.org

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

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1. Don't Miss the Youth Empowerment Summit (YES)! (Bay Area)

GSA Network's YES Conference is happening in the Bay Area on Saturday, November 18! YES is a FREE conference for LGBTQQI youth activists and their allies who are dedicated to defeating homophobia and transphobia and creating safe and supportive schools for everyone. The target audience is high school & middle school students. Teachers & GSA advisors are welcome.

Here are some of the workshops planned for that day:
o Transgender Rights: Overview and Discussion of Inclusion in Activism
o Regina Antiqua: An Album of Old Queens
o Breaking Free: GSAs in Religious Schools
o Beyond the Binary: Gender Campaigning
o Flaming Legal Activism
o Do You Know that You Are an Expert?: Speaking Truths to Create Social Change
o How to Have a Kick-Ass GSA
o Queerspawn: In a Queer Movement
o 'Zine-Making Workshop
o "Know Dope": An Open Conversation about Substance Use and Abuse Within or Around the LGTBIQQ Youth Community
o Life in the Central Valley
o How to be an Ally to Queer People of Color
o Coming out: Tips and Strategies
o Peace Talks: Building Bridges Between Queer Youth Activists and Their Allies
o Safer Sex
o Resources, Tools and Networks for Safe Schools Advocates
o And many more!

WHO: LGBTQQI youth activists & their allies
WHERE: Everett Middle School, 450 Church Street, San Francisco
WHEN: Saturday, November 18, 9:00am-5:00pm
WHY: To meet other youth leaders, learn new skills, and share strength!
COST: Everything, including food, is FREE!
WHAT ELSE: Get down & dance with everyone you've just met at a special, youth-only (23 and under) dance at SF LGTB Center (1800 Market Street @Octavia Street, San Francisco) from 8pm-11pm!

The YES Conference is a chance for LGBTQQI and straight ally youth to network and enjoy free workshops on activism and topics related to queer life.

Pre-register for the GSA Network's YES Conference at http://www.gsanetwork.org/yes

For more info, email mailto:yes@gsanetwork.org or call 415-552-4229.

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2. CONTEST: Enter the GSA Network T-shirt & Pin Design Contest! (Statewide)

MAKE YOUR MARK ALL OVER CALIFORNIA!
Enter the GSA Network T-shirt & pin design contest!

We have re-opened the design contest due to lack of submissions!! Send us all of your artistic and creative designs for a chance to win money and free T-shirts and pins!!

Can you draw, design, or paint? Can you capture a thousand words with just a single image? Do you want to see your artwork worn by hundreds and hundreds of students all over the state? If so, please submit your designs to our contest today!!!

The GSA Network is currently looking for individual artists or GSAs who want to impress everyone with their artistic skills and earn some cash! We need designs for two things: One design is for a GSA Network T-shirt, and the other is for a GSA Network button.

These designs should represent a strong, fierce message about youth activism and the GSA Network mission statement: "Empowering youth to fight homophobia and transphobia in schools." Show us what you see when you think about the power of coming together and creating change! For more information about GSA Network's mission statement and our work, please visit http://www.gsanetwork.org/about/index.html

The T-shirts and buttons will be distributed state-wide. Yes, this is your chance to get your artwork worn by many, many GSA members and other LGBTQ youth supporters all over California.

The winner for the T-shirt design will receive $100 + 5 free T-shirts!!!
The winner for the button design will receive $50 + 25 free buttons!!!

Rules…rules…there are always rules…
1) No profanity
2) No more than 3 colors for the T-shirt (It helps keep costs low so we can print up more shirts for everyone!)
3) Email your designs as JPEG or Adobe Photoshop attachments to mailto:kiely@gsanetwork.org, or mail them to our office: 1550 Bryant St, Ste 800, San Francisco, CA 94103
4) Designs will not be returned
5) The original artwork becomes property of GSA Network
6) Submission deadline: Friday, December 1, 2006.

Remember, the button designs should be tiny enough to show up easily on a small pin. T-shirt designs can be larger with more details. Words and phrases can also be used by themselves or incorporated with the artwork!

Again, these designs are due NO LATER THAN Friday, December 1, 2006. If you are sending them to us via snail mail, make sure to do so early enough so that we receive them by December 1! GSA Network Youth Council members will then vote on the most amazing images, and we will notify the winners!

Good luck!

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3. Re-Register Your GSA Today - Get New Resources & Keep Informed!

Before you plan any events for your GSA, remember to register or re-register your group with GSA Network. Do it NOW to make sure you receive our student resource sheets, FREE posters, other resources, and notifications of future GSA Network or LGBT-related events. Please note that mailings will go out only to California GSAs in middle and high schools.

Register online at http://www.gsanetwork.org/register/index.php

For more info, email Tanya Mayo at mailto:tanya@gsanetwork.org or call 415-552-4229.

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4. Apply for GSA Network Youth Council! It's Cool! (Statewide)

GSA Network is accepting applications for new Youth Council members.
Go to the website and apply: http://www.gsanetwork.org/about/ycapp.html

The GSA Network Youth Council is a diverse group of youth leaders from GSAs all over California. As a member of the Youth Council, you will learn skills to become a stronger activist and work toward creating a safer climate at your school for LGBTQ youth and straight allies. You will get support around mounting a campaign, planning events, and starting a GSA club on your campus. In addition, Youth Council members are responsible for giving input to and helping to guide the programs of GSA Network. Youth Council members will represent the needs of GSAs and youth activists from their geographic region, as well as plan events and lead peer-to-peer workshops, leadership trainings, advocacy trainings, and activist camps.

As a member of the Youth Council, you will have monthly opportunities to
* Network with youth from throughout your region
* Get peer and staff support and feedback on your ongoing campaign, action, or event
* Give input on GSA Network's programs, policies, and curriculum development.

In addition, you may have an opportunity to
* Help plan and run a youth-led conference
* Present workshops at local conferences
* Plan and participate in GSA Network social activities, like Pride
* Apply to become a paid peer-to-peer youth trainer
* Discuss emerging trends in the LGBTQ and greater social justice movement
* Provide occasional technical assistance to other GSAs.

Requirements
* Willingness to commit to serving on Youth Council for one year
* Commitment to creating change for LGBTQ youth and fighting homophobia and transphobia in schools
* Interest in developing and suggesting ideas to strengthen GSA Network
* Must be a student in a public or private middle or high school in California.

Southern California
For more info, email mailto:carlos@gsanetwork.org or call 213-534-7162.

Central Valley
For more info, email mailto:robin@gsanetwork.org or call 559-268-2780.

Northern California
For more info, email mailto:m arco@gsanetwork.org or call 415-552-4229.

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5. Apply for GSA Network Advocacy Committee! It's even Cooler! (Statewide)

As a member of the Advocacy Committee, you will learn skills to become a stronger advocate to create statewide change and safer, more supportive schools for all students. Members are also responsible for providing input towards the planning of Queer Youth Advocacy Day (QYAD). QYAD is an annual, all-youth lobbying day held at the Capitol in Sacramento that brings hundreds of youth together to speak to lawmakers about the needs of LGBTQ students. In addition, members are responsible for giving input that will guide GSA Network's advocacy program and for providing feedback and recommendations on legislation being considered by GSA Network for future support, endorsement, or other kinds of action.

The Advocacy Committee generally meets once per month with GSA Network's Advocacy Coordinator via a toll-free telephone conference line.

As a member of the Advocacy Committee, you will have monthly opportunities to:
* Network with youth from throughout California
* Get peer and staff support and feedback on your GSA's advocacy efforts
* Give input on GSA Network's statewide advocacy program
* Learn about and discuss legislation and policies affecting LGBTQ youth in schools
* Help plan Queer Youth Advocacy Day and recruit youth in your area to participate.

In addition, you may have an opportunity to:
* Become an Advocacy Day Leader and train youth in your assigned district in advocacy skills
* Lead lobbying visits to lawmakers' offices
* Lobby lawmakers during visits to their district offices in your area
* Become a youth media spokesperson on advocacy issues for GSA Network.

Requirements:
* Willingness to commit to serving on the Advocacy Committee for one year
* Commitment to creating statewide and local change for LGBTQ youth and to fighting homophobia and transphobia in schools all over California, specifically with a focus on legislative advocacy and policy change
* Interest in developing and suggesting ideas on how to strengthen the GSA Network's advocacy program
* Must be a student in a public or private middle school or high school in California.

For more info or to apply, email mailto:advocacy@gsanetwork.org or call 415-552-4229.

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6. Save The Date! GSA Network Leadership Training! (Oakland)

You are invited to a GSA NETWORK LEADERSHIP TRAINING!

This FREE event will be held on December 9 from 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. It includes breakfast and lunch!

So what is a GSA Network Leadership training?
Youth from various GSAs come together for a FUN, interactive, peer-to-peer training that provides students with the skills to fight homophobia and transphobia in schools. Led by other GSA leaders from around Northern California, the training will show students how to start and run a kick-ass GSA.

Topics include:
* How to run a GSA meeting
* Outreach, membership building, and diversity
* Understanding gender and sexual orientation
* Understanding laws that protect LGBTQ youth in schools
* How to take action against slurs, harassment, and discrimination in your school.

This is a great opportunity to network with other GSAs in your area while learning some new skills to strengthen your club.

WHO: GSA members, potential members, and GSA advisors
WHEN: Saturday, December 9, 2006, 10am-4pm
WHERE: Oakland Public Library
125 14th Street
Oakland, CA 94612
COST: Free!

GSA Network values the participation of adult allies in our fight against oppression and injustice in schools, and thus welcomes GSA Advisors and other adult allies to the leadership training. That being said, we ask that they help us to maintain the youth focus of this training.

For more information or to RSVP, please contact:
* Marco Castro-Bojorquez, GSA Network Northern California Program Coordinator, at 415-552-4229 or mailto:marco@gsanetwork.org
* Jessi Snow, Teen Outreach Librarian, Oakland Public Library, at 510-238-7233 or mailto:jsnow@oaklandlibrary.org

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7. Save the date! Queer Youth Advocacy Day 2007! (Sacramento)

Mark your calendars for March 26, the date of Queer Youth Advocacy Day 2007!

Queer Youth Advocacy Day (QYAD) is a youth-led lobby day at the Capitol in Sacramento where hundreds of youth activists come together and educate lawmakers about the need for statewide policy that will make schools safer and more supportive for LGBTQ youth.

QYAD 2006 was huge success that brought 500 people to the Capitol, showed California legislators the power of youth activism, and opened a lot of people's eyes to the kind of harassment and discrimination still faced by many students. Now, it's time to go back to the Capitol and show them that we're still fighting for safer schools!

WHO: LGBTQ youth & their allies
WHERE: Crest Theater & the Capitol (Sacramento)
WHEN: Monday, March 26, 2007
WHY: To network with other youth activists, learn important advocacy skills, and help make change for schools all over California

Informational packets with additional details will be mailed out later this fall to all GSAs registered with GSA Network. Keep an eye on your mailboxes!

