The Queer Youth Task Force of Santa Cruz County is seeking to honor local lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, two-spirit (LGBTQIA2S+) youth and their allies at the 2024 Queer Youth Leadership Awards (QYLA)!
- Eligible awardees are those who have shown outstanding leadership, academic excellence, or community engagement as a LGBTQIA2S+ youth under the age of 18, or as an ally to LGBTQIA2S+ youth. Allies to LGBTQIA2S+ youth may be a straight youth, or can also be a straight or LGBTQIA2S+ adult.
- We ask each nomination you consider submitting to be as robust and insightful as possible so that we may create a biography celebrating their leadership work and accomplishments. Please include at least 3 detailed examples of leadership.
- If you know an LGBTQIA2S+ youth who has made an effort to improve the lives of others, or an ally who actively supports LGBTQIA2S+ youth, please consider nominating them for one of the 3 following awards categories
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- Queer Youth Leadership Award: for LGBTQIA2S+ youth
- Ally to Queer Youth Award: for non-LGBTQIA2S+ youth or any adult who identifies as an ally to LGBTQIA2S+ youth
- Organizational Ally to Queer Youth Award: for local organizations that support or actively organize on behalf of LGBTQIA2S+ youth
- Nominating someone for a Queer Youth Leadership Award validates LGBTQIA2S+ youth, their allies, and the work they do to achieve equality and fairness. QYLA recognition’s help end isolation and fuel the passion, advocacy and activism needed for youth to be out, proud, and true to themselves.
Your nomination is an integral part of our collective efforts to raise visibility and honor these tenacious young people and their allies!
Online Nominations are easy to complete, and are due by Friday, February 28th at 5:00 pm!
Awardees receive a $250 cash award as well as a $500 award to donate to an organization of their choosing. All nominees will be honored.
Save-the-date!
28th Annual Queer Youth Leadership Awards
Saturday, May 10, 2025
5:30 pm
Soquel High School
QYLA.org
(831) 427-4004
info@QYLA.org
Please join us in honoring & celebrating Queer Youth Leaders and their Allies!
QYLA Sponsorship & Volunteering
- To learn more about QYLA sponsorship, advertising, table sponsorships, and tickets, visit: QYLA 2025 Sponsorship Opportunities
- To learn more about volunteering at QYLA, visit QYLA 2025 Volunteer
QYLA is produced by the Queer Youth Task Force (QYTF), a fiscally sponsored agent of the Diversity Center, and co-sponsored, in part, by the Soquel High Queer Straight Alliance (QSA), Soquel High School, and Santa Cruz City Schools (SCCS).
Thank you!
Stuart Rosenstein
Director, Queer Youth Task Force
Co-chair, 28th Annual Queer Youth Leadership Awards
Co-chair, Fall 2025 Rainbow Conference
Pronouns: he/him