For more info, email mailto:advocacy@gsanetwork.org or call 415-552-4229.

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8. Liberation Ink Posters - Free For GSAs! (Statewide)

LIBERATION INK POSTERS AVAILABLE
FREE FOR GSAs IN CALIFORNIA!

You can view the designs and order posters on the Liberation Ink website: www.gsanetwork.org/freezone/liberation
Please note that we are currently out of POSTER #6. We should have this poster by late November.

HERE ARE SOME WAYS TO USE LIBERATION INK TO MAKE CHANGE AT YOUR SCHOOL:

* Attach information about your GSA to the posters to advertise and recruit members
* Encourage teachers to hang the posters in their classrooms
* Have GSA members lead discussions and activities related to the posters
* Use the posters as part of an anti-slur campaign
* Put the posters up in the courtyard with easels and/or use them while you're tabling
* Get the posters printed in your school or community newspaper with an article or announcement about your GSA
* Create an agreement for teachers to sign, and give them posters to symbolize their support
* Display the whole Liberation Ink series in one place, or fill a whole wall with posters in a grid
* Use the posters in conjunction with GLSEN'S Day of Silence (April), Transgender Day of Remembrance (November), LGBT History Month (October), LGBT Pride Month (June), National Coming Out Day (October 11), and/or Diversity Day or Week at your school.

Liberation Ink was a collaborative project of GSA Network, LYRIC, and Mission Grafica at the Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts in San Francisco. It was supported by Youth Initiatives Program of the Open Society Institute, San Francisco Arts Commission, and Walter and Elise Haas Fund.

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9. Sign-up for the High Contrast Photo Exhibit at Your School (Bay Area)

GSA Network's High Contrast, a photo-narrative exhibit by youth for youth, is on the move again!

In this exhibit we bring you our voices with hopes that you will hear us, see us... and identify. We use art as a means for change -- to show people what they might not choose to see, to incite dialogue, and to inspire transformation. We want to make schools free from harassment, discrimination, and violence. We don't want anyone to leave thinking, "This isn't my issue." Because all kinds of people are lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender. Because there are so many shades to our identities. Because we all deserve to be safe enough to learn. - High Contrast

High Contrast is now available for circulation. If you are a GSA in the Bay Area interested in bringing the High Contrast photo exhibit to your school, email mailto:highcontrast@gsanetwork.org

For more information on and pictures of High Contrast, go to www.gsanetwork.org/highcontrast/index.html

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10. GSA Network is Seeking a Fall Intern! (San Francisco)

Intern Call Outs!

WHAT IS IN IT FOR YOU?
As an intern, you will gain hands-on experience working for California's most dynamic LGBTQ youth-led organization. You will gain invaluable insight about a mid-sized non-profit and GSA Network's particular organizational and organizing models. You will also learn a broad range of skills while providing program and/or administrative support.

DUTIES MAY INCLUDE
*Outreach and technical assistance to high school and middle school GSAs
*Curriculum, resource sheet, and program material development
*Media or press work
*Lobbying and policy
*Event planning
*Individual donor fundraising
*Organizational spin-off
*Database systems.

Please note that this is a non-paid position and that the internship is for our San Francisco office.

YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES
*If you are student, your school must take responsibility for setting the number of credits for the internship
*If you are coming from a considerable distance, you are responsible for your own housing, living expenses, and any other costs.

HOW TO APPLY
Please contact Kiely for an application. Thank you for applying!

Kiely Hosmon
Program Assistant
GSA Network
1550 Bryant Street, #800
San Francisco, CA 94103
Phone - 415-552-4229
Fax - 415-552-4729
mailto:kiely@gsanetwork.org
http://www.gsanetwork.org

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Please RSVP to mailto:dgarcia@lifeworksmentoring.org or for more information give us a call: (310) 724-6300

Hope to see you there!

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12. ThanXgiving Youth Social (West Hollywood)

We are just 10 days away from this year's "ThanXgiving Youth Social"!

This will be a free event for LGBTQ youth (ages 14-24) and their allies. There will be free food, live youth performances, special guests, surprises, and more! And this year, we're bringing Turkey back!

When: Saturday, November 18th, 2006
Time: 7:00pm-9:00pm
Where: MCCLA in West Hollywood (8714 Santa Monica Blvd.).
Why: Why Not!?
Web Site: http://www.cityx1.com/thanx

Please forward this information to any and all youth who might be interested in attending!

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Northern California
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13. November and December Programs at the DeFrank! (San Jose)

Q-Kids Shout
Wednesday Nov. 15th 5:30pm-7pm
Cassie Out of Town! This will be an opportunity for you all to facilitate a meeting. Please be sure to pass around the sign-in sheet (to be found at the front desk). Have fun!

1st Youth Slam Poetry Workshop
Thursday Nov. 16th 4:30-6pm
Learn to express yourself through spoken work art, meet new people, hear guest poets, and be introduced to the San Jose Slam Scene. Other workshop dates are: Thurs (Nov 16th, 30th, Dec. 14th) Mon (Nov 20th, Dec. 4th, 18th)

1st Youth Events Committee Meeting
Thursday Nov. 16th 6-7pm (every Third Thursday of the month)
Plan Dances, Movie Nights, Field trips and more! Help create events for and activities for LGBTQ youth. The first event to work on: Dec 15th Youth Dance!

Youth Empowerment Summit
Nov. 18th All day, Everett Middle School in San Francisco
More info here: http://www.gsanetwork.org/yes/
If you would like to travel with the DeFrank group via public transportation please email or call Cassie for details at (408) 293-3040 ext. 111 or email mailto:youthprog@defrank.org

Youth Space Makeover Day
Saturday Dec. 2nd 11am-2pm
Come lend a hand in creating a comfortable, creative and usable youth space. Whether you are a neat-freak, designer, artist or just someone who likes to come to youth meetings- we need your in-put and help!

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14. South Bay Transgender Day of Remembrance Ceremony (San Jose)

The South Bay Transgender Day of Remembrance Ceremony will be held on Monday, November 20th, 2006, at the Billy DeFrank LGBT Community Center, located at 938 The Alameda, San Jose, CA.

The memorial will begin at 7:00 PM.

For more info and a poster you can download, go to: http://www.reelfreedom.com/DOR_Info_2006.htm

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15. Free Money for LGBT Youth! (Bay Area)

CALLING ALL BAY AREA LGBT YOUTH

-- Are you interested in making $25?

-- Do you want to help other lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth and their families?

WE NEED YOUR HELP to reach parents, foster parents, guardians and caregivers!!
Contact us to find out more and how you can get involved.

Call 415-522-8537 or 1-888-354-4222 or e-mail us at mailto:fap@sfsu.edu

The Family Acceptance Project is a research and education project of the Cesar E. Chavez Institute at San Francisco State University developed in 2002 to help increase family support for LGBT young people.

http://familyproject.sfsu.edu

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16. Present an LGBT Speakers Panel At Your School! (Bay Area)

About CUAV’s Speakers Bureau:

Since 1979, CUAV’s Speakers Bureau has been speaking at middle schools and high schools in the San Francisco Unified School District, Bay Area colleges and universities, and professional and community groups. By providing students with the opportunity (often their first) to meet and ask questions of openly lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people, we allow them to question values, dispel myths, destroy stereotypes, and explore feelings. The presentations are structured to be age-appropriate and operate according to specific SFUSD guidelines, and since 1999, CUAV speakers are now approved to speak to elementary school classes from 4th grade up, as part of SFUSD’s Health and Family Life Program. Through classroom education, we attempt to prevent hate and intolerance before it has a chance to take root.

Generally we send out 2 speakers; they will speak about CUAV’s history and our programs (advocacy for survivors of anti-queer hate violence and domestic violence, 24 Crisis Line, and our youth program, the Love & Justice Project.) Each of the speakers provide personal bios (2 minutes or less), and then the bulk of the presentation is Q & A with the group. They conclude with written evaluation forms. The presentations are approximately one hour.

The success of our program speaks for itself. Largely due to positive evaluations we receive, we visit more schools each year, work with more teachers, and discuss LGBT issues with a broader range of students. We operate in compliance with a San Francisco School Board’s resolution, which states that family life and sex education should present factual and unbiased information about LGBT people and their diverse lifestyles. We reach approximately 8,000 young people each year. We seek to educate youth because it is LGBT youth who often express a sense of isolation from their peers and an earnest need to change a youth environment that is typically non-accepting and hostile of their presence. Over 75% of our audiences are youth of color and one-third are immigrant youth. These communities include the counties of San Francisco, Alameda, and Contra Costa.

In addition to CUAV’s classroom presentations, the Speakers Bureau also provides workshops and sensitivity trainings for community-based organizations, non-profits and professional organizations.

If you are interested in becoming a speaker please contact us!

Booking CUAV Speakers:

If you are interested in booking CUAV speakers to visit your school or other venue, please send your request by email to: mailto:connie@cuav.org or call (415) 777-5500 ext. 303. Include dates/times you would prefer, the name of the school/venue, contact phone numbers, the exact address/cross-streets, driving and transit directions, and all important information about the group.

**** It is important that we be in direct contact with the teacher/responsible adult who will be present in the classroom at all times during the presentation. Please remember that we do require a minimum two weeks advance notice to book speakers. We look forward to speaking with you!

Please visit our website for more information: http://www.cuav.org

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17. LGBT Literature Course Open to High School Students! (San Jose)

Are you a youth interested in learning more about LGBT literature?

High school students may take college classes. However, if you are under the age of 18, youth have to fill out an R-40 form, which is a permission slip your parents have to sign. Youth also have to apply to the college, but high school students don't have to pay fees!

This is a literature course, so the focus is on GLTB authors and the portrayal of GLTB people in literature.

Contact mailto:lois.lund@sjcc.edu for more information.

English 061
Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Literature at San Jose City College
Join us online Spring Semester 2007.
Instructor: Trudi Mullerworth

Explore through literature and film the lives and relationships of prominent and controversial personalities of our times.
Selection of featured authors and films include:

Annie Proulx- Brokeback Mountain: Jack Twist and Ennis del Mar are two ranch hands -- 'drop-out country boys with no prospects, brought up to hard work and privation, both rough-mannered, tough spoken' -- glad to have found each other's company where none had been expected. But companionship becomes something else on Brokeback Mountain, something not looked for, something deadly.

Moises Kaufman and Tectonic Theater Project – The Laramie Project: After the brutal murder of Matthew Shepard, Laramie, the place where Matthew lived, changed forever. Some argue that America as a whole changed also. This moving testimony to the effects of Matt's tragedy upon the place he called home is a rare thing - extremely emotive drama that allows the audience to make their own minds up regarding the murder.

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18. Making Substance Abuse Programs Work For LGBTQ Adolescents (Concord)

Don’t miss this COST-FREE training, designed to provide practical clinical techniques and knowledge for counselors, therapists, social workers and other clinicians, working with substance abusing lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transgender and/or questioning (LGBTQ) youth and their families.

Featured facilitator, Willy Wilkinson, has worked on a number of public health research projects serving the LGBTQ community and with mental health and substance abuse providers extensively to develop culturally appropriate treatment approaches for LGBTQ youth.

Friday, November 17, 2006 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Office of Education - Willow Creek Center
1026 Mohr Lane
Concord, CA 94518

Workshop participants will:
- Gain a better understanding of the LGBTQ youth community
- Learn the appropriate language and behavior for addressing LGBTQ youth
- Obtain knowledge on AOD treatment strategies that work with LGBTQ youth
- Identify steps that can be taken to improve services for LGBTQ youth

Don’t miss this COST-FREE workshop worth 5.5-CEU’s!
PRESENTED BY: ONTRACK Program Resources, Inc.
HOSTED BY: Contra Costa County Dept. of Alcohol & Drug Programs
Register online at: http://www.getontrack.org and click “Training Events”, or Contact Cheri at: (916) 498-0500 / mailto:odaniels@ontrackconsulting.org.

Fills Fast – Sign Up Now!

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NEWS
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19. NEWS: East Bay Parents Gather to Discuss School Problems
Same-sex Couples Hit Roadblocks in Childrens' Inclusive Education

By Grace Rauh
San Mateo County Times
November 13, 2006

When it came time for Christy Chung to enroll her daughter in kindergarten, she trekked to 15 schools seeking answers to almost as many questions.

She wanted to know if any students had two mothers or two fathers, if teachers talked about gay families and if the school addressed letters home "Dear Family" instead of "Dear Mom and Dad."

"I was looking to see if they were open and welcoming to families like mine," said Chung, a cheerful mother with a bright smile who lives with her partner and daughter in San Francisco.

"At most of them, I didn't get very far."

Even in the Bay Area, where homosexuality is largely accepted and celebrated, gay parents say schools have a long way to go before their children feel welcome.

To read the full story, visit:
http://www.insidebayarea.com/sanmateocountytimes/localnews/ci_4650039

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20. NEWS: San Francisco School Board Votes to Dump JROTC Program

By Jill Tucker
SF Chronicle
November 15, 2006

After 90 years in San Francisco high schools, the Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps must go, the San Francisco school board decided Tuesday night.

The board voted 4-2 to eliminate the popular program, phasing it out over two years.

Dozens of JROTC cadets at the board meeting burst into tears or covered their faces after the votes were cast. "We're really shocked," said fourth-year Cadet Eric Chu, a senior at Lowell High School, his eyes filling with tears. "It provided me with a place to go."

The proposal approved by the board also creates a task force to develop alternatives to the program that will be tried out next year at various
high schools. The board's decision was loudly applauded by opponents of the program.

Their position was summed up by a former teacher, Nancy Mancias, who said, "We need to teach a curriculum of peace."

The board's move to dismantle the popular program was led by board members Dan Kelly and Mark Sanchez with support from Sarah Lipson and Eric Mar. Casting votes against it were Jill Wynns and Norman Yee. Board member Eddie Chin was absent.

"I think people should not despair too much," said Sanchez. "I think now the work begins. To work within the community to develop new programs that will fulfill the needs of our students."

About 1,600 San Francisco students participate in JROTC at seven high schools across the district. Opponents said the armed forces should have no place in public schools, and the military's discriminatory stance on gays makes the presence of JROTC unacceptable.

To read the full story, visit:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2006/11/15/ROTC.TMP

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21. NEWS: South Africans OK Gay Marriage
Groundbreaking Law must still clear upper house of Parliament

Sharon LaFraniere, New York Times
Wednesday, November 15, 2006

(11-15) 04:00 PST Johannesburg -- South Africa's Parliament voted resoundingly Tuesday to legalize same-sex marriages, making the nation the first in Africa and the fifth in the world to remove legal barriers to them, according to advocates.

The nation's highest court ruled in December that South Africa's marriage statute violated the Constitution's guarantee of equal rights. The court gave the government a year to alter the legal definition of marriage.

That left the government with three choices: legalize same-sex marriages, let the court change the law by fiat, or alter the Constitution, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.

Under the proposal approved by Parliament, heterosexual and homosexual couples could register marriages or civil partnerships. In a concession to critics, the law also would allow civil officers to refuse to marry same-sex couples if such marriages conflicted with their conscience.

If the measure is to become law, as both sides said they expected, it must be approved by the National Council of Provinces, the upper house of Parliament, and signed by President Thabo Mbeki.

In many African nations, homosexuality is still treated as a crime. Some impose stiffer penalties for homosexuality than for rape and murder.

And African leaders regularly denounce homosexuality as immoral and a violation of the natural order and African culture.

Melanie Judge, the program manager for OUT, a gay rights advocacy group, said Parliament had taken a courageous stance in the face of strong political pressure. Although some countries recognize civil partnerships between same-sex couples, she said, only the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain and Canada allow same-sex marriages.

To read the full story, visit http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/11/15/MNGO4MCVVF1.DTL

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November 8, 2006

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

GSA Network Highlight
Fresno Unified School District Works With GSA Network to Create School Safety
Go directly to GSA Network highlight

GSA Network Announcements
1. CONTEST: Enter the GSA Network T-shirt & Pin Design Contest! (Statewide)
2. Re-Register Your GSA Today - Get New Resources & Keep Informed!
3. Apply for GSA Network Youth Council! It's Cool! (Statewide)
4. Apply for GSA Network Advocacy Committee! It's Even Cooler! (Statewide)
5. GSA Network Leadership Training! (Los Angeles)
6. Save the Date! GSA Network Leadership Training! (Oakland)
7. Save the Date! Queer Youth Advocacy Day 2007! (Sacramento)
8. Register Online for the YES Conference! (Bay Area)
9. Liberation Ink Posters - Free For GSAs! (Statewide)
10. Sign-up for the High Contrast Photo Exhibit at Your School! (Bay Area)
11. GSA Network is Seeking a Fall Intern! (San Francisco)
Go directly to GSA Network announcements

Other Announcements
Southern California
12. Free Movie Screening at Crossroads School! (Santa Monica)
13. ThanXgiving Youth Social (West Hollywood)
Go directly to Southern California listings

Northern California
14. Get Involved with Jewish Youth for Community Action (Berkeley)
15. South Bay Transgender Day of Remembrance Ceremony (San Jose)
16. Paid Focus Group for Female Queer Youth (San Francisco)
17. Free Money for LGBT Youth! (Bay Area)
18. Present an LGBT Speakers Panel At Your School! (Bay Area)
19. LGBT Literature Course Open to High School Students! (San Jose)
20. Making Substance Abuse Programs Work For LGBTQ Adolescents (Concord)
Go directly to Northern California listings

Statewide
21. Short Survey on Sex Education
Go directly to Statewide listings

Jobs
22. Youth Team Coordinator (San Francisco)
Go directly to Jobs listings

News
23. NEWS: SF School Board Poised To Eliminate High School ROTC Program
Go directly to News listings

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

Fresno Unified School District Works With GSA Network to Create School Safety

After 3 weeks of trainings, The GSA Network has successfully created a peer-to-peer framework that will work to ensure sensitivity for all students in the Fresno Unified School District's 9th grade classes. Over the past year and half, GSA Network has worked with the FUSD to create LGBT cirriculum additions as well as sensitivity trainings for administrators, faculty, staff, and students. Peer Educators have had the opportunity to learn the importance of sensitivity trainings on a broad campus spectrum and will be working over the next few weeks to train all 9th grade Sociology for Living classes about the harmful consequences of discrimination and harassment on campus.

After attending an intense, full-day, anti-bullying workshop specifically related to LGBT issues, some leaders from Sunnyside High School commented on the impact the workshop made on them. One student stated, "having to come to this training was awesome, even though I accepted people who are LGBT, I like that I can now teach others about tolerance." Another student said, "I believe that bullying is wrong and now I think it's even more wrong because of the things we learned today...I never thought that bullying could lead to suicide."

It is our hope that with the aid of these Peer Educators we have helped to create a climate of appreciation for diversity, as well as a system of response should discrimination or harassment threaten the safety of any student.

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

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1. CONTEST: Enter the GSA Network T-shirt & Pin Design Contest! (Statewide)

MAKE YOUR MARK ALL OVER CALIFORNIA!
Enter the GSA Network T-shirt & pin design contest!

We have re-opened the design contest due to lack of submissions!! Send us all of your artistic and creative designs for a chance to win money and free T-shirts and pins!!

Can you draw, design, or paint? Can you capture a thousand words with just a single image? Do you want to see your artwork worn by hundreds and hundreds of students all over the state? If so, please submit your designs today to our contest!!!

The GSA Network is currently looking for individual artists or GSAs who want to impress everyone with their artistic skills and earn some cash! We need designs for two things: One design is for a GSA Network T-shirt, and the other is for a GSA Network button.

These designs should represent a strong, fierce message about youth activism and the GSA Network mission statement: "Empowering youth to fight homophobia and transphobia in schools." Show us what you see when you think about the power of coming together and creating change! For more information about GSA Network's mission statement and our work, please visit http://www.gsanetwork.org/about/index.html

The T-shirts and buttons will be distributed state-wide. Yes, this is your chance to get your artwork worn by many, many GSA members and other LGBTQ youth supporters all over California.

The winner for the T-shirt design will receive $100 + 5 free T-shirts!!!
The winner for the button design will receive $50 + 25 free buttons!!!

Rules…rules…there are always rules…
1) No profanity
2) No more than 3 colors for the T-shirt (It helps keep costs low so we can print up more shirts for everyone!)
3) Email your designs as JPEG or Adobe Photoshop attachments to mailto:kiely@gsanetwork.org, or mail them to our office: 1550 Bryant St, Ste 800, San Francisco, CA 94103
4) Designs will not be returned
5) The original artwork becomes property of GSA Network
6) Submission deadline: Friday, December 1, 2006.

Remember, the button designs should be small enough to show up easily on a small pin. T-shirt designs can be larger with more details. Words and phrases can also be used by themselves or incorporated with the artwork!

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2. Re-Register Your GSA Today - Get New Resources & Keep Informed!

Before you plan any events for your GSA, remember to register or re-register your group with GSA Network. Do it NOW to make sure you receive our student resource sheets, FREE posters, other resources, and notifications of future GSA Network or LGBT-related events. Please note that mailings will go out only to California GSAs in middle and high schools.

Register online at http://www.gsanetwork.org/register/index.php

For more info, email Tanya Mayo at mailto:tanya@gsanetwork.org or call 415-552-4229.

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3. Apply for GSA Network Youth Council! It's Cool! (Statewide)

GSA Network is accepting applications for new Youth Council members.
Go to the website and apply: www.gsanetwork.org/about/ycapp.html

The GSA Network Youth Council is a diverse group of youth leaders from GSAs all over California. As a member of the Youth Council, you will learn skills to become a stronger activist and work toward creating a safer climate at your school for LGBTQ youth and straight allies. You will get support around mounting a campaign, planning events, and starting a GSA club on your campus. In addition, Youth Council members are responsible for giving input to and helping to guide the programs of GSA Network. Youth Council members will represent the needs of GSAs and youth activists from their geographic region, as well as plan events and lead peer-to-peer workshops, leadership trainings, advocacy trainings, and activist camps.

As a member of the Youth Council, you will have monthly opportunities to
* Network with youth from throughout your region
* Get peer and staff support and feedback on your ongoing campaign, action, or event
* Give input on GSA Network's programs, policies, and curriculum development.

In addition, you may have an opportunity to
* Help plan and run a youth-led conference
* Present workshops at local conferences
* Plan and participate in GSA Network social activities, like Pride
* Apply to become a paid peer-to-peer youth trainer
* Discuss emerging trends in the LGBTQ and greater social justice movement
* Provide occasional technical assistance to other GSAs.

Requirements
* Willingness to commit to serving on Youth Council for one year
* Commitment to creating change for LGBTQ youth and fighting homophobia and transphobia in schools
* Interest in developing and suggesting ideas to strengthen GSA Network
* Must be a student in a public or private middle or high school in California.

Southern California
For more info, email mailto:carlos@gsanetwork.org or call 213-534-7162.

Central Valley
For more info, email mailto:robin@gsanetwork.org or call 559-268-2780.

Northern California
For more info, email mailto:m arco@gsanetwork.org or call 415-552-4229.

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4. Apply for GSA Network Advocacy Committee! It's even Cooler! (Statewide)

As a member of the Advocacy Committee, you would learn skills to become a stronger advocate to create statewide change and safer, more supportive schools for all students. Members are also responsible for providing input towards the planning of Queer Youth Advocacy Day (QYAD). QYAD is an annual, all-youth lobbying day held at the Capitol in Sacramento that brings hundreds of youth together to speak to lawmakers about the needs of LGBTQ students. In addition, members are responsible for giving input that will guide GSA Network's advocacy program and providing feedback and recommendations on legislation being considered by GSA Network for future support, endorsement, or other kinds of action.

The Advocacy Committee generally meets once per month with GSA Network's Advocacy Coordinator via a toll-free telephone conference line.

As a member of the Advocacy Committee, you will have monthly opportunities to:
* Network with youth from throughout California
* Get peer and staff support and feedback on your GSAs advocacy efforts
* Give input on GSA Network's statewide advocacy program
* Learn about and discuss legislation and policies affecting LGBTQ youth in schools
* Help plan Queer Youth Advocacy Day and recruit youth in your area to participate.

In addition, you may have an opportunity to:
* Become an Advocacy Day Leader and train youth in your assigned district in advocacy skills
* Lead lobbying visits to lawmakers' offices
* Lobby lawmakers during visits to their district offices in your area
* Become a youth media spokesperson on advocacy issues for GSA Network.

Requirements:
* Willingness to commit to serving on the Advocacy Committee for one year
* Commitment to creating statewide and local change for LGBTQ youth and to fighting homophobia and transphobia in schools all over
California, specifically with a focus on legislative advocacy and policy change
* Interest in developing and suggesting ideas on how to strengthen the GSA Network's advocacy program
* Must be a student in a public or private middle or high school in California.

For more info or to apply, email mailto:advocacy@gsanetwork.org or call 415-552-4229.

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5. GSA Network Leadership Training! (Los Angeles)

You are invited to a GSA NETWORK LEADERSHIP TRAINING!

This FREE event will be held from 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. It includes breakfast and lunch!

So what is a GSA Network Leadership training?
Youth from various GSAs come together for a FUN, interactive, peer-to-peer training that provides students with the skills to fight homophobia and transphobia in schools. Led by other GSA leaders from around Southern California, the training will show students how to start and run a kick-ass GSA.

Topics include:
* How to run a GSA meeting
* Outreach, membership building, and diversity
* Understanding gender and sexual orientation
* Understanding laws that protect LGBTQ youth in schools
* How to take action against slurs, harassment, and discrimination in your school.

This is a great opportunity to network with other GSAs in your area while learning some new skills to strengthen your club.

WHO: GSA members, potential members, and GSA advisors
WHEN: Saturday, November 11, 2006, 10am-4pm
WHERE: Crossroads High School - 1714 21st Street, Santa Monica, CA 90404
PHONE: 310-829-7391
COST: Free!
CO-SPONSORS: GSA Network, Crossroads High School, and LifeWorks Mentoring

GSA Network values the participation of adult allies in our fight against oppression and injustice in schools, and thus welcomes GSA Advisors and other adult allies to the leadership training. That being said, we ask that they help us to maintain the youth focus of this training.

For more information or to RSVP, please contact:
* Carlos Cabrera, GSA Network Southern California Program Coordinator, at 213-534-7162 or mailto:carlos@gsanetwork.org

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6. Save The Date! GSA Network Leadership Training! (Oakland)

You are invited to a GSA NETWORK LEADERSHIP TRAINING!

This FREE event will be held from 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. It includes breakfast and lunch!

So what is a GSA Network Leadership training?
Youth from various GSAs come together for a FUN, interactive, peer-to-peer training that provides students with the skills to fight homophobia and transphobia in schools. Led by other GSA leaders from around Northern California, the training will show students how to start and run a kick-ass GSA.

Topics include:
* How to run a GSA meeting
* Outreach, membership building, and diversity
* Understanding gender and sexual orientation
* Understanding laws that protect LGBTQ youth in schools
* How to take action against slurs, harassment, and discrimination in your school.

This is a great opportunity to network with other GSAs in your area while learning some new skills to strengthen your club.

WHO: GSA members, potential members, and GSA advisors
WHEN: Saturday, December 9, 2006, 10am-4pm
WHERE: Oakland Public Library
125 14th Street
Oakland, CA 94612
COST: Free!
CO-SPONSORS: GSA Network

GSA Network values the participation of adult allies in our fight against oppression and injustice in schools, and thus welcomes GSA Advisors and other adult allies to the leadership training. That being said, we ask that they help us to maintain the youth focus of this training.

For more information or to RSVP, please contact:
* Marco Castro-Bojorquez, GSA Network Northern California Program Coordinator, at 415-552-4229 or email him at mailto:marco@gsanetwork.org
* Jessi Snow, Teen Outreach Librarian, Oakland Public Library, at or email him at 510-238-7233 or email her at mailto:jsnow@oaklandlibrary.org

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7. Save the date! Queer Youth Advocacy Day 2007! (Sacramento)

Mark your calendars for QYAD 2007 on March 26!

Queer Youth Advocacy Day is a youth-led lobby day at the Capitol where hundreds of youth activists come together and educate lawmakers about the need for statewide policy that will make schools safer and more supportive for LGBTQ youth.

QYAD 2006 was huge success that brought 500 people to the Capitol, showed California legislators the power of youth activism, and opened a lot of people's eyes to the kind of harassment and discrimination still faced by many students. Now, it's time to go back to the Capitol and show them that we're still fighting for safer schools!

WHO: LGBTQ youth & their allies
WHERE: Crest Theater & the Capitol (Sacramento)
WHEN: Monday, March 26, 2007
WHY: To network with other youth activists, learn important advocacy skills, and help make change for schools all over California

Informational packets with additional details will be mailed out later this fall to all GSAs registered with GSA Network. Keep an eye on your mailboxes!

For more info, email mailto:advocacy@gsanetwork.org or call 415-552-4229.

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8. Register Online for the YES Conference! (Bay Area)

GSA Network's YES Conference is coming soon to the Bay Area. YES is a FREE conference for LGBTQQI youth activists and their allies who are dedicated to defeating homophobia and transphobia and creating safe and supportive schools for everyone. The target audience is high school & middle school students. Teachers & GSA advisors are welcome.

WHO: LGBTQQI youth activists & their allies
WHERE: Everett Middle School, 450 Church Street, San Francisco
WHEN: Saturday, November 18, 9:00am-5:00pm
WHY: To meet other youth leaders, learn new skills, and share strength!
COST: Everything, including food, is FREE!
WHAT ELSE: Get down & dance with everyone you've just met at a special, youth-only dance at SF LGTB Center (1800 Market Street @Octavia Street, San Francisco) from 8pm-11pm!

The YES Conference is a chance for LGBTQQI and straight ally youth to network and enjoy free workshops on activism and topics related to queer life.

Pre-register for the GSA Network's YES Conference at www.gsanetwork.org/yes

For more info, email mailto:yes@gsanetwork.org or call 415-552-4229.

Don't forget, GSA Network is also looking for Conference Committee members! If you are interested, please contact Juliana at mailto:yes@gsanetwork.org

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9. Liberation Ink Posters - Free For GSAs! (Statewide)

LIBERATION INK POSTERS AVAILABLE
FREE FOR GSAs IN CALIFORNIA!

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10. Sign-up for the High Contrast Photo Exhibit at Your School (Bay Area)

GSA Network's High Contrast, a photo-narrative exhibit by youth for youth, is on the move again!

In this exhibit we bring you our voices with hopes that you will hear us, see us... and identify. We use art as a means for change -- to show people what they might not choose to see, to incite dialogue, and to inspire transformation. We want to make schools free from harassment, discrimination, and violence. We don't want anyone to leave thinking, "This isn't my issue." Because all kinds of people are lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender. Because there are so many shades to our identities. Because we all deserve to be safe enough to learn. - High Contrast

High Contrast is available for circulation as of October 1, 2006. If you are a GSA in the Bay Area and interested in bringing the High Contrast photo exhibit to your school, email mailto:highcontrast@gsanetwork.org

For more information on and pictures of High Contrast, go to www.gsanetwork.org/highcontrast/index.html

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11. GSA Network is Seeking a Fall Intern! (San Francisco)

Intern Call Outs!

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

Please note that this is a non-paid position and that the internship is for our San Francisco office.

YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES
*If you are student, your school must take responsibility for setting the number of credits for the internship
*If you are coming from a considerable distance, you are responsible for your own housing, living expenses, and any other costs.

HOW TO APPLY
Please contact Kiely for an application.
Thank you for applying!

Kiely Hosmon
Program Assistant
GSA Network
1550 Bryant Street, #800
San Francisco, CA 94103
Phone - 415-552-4229
Fax - 415-552-4729
mailto:kiely@gsanetwork.org
http://www.gsanetwork.org

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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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12. Free Movie Screening at Crossroads School! (Santa Monica)

As part of the queer film series at Crossroads, sponsored by FLAG (our gay/straight alliance), we will be having our next movie screening of the year on Wednesday, Nov. 15th , from 6:00 - 9:00 p.m. We invite you to join us for a great event!

We'll be screening the wonderful movie, TransAmerica. (See description below). If you've seen it before, you know it's great. If you've never seen it, you can't miss it. . .

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 had students from many different GSA's at our last film and it was a blast!

The movie is FREE and free pizza and drinks will be provided!

Important! Please reply and let us know if you might come, so we have an idea of how much pizza to get. Email us at mailto:flag2@xrds.org

TransAmerica

DIR: Duncan Tucker, USA, 2005

In this award-winning movie, Desperate Housewives' Felicity Huffman plays a pre-operative male-to-female transsexual who takes an unexpected journey when she learns that she fathered a son, now a teenage runaway hustling on the streets of New York. The film has been called, "Laugh-out-loud funny. . .and ultimately touching."

Felicity Huffman won a Golden Globe and was nominated for an Oscar for her incredible performance. Keven Zegers, who plays her son, has been called a "major hottie". Come decide for yourself.

Directions:
Crossroads is at 1714 21st St. in Santa Monica, at the corner of 21st St. and Olympic Blvd.

-The screening room we're meeting in is on the 2nd floor of the Arts Building.
-Here's what you do--when you turn onto 21st from Olympic, take an immediate right onto a driveway-looking street and find a place to park. You'll see our "quad" which looks like a parking lot or an alley, and which we call (of course) the alley.
-Walk to the end of the alley to the tall building on the left, enter and climb the stairs to the 2nd floor. You should see people.

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13. ThanXgiving Youth Social (West Hollywood)

We are just 10 days away from this year's "ThanXgiving Youth Social"!

This will be a free event for LGBTQ youth (ages14-24) and their allies. There will be free food, live youth performances, special guests, surprises, and more! And this year, we're bringing Turkey back!

When: Saturday, November 18th, 2006
Time: 7:00pm-9:00pm
Where: MCCLA in West Hollywood (8714 Santa Monica Blvd.).
Why: Why Not!?
Web Site: http://www.cityx1.com/thanx

Please forward this information to any and all youth who might be interested in attending!

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Northern California
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14. Get Involved with Jewish Youth for Community Action (Berkeley)

Looking to build a tight knit community with other teens who care about social justice?

Jewish Youth for Community Action is a youth empowerment program dedicated to building leadership and community through political education and community action for social change. JYCA is open to all high school aged youth; we welcome and encourage all sorts of diverse folk.

To learn more about JYCA please come check out our fun and engaging youth led Program Info Night on Novemeber 19 from 7-9pm at the Jewish Community Center of the East Bay located at 1414 Walnut St in Berkeley. For more information you can check out our website at http://www.jycajustice.org.

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15. South Bay Transgender Day of Remembrance Ceremony (San Jose)

The South Bay Transgender Day of Remembrance Ceremony will be held on Monday, November 20th, 2006, at the Billy DeFrank LGBT Community Center, located at 938 The Alameda, San Jose, CA.

The memorial will begin at 7:00 PM.

For more info and a poster you can download, go to:
http://www.reelfreedom.com/DOR_Info_2006.htm

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16. Paid Focus Group for Female Queer Youth (San Francisco)

A California women's non-profit is holding a focus group about what it's like to be a teen today!

A California women’s non-profit is looking for female queer youth between the ages of 16 and 18 to participate in a focus group on November 30th between 3:30pm and 6pm in downtown San Francisco. All participants will be paid $100 for their time.

If interested, email your name, phone number, sexual identity, age, and the name and phone number of one parent/guardian to mailto:bayarearesearch@aol.com.

Space is limited so be sure to send your information in as soon as possible. All emails must be received by November 23, 2006

Parental Permission Required!
Participation is anonymous

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17. Free Money for LGBT Youth! (Bay Area)

CALLING ALL BAY AREA LGBT YOUTH

-- Are you interested in making $25?

-- Do you want to help other lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth and their families?

WE NEED YOUR HELP to reach parents, foster parents, guardians and caregivers!!
Contact us to find out more and how you can get involved.

Call 415-522-8537 or 1-888-354-4222 or e-mail us at mailto:fap@sfsu.edu

The Family Acceptance Project is a research and education project of the Cesar E. Chavez Institute at San Francisco State University developed in 2002 to help increase family support for LGBT young people.
http://familyproject.sfsu.edu

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18. Present an LGBT Speakers Panel At Your School! (Bay Area)

About CUAV’s Speakers Bureau:

Since 1979, CUAV’s Speakers Bureau has been speaking at middle schools and high schools in the San Francisco Unified School District, Bay Area colleges and universities, and professional and community groups. By providing students with the opportunity (often their first) to meet and ask questions of openly lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people, we allow them to question values, dispel myths, destroy stereotypes, and explore feelings. The presentations are structured to be age-appropriate and operate according to specific SFUSD guidelines, and since 1999, CUAV speakers are now approved to speak to elementary school classes from 4th grade up, as part of SFUSD’s Health and Family Life Program. Through classroom education, we attempt to prevent hate and intolerance before it has a chance to take root.

Generally we send out 2 speakers; they will speak about CUAV’s history and our programs (advocacy for survivors of anti-queer hate violence and domestic violence, 24 Crisis Line, and our youth program, the Love & Justice Project.) Each of the speakers provide personal bios (2 minutes or less), and then the bulk of the presentation is Q & A with the group. They conclude with written evaluation forms. The presentations are approximately one hour.

The success of our program speaks for itself. Largely due to positive evaluations we receive, we visit more schools each year, work with more teachers, and discuss LGBT issues with a broader range of students. We operate in compliance with a San Francisco School Board’s resolution, which states that family life and sex education should present factual and unbiased information about LGBT people and their diverse lifestyles. We reach approximately 8,000 young people each year. We seek to educate youth because it is LGBT youth who often express a sense of isolation from their peers and an earnest need to change a youth environment that is typically non-accepting and hostile of their presence. Over 75% of our audiences are youth of color and one-third are immigrant youth. These communities include the counties of San Francisco, Alameda, and Contra Costa.

In addition to CUAV’s classroom presentations, the Speakers Bureau also provides workshops and sensitivity trainings for community-based organizations, non-profits and professional organizations.

If you are interested in becoming a speaker please contact us!

Booking CUAV Speakers:

If you are interested in booking CUAV speakers to visit your school or other venue, please send your request by email to: mailto:connie@cuav.org or call (415) 777-5500 ext. 303. Include dates/times you would prefer, the name of the school/venue, contact phone numbers, the exact address/cross-streets, driving and transit directions, and all important information about the group.

**** It is important that we be in direct contact with the teacher/responsible adult who will be present in the classroom at all times during the presentation. Please remember that we do require a minimum two weeks advance notice to book speakers. We look forward to speaking with you!

Please visit our website for more information: http://www.cuav.org

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19. LGBT Literature Course Open to High School Students! (San Jose)

Are you a youth interested in learning more about LGBT literature?

High school students may take college classes. However, if you are under the age of 18, youth have to fill out an R-40 form, which is a permission slip your parents have to sign. Youth also have to apply to the college, but high school students don't have to pay fees!

This is a literature course, so the focus is on GLTB authors and the portrayal of GLTB people in literature.

Contact mailto:lois.lund@sjcc.edu for more information.

English 061
Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Literature at San Jose City College
Join us online Spring Semester 2007.
Instructor: Trudi Mullerworth

Explore through literature and film the lives and relationships of prominent and controversial personalities of our times.
Selection of featured authors and films include:

Annie Proulx- Brokeback Mountain: Jack Twist and Ennis del Mar are two ranch hands -- 'drop-out country boys with no prospects, brought up to hard work and privation, both rough-mannered, tough spoken' -- glad to have found each other's company where none had been expected. But companionship becomes something else on Brokeback Mountain, something not looked for, something deadly.

Moises Kaufman and Tectonic Theater Project – The Laramie Project: After the brutal murder of Matthew Shepard, Laramie, the place where Matthew lived, changed forever. Some argue that America as a whole changed also. This moving testimony to the effects of Matt's tragedy upon the place he called home is a rare thing - extremely emotive drama that allows the audience to make their own minds up regarding the murder.

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20. MAKING SUBSTANCE ABUSE PROGRAMS WORK FOR LGBTQ ADOLESCENTS (Concord)

Don’t miss this COST-FREE training, designed to provide practical clinical techniques and knowledge for counselors, therapists, social workers and other clinicians, working with substance abusing lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transgender and/or questioning (LGBTQ) youth and their families.

Featured facilitator, Willy Wilkinson, has worked on a number of public health research projects serving the LGBTQ community and with mental health and substance abuse providers extensively to develop culturally appropriate treatment approaches for LGBTQ youth.

Friday, November 17, 2006 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Office of Education - Willow Creek Center
1026 Mohr Lane
Concord, CA 94518

Workshop participants will:
- Gain a better understanding of the LGBTQ youth community
- Learn the appropriate language and behavior for addressing LGBTQ youth
- Obtain knowledge on AOD treatment strategies that work with LGBTQ youth
- Identify steps that can be taken to improve services for LGBTQ youth

Don’t miss this COST-FREE workshop worth 5.5-CEU’s!
PRESENTED BY: ONTRACK Program Resources, Inc.
HOSTED BY: Contra Costa County Dept. of Alcohol & Drug Programs
Register online at: http://www.getontrack.org and click “Training Events”, or Contact Cheri at: (916) 498-0500 / mailto:odaniels@ontrackconsulting.org.

Fills Fast – Sign Up Now!

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Statewide
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21 . Short Survey on Sex Education

The American School Board Journal Asks: What Should Schools Say About Sex?

When it comes to sex education, "Just say... no?" As Senior Editor Del Stover reports, a lot of people -- and indeed, a large, federally funded abstinence-only movement -- advocate just that. They claim the "comprehensive" sex ed courses taught in many public schools send a mixed message: "Don't have sex under any circumstances -- but if you do..." Proponents of
the comprehensive approach say the message is not confusing and is more attuned to the real needs of students, some of whom are going to engage in sexual activity no matter how much adults preach abstinence.

What do you think schools should say? Please choose a response from those listed below. Or e-mail your response -- with November 2006 Your Turn as the subject line -- to mailto:your-turn@asbj.com. We'll report the results in January.

A. Teach abstinence only.
B. Teach a comprehensive sex education curriculum that emphasizes abstinence before marriage but also gives students information about contraceptives.
C. Don't teach sex education -- it's not the school's job.
D. None of the above (please elaborate).

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Jobs
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22. Youth Team Coordinator (San Francisco)

Do you have a passion for bringing together diverse groups of people to work in partnerships? Do you have an excellent understanding of the array of programs and services available to young people in San Francisco? So you have a deep commitment to youth development and youth leadership practices? If your answers are yes, yes, yes, the Youth Team Coordinator position is perfect for you.

Full time job responsibilities include Youth Team recruitment, training, and supervision; coordinating the implementation of evaluation and assessment activities; policy and program research related to DCYF funding areas; and reporting, record keeping, and general administrative functions.

Desired qualifications include: B.A. and a minimum of 5 years experience working in partnership with youth to do action planning and community project implementation in San Francisco; experience working with young people from low income communities, communities of color, and immigrant communities; excellent writing and public speaking skills.

Details: http://www.yli.org/about/jobs/

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NEWS
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23. NEWS: SF School Board Poised To Eliminate High School ROTC Program

Mercury News
Associated Press
November 5, 2006

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - The San Francisco school board is poised to give the boot to the high school version of a military-funded ROTC program that often causes uproars on liberal college campuses. A majority of school board members told the San Francisco Chronicle they want to end the city's 90-year relationship with the Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps. They think the program doesn't belong in public schools.

"I don't think the military should be involved in civilian life," said school board member Dan Kelly, a self-described pacifist who served two years in prison for resisting the Vietnam draft and has fought to eliminate the program during his 16 years on the board.

A vote on the issue is scheduled for Nov. 14.

Seven San Francisco high schools currently offer the program, which costs $1.5 million per year, a third of which is covered by the military. If the program is canceled, district officials say they could hire nine physical education teachers.

Proponents say the program helps reduce dropout rates and teaches students valuable leadership, first-aid and problem-solving skills. They also say the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy on homosexuality does not prevent gay students from taking part.

"If San Francisco wants to be an example to the world, they would allow the program to continue to practice openness and tolerance," student Steven Schwenka told board members during a recent public meeting.

To read the full story, visit:
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/breaking_news/15938223.htm

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November 1, 2006

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

GSA Network Highlight
Rancho Bernardo High School GSA Leads the Way in San Diego!
Go directly to GSA Network highlight

GSA Network Announcements
1. CONTEST: Enter the GSA Network T-shirt & Pin Design Contest! (Statewide)
2. Re-Register Your GSA Today - Get New Resources & Keep Informed!
3. Apply for GSA Network Youth Council! It's Cool! (Statewide)
4. Apply for GSA Network Advocacy Committee! It's Even Cooler! (Statewide)
5. Join the YES Conference Committee! It's Cooler than Cool! (San Francisco)
6. GSA Network Central Valley BBQ! (Bakersfield)
7. GSA Network Leadership Training! (Santa Rosa)
8. GSA Network Leadership Training! (Los Angeles)
9. Save the Date! Queer Youth Advocacy Day 2007! (Sacramento)
10. Register Online for the YES Conference! (Bay Area)
11. Join the No on 85 Campaign! (Statewide)
12. Liberation Ink Posters - Free For GSAs! (Statewide)
13. Sign-up for the High Contrast Photo Exhibit at Your School! (Bay Area)
14. JOB: GSA Network - Administrative Assistant (San Francisco)
15. GSA Network is Seeking a Fall Intern! (San Francisco)
Go directly to GSA Network announcements

Other Announcements
Southern California
16. Models of Pride XIV (MOP XIV) Youth Conference! (Los Angeles)
Go directly to Southern California listings

Northern California
17. Free Money for LGBT Youth! (Bay Area)
18. South Bay Transgender Day of Remembrance Ceremony (San Jose)
19. Survey for a LGBT Family Resource Center (San Francisco)
20. December Programs for the Jewish Family and Children's Services (Marin)
Go directly to Northern California listings

National
21. SoulForce Equality Ride (United States)
Go directly to National listings

News
22. NEWS: Santa Ynez Valley Union High School Gay-Straight Alliance Club Honored
23. NEWS: Attack on Cheerleader May Be a Hate Crime
24. NEWS: Anti-Gay T-shirt Battle Heads To Supreme Court
Go directly to News listings

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

Rancho Bernardo High School GSA Leads the Way in San Diego!

The GSA at Rancho Bernardo High School (RBHS) is a paragon of success. Located in San Diego, RBHS's GSA has demonstrated victory after victory in building the club and its activities. Membership, for example, exceeds over thirty diverse participants per GSA meeting, representing the different factions that exist in the queer community in terms of race, gender identity, and sexual orientation. While some GSAs may be composed of a handful of members that might know each other intimately, the GSA at RBHS faces a unique challenge: the club has so many members (over eighty students signed up on club day) that getting to know each other on an individual level is difficult. However, GSA president Michelle is determined to make things work. One strategy that she has implemented is to keep her GSA well-rounded: the club devotes equal energy to activism, social activities, and functioning as a support group. This way the club can function and effectuate change on RBHS's campus, but still have a great time.

"I think it's important to create a safe environment not only within the club, but also in every classroom," Michelle says, "so that one's sexual orientation doesn't hinder he, she, or ze from learning at their greatest capacity." And indeed the GSA has succeeded: most of the teachers on campus have posted an "equality" sticker in their classrooms, because the GSA has been committed to passing them out every year. Moreover, to increase the club's visibility on campus and to promote education on the issues, the club recently hosted a lecture by a professor from the University of San Diego. (In preparation for the event, Michelle "literally bombarded the school with bright colored flyers.") The event was an astounding success, bringing together more than fifty students.

When it comes to the future, the GSA is not any less ambitious. When asked what goals the GSA had, Michelle said that "there are so many that I don't know if I'd be able to list them all." Among these is a plan to have future speakers come to RBHS, a bonfire this coming weekend with the Poway High School GSA, and the upcoming GLSEN Day of Silence where the GSA hopes to have at least 250 students participate by refraining from speaking or by wearing support stickers. Overarching all of these goals is the desire to "create an accepting campus free of harassment, discrimination, and hate," Michelle says. From the looks of it, the GSA is well on its way! Keep up the awesome work!

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

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1. CONTEST: Enter the GSA Network T-shirt & Pin Design Contest! (Statewide)

MAKE YOUR MARK ALL OVER CALIFORNIA!
Enter the GSA Network T-shirt & pin design contest!

We have re-opened the design contest due to lack of submissions!! Send us all of your artistic and creative designs for a chance to win money and free T-shirts and pins!!

Can you draw, design, or paint? Can you capture a thousand words with just a single image? Do you want to see your artwork worn by hundreds and hundreds of students all over the state? If so, please submit your designs today to our contest!!!

The GSA Network is currently looking for individual artists or GSAs who want to impress everyone with their artistic skills and earn some cash! We need designs for two things: One design is for a GSA Network T-shirt, and the other is for a GSA Network button.

These designs should represent a strong, fierce message about youth activism and the GSA Network mission statement: "Empowering youth to fight homophobia and transphobia in schools." Show us what you see when you think about the power of coming together and creating change! For more information about GSA Network's mission statement and our work, please visit http://www.gsanetwork.org/about/index.html

The T-shirts and buttons will be distributed state-wide. Yes, this is your chance to get your artwork worn by many, many GSA members and other LGBTQ youth supporters all over California.

The winner for the T-shirt design will receive $100 + 5 free T-shirts!!!
The winner for the button design will receive $50 + 25 free buttons!!!

Rules…rules…there are always rules…
1) No profanity
2) No more than 3 colors for the T-shirt (It helps keep costs low so we can print up more shirts for everyone!)
3) Email your designs as JPEG or Adobe Photoshop attachments to mailto:kiely@gsanetwork.org, or mail them to our office (1550 Bryant Street, Suite 800, San Francisco, CA 94103)
4) Designs will not be returned to the artists who send them
5) The original artwork becomes property of GSA Network
6) Submission deadline: Friday, December 1, 2006.

Remember, the button designs should be small enough to show up easily on a small pin. T-shirt designs can be larger with more details. Words and phrases can also be used by themselves or incorporated with the artwork!

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2. Re-Register Your GSA Today - Get New Resources & Keep Informed!

Before you plan any events for your GSA, remember to register or re-register your group with GSA Network. Do it NOW to make sure you receive our student resource sheets, FREE posters, other resources, and notifications of future GSA Network or LGBT-related events. (Mailings will go out only to California GSAs in middle and high schools.)
Register online at http://www.gsanetwork.org/register/index.php

For more info, email Tanya Mayo at mailto:tanya@gsanetwork.org or call 415-552-4229.

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3. Apply for GSA Network Youth Council! It's Cool! (Statewide)

GSA Network is accepting applications for new Youth Council members.
Go to the website and apply: www.gsanetwork.org/about/ycapp.html

The GSA Network Youth Council is a diverse group of youth leaders from GSAs all over California. As a member of the Youth Council, you will learn skills to become a stronger activist and work toward creating a safer climate at your school for LGBTQ youth and straight allies. You will get support around mounting a campaign, planning events, and starting a GSA club on your campus. In addition, Youth Council members are responsible for giving input to and helping to guide the programs of GSA Network. Youth Council members will represent the needs of GSAs and youth activists from their geographic region, as well as plan events and lead peer to peer workshops, leadership trainings, advocacy trainings, and activist camps.

As a member of the Youth Council, you will have monthly opportunities to
* Network with youth from throughout your region
* Get peer and staff support and feedback on your ongoing campaign, action, or event
* Give input on GSA Network's programs, policies, and curriculum development.

In addition, you may have an opportunity to
* Help plan and run a youth-led conference
* Present workshops at local conferences
* Plan and participate in GSA Network social activities, like Pride
* Apply to become a paid peer-to-peer youth trainer
* Discuss emerging trends in the LGBTQ and greater social justice movement
* Provide occasional technical assistance to other GSAs.

Requirements
* Willingness to commit to serving on Youth Council for one year
* Commitment to creating change for LGBTQ youth and fighting homophobia and transphobia in schools
* Interest in developing and suggesting ideas to strengthen GSA Network
* Must be a student in a public or private middle or high school in California.

Southern California
For more info, email mailto:carlos@gsanetwork.org or call 213-534-7162.

Central Valley
For more info, email mailto:robin@gsanetwork.org or call 559-268-2780.

Northern California
For more info, email mailto:m arco@gsanetwork.org or call 415-552-4229.

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4. Apply for GSA Network Advocacy Committee! It's even Cooler! (Statewide)

As a member of the Advocacy Committee, you would learn skills to become a stronger advocate to create statewide change and safer, more supportive schools for all students. Members are also responsible for providing input towards the planning of Queer Youth Advocacy Day (QYAD). QYAD is an annual, all-youth lobbying day held at the Capitol in Sacramento that brings hundreds of youth together to speak to lawmakers about the needs of LGBTQ students. In addition, members are responsible for giving input that will guide GSA Network's advocacy program and providing feedback and recommendations on legislation being considered by GSA Network for future support, endorsement, or other kinds of action.

The Advocacy Committee generally meets once per month with GSA Network's Advocacy Coordinator via a toll-free telephone conference line.

As a member of the Advocacy Committee, you will have monthly opportunities to:
* Network with youth from throughout California
* Get peer and staff support and feedback on your GSA's advocacy efforts
* Give input on GSA Network's statewide advocacy program
* Learn about and discuss legislation and policies affecting LGBTQ youth in schools
* Help plan Queer Youth Advocacy Day and recruit youth in your area to participate.

In addition, you may have an opportunity to:
* Become an Advocacy Day Leader and train youth in your assigned district in advocacy skills
* Lead lobbying visits to lawmakers' offices
* Lobby lawmakers during visits to their district offices in your area
* Become a youth media spokesperson on advocacy issues for GSA Network.

Requirements:
* Willingness to commit to serving on the Advocacy Committee for one year
* Commitment to creating statewide and local change for LGBTQ youth and to fighting homophobia and transphobia in schools all over
California, specifically with a focus on legislative advocacy and policy change
* Interest in developing and suggesting ideas on how to strengthen the GSA Network's advocacy program
* Must be a student in a public or private middle or high school in California.

For more info or to apply, email mailto:advocacy@gsanetwork.org or call 415-552-4229.

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5. Join the YES Conference Committee! It's Cooler than Cool! (San Francisco)

GSA Network's YES conference is coming soon… and we need your help!!

YES (The Youth Empowerment Summit) is a FREE Bay Area conference for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer, questioning, and straight ally youth dedicated to fostering safe schools and youth activism. YES focuses on giving youth organizers tools to combat homophobia and transphobia in schools.

The GSA Network is looking for kick-ass activists and organizers to be part of the YES conference planning committee. We will be meeting every Saturday in our San Francisco office in order to plan, conduct outreach, and recruite conference participants.

The Steering Committee will meet EVERY SATURDAY until the conference, starting SEPTEMBER 30 at the GSA Network office (1550 Bryant street, Suite 800, San Francisco).

For more information, call Marco at 415-552-4229 or email Juliana at mailto:yes@gsanetwork.org

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6. GSA Network Central Valley BBQ (Bakersfield)

Are you living in or near the Bakersfield area and wanting to get more involved with GSA Network's efforts to work with youth organizers in the Central Valley?

This Saturday, November 4th, from 3-5pm at Beale Park (corner of Dracena & Oleander, just off of California Avenue), we will be hosting a BBQ for youth from this area to learn more about how to help form a GSA club at your school, how to get involved with the GSA club at your school, or how to get more involved with GSA Network's Central Valley office.

We will provide food, drinks, and entertainment.

Don't miss this great chance to newtwork with other youth in your area! And who doesn't love free food?!

For more information, please call 559-268-2780 or e-mail mailto:robin@gsanetwork.org

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7. GSA Network Leadership Training! (Santa Rosa)

You are invited to a GSA LEADERSHIP TRAINING!

This FREE event will be held from 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. It includes breakfast and lunch!

So what is a GSA Leadership training?
Youth from various GSA's come together for a FUN, interactive, peer-to-peer training that provides students with the skills to fight homophobia and transphobia in schools. Led by other GSA leaders from around Northern California, the training will show students how to start and run a kick-ass GSA.

Topics include:
* How to run a GSA meeting
* Outreach, membership building, and diversity
* Understanding gender and sexual orientation
* Understanding laws to protect LGBTQ youth in schools
* How to take action against slurs, harassment, and discrimination in your school.

This is a great opportunity to network with other GSA's in your area while learning some new skills to strengthen your club.

WHO: GSA Members, potential members, and GSA advisors
WHEN: Saturday, November 4, 2006, 10am-4pm
WHERE: Positive Images Center
312 Chinn Street
Santa Rosa, CA 95404
COST: Free!
CO-SPONSOR: Positive Images Center

GSA Network values the participation of adult allies in our fight against oppression and injustice in schools, and thus welcomes GSA Advisors and other adult allies to the leadership training. That being said, we ask that they help us to maintain the youth focus of this training.

For more information or to RSVP, please contact:
* Marco Castro-Bojorquez, GSA Network Northern California Program Coordinator, at 415-552-4229 or mailto:marco@gsanetwork.org
* Jim Foster at (707) 568-5830 or mailto:posimage@sonic.net

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8. GSA Network Leadership Training! (Los Angeles)

You are invited to a GSA LEADERSHIP TRAINING!

This FREE event will be held from 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. It includes breakfast and lunch!

So what is a GSA Leadership training?
Youth from various GSA's come together for a FUN, interactive, peer-to-peer training that provides students with the skills to fight homophobia and transphobia in schools. Led by other GSA leaders from around Southern California, the training will show students how to start and run a kick-ass GSA.

Topics include:
* How to run a GSA meeting
* Outreach, membership building, and diversity
* Understanding gender and sexual orientation
* Understanding laws that protect LGBTQ youth in schools
* How to take action against slurs, harassment, and discrimination in your school.

This is a great opportunity to network with other GSA's in your area while learning some new skills to strengthen your club.

WHO: GSA members, potential members, and GSA advisors
WHEN: Saturday, November 11, 2006, 10am-4pm
WHERE: Crossroads High School
1714 21st Street
Santa Monica, CA 90404
PHONE: 310-829-7391
COST: Free!
CO-SPONSORS: GSA Network, Crossroads High School, and LifeWorks Mentoring

GSA Network values the participation of adult allies in our fight against oppression and injustice in schools, and thus welcomes GSA Advisors and adult allies to the leadership training. That being said, we ask that they help us to maintain the youth focus of this training.

For more information or to RSVP, please contact:
* Carlos Cabrera, GSA Network Southern California Program Coordinator, at 213-534-7162 or mailto:carlos@gsanetwork.org

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9. Save the date! Queer Youth Advocacy Day 2007! (Sacramento)

Mark your calendars for QYAD 2007 on March 26!

Queer Youth Advocacy Day is a youth-led lobby day at the Capitol where hundreds of youth activists come together and educate lawmakers about the need for statewide policy that will make schools safer and more supportive for LGBTQ youth.

QYAD 2006 was huge success that brought 500 people to the Capitol, showed California legislators the power of youth activism, and opened a lot of people's eyes to the kind of harassment and discrimination still faced by many students. Now, it's time to go back to the Capitol and show them that we're still fighting for safer schools!

WHO: LGBTQ youth & their allies
WHERE: Crest Theater & the Capitol (Sacramento)
WHEN: Monday, March 26, 2007
WHY: To network with other youth activists, learn important advocacy skills, and help make change for schools all over California

Informational packets with additional details will be mailed out later this fall to all GSAs registered with GSA Network. Keep an eye on your mailboxes!

For more info, email mailto:advocacy@gsanetwork.org or call 415-552-4229.

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10. Register Online for the YES Conference! (Bay Area)

GSA Network's YES Conference is coming soon to the Bay Area. YES is a FREE conference for LGBTQQI youth activists and their allies who are dedicated to defeating homophobia and transphobia and creating safe and supportive schools for everyone. The target audience is high school & middle school students. Teachers & GSA advisors are welcome.

WHO: LGBTQQI youth activists & their allies
WHERE: Everett Middle School, 450 Church Street, San Francisco
WHEN: Saturday, November 18, 9:00am-5:00pm
WHY: To meet other youth leaders, learn new skills, and share strength!
COST: Everything, including food, is FREE!
WHAT ELSE: Get down & dance with everyone you've just met at a special, youth-only dance at SF LGTB Center (1800 Market Street @Octavia Street, San Francisco) from 8pm-11pm!

The YES Conference is a chance for LGBTQQI and straight ally youth to network and enjoy free workshops on activism and topics related to queer life.

Pre-register for the GSA Network's YES conference at www.gsanetwork.org/yes

For more info, email mailto:yes@gsanetwork.org or call 415-552-4229.

Don't forget, GSA Network is also looking for Conference Committee members! If you are interested, please contact Juliana at mailto:yes@gsanetwork.org

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11. Join the No on 85 Campaign! (Statewide)

Join the No on 85 Campaign! Watch the new TV ad!

Our allies at the National Organization for Women (NOW), ACLU, and Planned Parenthood are working hard to Keep Teens Safe by defeating the "Parental Notification Initiative" (Prop 85), which requires doctors to notify parents if a teen wants an abortion. Teens, especially those coming from violent or otherwise abusive homes, will often do anything to avoid telling a parent about an abortion, including dangerous self-abortions, illegal abortions, crossing the border, and sometimes even suicide.

In an effort to Keep Teens Safe and defeat Proposition 85, GSA Network has endorsed the No on 85 Campaign for Real Teen Safety.

How you can help out:
1. Use this link to view the NO on 85 TV ad and send it your friends & classmates: <http://www.noon85.com/multimedia/2006/10/23/think-outside-your-bubble/>

2. Please help spread the word! Use MySpace and Facebook to share info with your friends. Go to PhotoBucket http://s108.photobucket.com/albums/n39/NoOn85/ and add logos & pics to your home page! Mandy Benson, Field Director at California NOW, is working on the campaign, and she wants you to become her "friend." Check out her page at http://www.MySpace.com/FeministActivist

3. Next, the campaign really needs money to get ads on TV and to get the word out to California voters. Know anyone who would be willing to make a donation? Send potential donors to www.NoOn85.com, or create your own Personal Fundraising Page at http://www.ppaction.org/teensafety/

4. If you want to volunteer to work on the campaign, Mandy Benson can put you in touch with the Regional Field Team in your area. If you contact her, be sure to tell her what city you are in. You can email Mandy at mailto:fielddirector@canow.org

5. Vote NO on Proposition 85 on Election Day, November 7!

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12. Liberation Ink Posters - Free For GSAs! (Statewide)

LIBERATION INK POSTERS AVAILABLE
FREE FOR GSA's IN CALIFORNIA!

Five poster designs (and two new ones expected by December 06) are available for GSA's, organizations, and individuals who are building a presence of youth voices for justice, peace, and youth empowerment while fighting against hatred, harassment, and discrimination of all kinds. Every GSA in California can receive 30 FREE posters to use at their school (each poster after 30 costs $1). From community organizations and individuals, we request a donation of $5 each for 1-10 posters and $4 each for 11-30 posters. Large quantity discounts are available.

You can view the designs and order posters on the Liberation Ink website: www.gsanetwork.org/freezone/liberation
Please note that we are currently out of POSTER #6. We should have this poster by early to mid November.

HERE ARE SOME WAYS TO USE LIBERATION INK TO MAKE CHANGE AT YOUR SCHOOL:

* Attach information about your GSA to the posters to advertise and recruit members
* Encourage teachers to hang the posters in their classrooms
* Have GSA members lead discussions and activities related to the posters
* Use the posters as part of an anti-slur campaign
* Put the posters up in the courtyard with easels and/or use them while you're tabling
* Get the posters printed in your school or community newspaper with an article or announcement about your GSA
* Create an agreement for teachers to sign, and give them posters to symbolize their support
* Display the whole Liberation Ink series in one place, or fill a whole wall with posters in a grid
* Use the posters in conjunction with GLSEN'S Day of Silence (April), Transgender Day of Remembrance (November), LGBT History Month (October), LGBT Pride Month (June), National Coming Out Day (October 11), and/or Diversity Day or Week at your school.

Liberation Ink was a collaborative project of GSA Network, LYRIC, and Mission Grafica at the Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts in San Francisco. It was supported by Youth Initiatives Program of the Open Society Institute, San Francisco Arts Commission, and Walter and Elise Haas Fund.

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13. Sign-up for the High Contrast Photo Exhibit at Your School (Bay Area)

GSA Network's High Contrast, a photo-narrative exhibit by youth for youth, is on the move again!

In this exhibit we bring you our voices with hopes that you will hear us, see us... and identify. We use art as a means for change -- to show people what they might not choose to see, to incite dialogue, and to inspire transformation. We want to make schools free from harassment, discrimination, and violence. We don't want anyone to leave thinking, "This isn't my issue." Because all kinds of people are lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender. Because there are so many shades to our identities. Because we all deserve to be safe enough to learn. - High Contrast

High Contrast is available for circulation as of October 1, 2006. If you are a GSA in the Bay Area and interested in bringing the High Contrast photo exhibit to your school, email mailto:highcontrast@gsanetwork.org

For more information on and pictures of High Contrast, go to www.gsanetwork.org/highcontrast/index.html

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14. JOB: GSA Network - Administrative Assistant (San Francisco)

The Administrative Assistant supports the Operations Director and Executive Director of GSA Network. The primary responsibilities and duties include operations and administrative support, as well as some program related activities. A demonstrated passion for LGBTQ youth leadership and empowerment, an understanding of youth culture, and a commitment to social change is required for all positions at GSA Network. Full-time, $10-$12 per hour, DOE. Deadline for applying is October 31. Send resume and cover letter to mailto:adminjobsearch@gsanetwork.org

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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15. GSA Network is Seeking a Fall Intern! (San Francisco)

Intern Call Outs!

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

DUTIES MAY INCLUDE
*Outreach and technical assistance to high school and middle school GSA's
*Curriculum, resource sheet, and program material development
*Media or press work
*Lobbying and policy
*Event planning
*Individual donor fundraising
*Organizational spin-off
*And database systems.

Please note that this is a non-paid position and that the internship is for our San Francisco office.

YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES
*If you are student, your school must take responsibility for setting the number of credits for the internship
*If you are coming from a considerable distance, you are responsible for your own housing, living expenses, and any other costs.

HOW TO APPLY
Please contact Kiely for an application.
Thank you for applying!

Kiely Hosmon
Program Assistant
GSA Network
1550 Bryant Street, #800
San Francisco, CA 94103
Phone - 415-552-4229
Fax - 415-552-4729
mailto:kiely@gsanetwork.org
http://www.gsanetwork.org

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Northern California
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17. Free Money for LGBT Youth! (Bay Area)

CALLING ALL BAY AREA LGBT YOUTH

-- Are you interested in making $25?

-- Do you want to help other lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth and their families?

WE NEED YOUR HELP to reach parents, foster parents, guardians and caregivers!!
Contact us to find out more and how you can get involved.

Call 415-522-8537 or 1-888-354-4222 or e-mail us at mailto:fap@sfsu.edu

The Family Acceptance Project is a research and education project of the Cesar E. Chavez Institute at San Francisco State University developed in 2002 to help increase family support for LGBT young people.
http://familyproject.sfsu.edu

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18. South Bay Transgender Day of Remembrance Ceremony (San Jose)

The South Bay Transgender Day of Remembrance Ceremony will be held on Monday, November 20th, 2006, at the Billy DeFrank LGBT Community Center, located at 938 The Alameda, San Jose, CA.

The memorial will begin at 7:00 PM.

For more info and a poster you can download, go to:
http://www.reelfreedom.com/DOR_Info_2006.htm

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19. Survey for a LGBT Family Resource Center (San Francisco)

Please help disseminate this very important survey!!!

It is a link to a short survey that we (the steering committee made up of folks from Our Family Coalition, Supervisor Bevan Dufty's office, and the LGBT Community Center) are trying to get out to LGBT families and prospective parents. We are doing needs assessment to see about the establishment of a Family Resource Center specifically for LGBT families, and we want to know if there is support and what kinds of services folks would like to see. We are trying to get as broad and diverse a pool of respondents as possible.

SF Families: We Need Your Input About you and your family's needs!
We are coordinating the distribution of a community- wide survey sponsored by OurFamily Coalition, the office
of Supervisor Bevan Dufty and the SF LGBT Community Center.

Make Your Voice Count!
We are conducting this important survey to determine what services and programs, LGBT families and prospective parents need and if there is a need for an LGBT focused Family Resource Center in our community. Responses are sought from LGBT parents, caregivers and prospective parents.

The survey questionnaire takes about 10 minutes to complete. You can go to http://tinyurl.com/l8rp u to get started.

Contact Us:
email: mailto:kevin@ourfamily.org
phone: 415.981.1960
web: http://www.ourfamily.org

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20. December Programs for the Jewish Family and Children's Services (Marin)

Unless otherwise noted, these programs will be held at Jewish Family and Children’s Services at 600 Fifth Avenue in San Rafael.

Free Program for Holocaust Survivors
Café By The Bay
Café By The Bay is a monthly event for Holocaust Survivors in Marin. On Wednesday, December 20, from 4:00 to 6:00 pm, Café By The Bay members will celebrate Chanukah – with food, entertainment and fun! For more information, contact Lorraine Harris at 415/419-3635 or mailto:LorraineH@jfcs.org. FREESliding-Fee, Nonsectarian Programs Open to All

Made In Heaven – Communication Coaching for Couples
Our marriage is made in heaven, but how do we keep the spark alive here on earth? Gain skills to conduct marriage meetings that promote mutual appreciation, teamwork, and smoother handling of issues, while keeping the relationship thriving. Will include discussion, opportunities to understand concepts through real-life examples, take-home literature, and more. Tuesdays, December 5 and 12, 6:30 to 8:30 pm. $60 per person/$80 per couple. Sliding fee scale available. Pre-registration required. Contact Bonni Schiff at 415/419-3632 or register online at http://www.ParentsPlaceOnline.org.

Volunteers Needed!
Want to Do A Mitzvah?
JFCS’ Senior Companionship Program matches up volunteers with seniors. As a companion you'll build a relationship with a senior, make weekly visits, and have the good feeling of enriching a life. In addition, you'll get education and training from JFCS professionals in doing this important work. For more information, contact Lorraine Harris at 415/419-3634 or mailto:LorraineH@jfcs.org.

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National
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21. SoulForce Equality Ride (United States)

THIS IS THE JOURNEY
Travel across the country for two months by bus. Visit schools that discriminate against LGBT students – going so far as to expel them out for their sexual orientation. Change the world one heart and one mind at a time with the help and
companionship of sixty other young adults committed to social justice. Shake the paradigm of oppression of diversity at its very core by supporting values of inclusion, compassion, and civil rights. Change yourself in the process.

WHO GOES
All young adults have the good fortune and the good obligation of getting on the bus. It is for gay and straight, Christian and non-Christian, and any other (false) dichotomies you might think of. All voices need to be part of the process that defines new social equality and civic and religious freedom in this country.

The Basics
Read about what you are getting into at http://www.equalityride.com. There you can see photos and journals from the 2006 Ride and apply for 2007.

Expenses paid: trainings, travel, food, accommodations, and clothing.

Applying is simple: personal statement, resume, and a conversation with Soulforce young adult staff about your drive for activism.

The trip takes place next March and April. We can work with you so that you can take time off school or treat the Ride as a credited internship.

Deadline December 1, 2006

Contact: Haven Herrin 469.867.5725 mailto:haven@soulforce.org
Go online: http://www.equalityride.com www.soulforce.org

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NEWS
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22. NEWS: Santa Ynez Valley Union High School Gay-Straight Alliance Club Honored

October 13, 2006
Santa Ynez Valley News

In its first year at Santa Ynez Valley Union High School, the Gay-Straight Alliance club has made its presence felt in the community. Starting with the group's initial splash on campus last spring with "GLSEN'S Day of Silence," the GSA has raised over $2,000 for groups such as Doctors Without Borders, The Sarah House and the Pacific Pride Foundation, which honored them this past Saturday along with Rep. Lois Capps following PPF's 15th annual AIDS walk in Santa Barbara.

The brainchild of club officers Arielle White, Sophia Lane and Nora McKinnon, the GSA was intended as a way to bring together disparate groups on campus in a safe and friendly environment and to raise funds for organizations that give assistance to underprivileged or underrepresented groups experiencing the effects of violence or health crises.

Saturday's participation in the AIDS walk started out as a way for the group to do something together that was fun and makes a difference. The group's officers held several planning meetings in which they coordinated efforts to hustle pledges, organize carpools to the event and create their own T-shirts, custom drawn with rainbows and symbols of gender diversity. In all they raised over $1,100 for Pacific Pride, which uses the money in a variety of programs that service HIV/AIDS programs and patients.

Their efforts were rewarded when, to their surprise, they were named "Most Inspirational Team" at the awards ceremony following the 6.5 mile walk.

To read the full story, visit:
http://www.syvnews.com/articles/2006/10/13/news/local/news04.txt

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23. NEWS: Attack on Cheerleader May Be a Hate Crime

By Greg Duggan
Boston Herald
October 19, 2006

Police are calling those who hurled homosexual slurs and punches at a Malden football cheerleader suspects it's a hate crime. The alleged confrontation a month ago in Melrose after a clash between the two teams is now being considered a crime, police announced yesterday.

Melrose Police Detective Sgt. Barry Campbell said yesterday no charges have been filed at this point, but police are searching for a suspect or suspects.

"Through our investigation and in talking with the victim, he said as he was being assaulted people were also calling him names," Campbell said. Had the victim been verbally harassed and then assaulted at a later time, Campbell said the incident would have been downgraded to a "hate incident."

In the days following the alleged assault, school officials in both Melrose and Malden organized "Diversity Day" rallies, called "The Power of Words," that were staged concurrently at each high school to use the incident as an educational opportunity for students.

To read the full story, visit:
http://news.bostonherald.com/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=162969

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24. NEWS: Anti-Gay T-shirt Battle Heads To Supreme Court

by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff
October 29, 2006

(San Francisco, California) A conservative legal group that regularly fights against LGBT issues is asking the US Supreme Court to review a lower court ruling involving a student who wore an anti-gay T-shirt to school.

In April a divided panel of the Ninth Circuit found that Poway Unified School District had not violated the First Amendment rights of student Tyler Chase Harper when it kicked him out of class for not removing the homemade T-shirt that said on the front "Be ashamed, our school embraced what God has condemned," and on the back "Homosexuality is shameful".

The teen wore the shirt on GLSEN'S National Day of Silence in 2004.

Harper, with the help of the Alliance Defense Fund sued the school and sought an injunction barring Poway from refusing to allow students to wear clothing with a political or social message.

To read the full story, visit:
http://www.365gay.com/Newscon06/10/102806tshirt.htm

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