The Queer Youth Task Force of Santa Cruz County is seeking to honor local lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) youth and their allies at the 2015 Queer Youth Leadership Awards (QYLA)! Eligible awardees are those who have shown outstanding leadership, academic excellence, or community engagement as an LGBTQ youth under the age of 18, or as an ally to LGBTQ youth. Allies to LGBTQ youth may be a straight youth, or can also be a straight or LGBTQ adult. If you know an LGBTQ youth who has made an effort to improve the lives of … [Read more...]
2015 Queer Youth Leadership Awards Open Until March 9!
Nominations Open! The Queer Youth Task Force of Santa Cruz County is seeking to honor local lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) youth and their allies at the 2015 Queer Youth Leadership Awards (QYLA)! Eligible awardees are those who have shown outstanding leadership, academic excellence, or community engagement as an LGBTQ youth under the age of 18, or as an ally to LGBTQ youth. Allies to LGBTQ youth may be a straight youth, or can also be a straight or LGBTQ adult. If you know an LGBTQ youth who has made an effort to … [Read more...]
LGBT News: Study Finds Transgender Children are not Confused about their Identities
“This study is deeply affirming for transgender children, whom experts agree benefit from access to transition-related healthcare. Claims that transgender children are confused about their identities, are too young to understand gender, and that allowing a child to transition is "child abuse," have been consistently debunked as nothing more than biased rhetoric.” Read the full article at GLAAD … [Read more...]
[Reminder] AIDS Walk & Fun Run, Mar 7
Looking for a fun team building activity for your GSA? Organize a team for this years AIDS Walk and Fun Run! Get on your running or walking shoes and put on a colorfully outrageous costume and join us for a 5k course that will take you along the river levee in a traffic free environment. We promise a super time filled with happy people, creative costumes, food, and a raffle! Registration opens soon! When: Saturday, March, 7th 2015 @ 9:30am Where: San Lorenzo Park, 137 Dakota St. Santa Cruz, CA For more information contact … [Read more...]
[Reminder] Queer Skate Night! Mar 3
Join Theta Pi Sigma - Alpha Chapter in supporting the Safe Schools Project, a program of the Queer Youth Task Force of Santa Cruz County! Meet The Santa Cruz Derby Girls and get a chance to win some awesome prizes they’ve provided for the raffle! When: Tuesday, March 3rd, 2015 @ 7:30pm - 9:30pm Where: Santa Cruz Roller Palladium, 1606 Seabright Ave, Santa Cruz, California 95062 ** Easily accessible by bus routes: 66, 69, or 71 Cost = $5 presale - $10 at the door (Includes skate rental and raffle ticket) ΘΠΣ seeks to make all of our events … [Read more...]
GSA Network: Tips on Transitioning GSA Leadership
“As the school year comes to an end, many GSA leaders worry about what will happen to the GSA club once they are gone. It is important to create a strategy for passing the torch of leadership so that your GSA stays strong for future years. Your long-term goal is to keep your GSA active in the fight against homophobia and transphobia in schools…” Read the full guide at GSA Network … [Read more...]
LGBT News: Most Major California School Districts Pledge to Reduce Suspensions
“The state's landmark school finance law has prompted most major California school districts to pledge to reduce student suspensions, hire more counselors and use positive alternatives to deal with misbehavior, according to a study released Wednesday.” Read the full article in The LA Times … [Read more...]
LGBT Youth Voices: I’m a Transgender Teen and Which Restroom I Use Is None of Your Business
“The Kentucky Student Privacy Act, as proposed by Kentucky State Sen. C.B. Embry, would deny access to restrooms, locker rooms and other gender-specific spaces to students who do not identify with the gender assigned to them at birth. The act also suggests "compromises" with transgender students who fit these circumstances. In this case, the transgender student would have to use a unisex facility, which many schools do not have, or use the faculty restrooms.” Read more in The Huffington Post … [Read more...]
[Updated] Queer Skate Night! Mar 3
Join Theta Pi Sigma - Alpha Chapter in supporting the Safe Schools Project, part of the Queer Youth Task Force of Santa Cruz County! Meet The Santa Cruz Derby Girls and get a chance to win some awesome prizes they’ve provided for the raffle! When: Tuesday, March 3rd, 2015 @ 7:30pm - 9:30pm Where: Santa Cruz Roller Palladium, 1606 Seabright Ave, Santa Cruz, California 95062 ** Easily accessible by bus routes: 66, 69, or 71 Cost = $5 presale - $10 at the door (Includes skate rental and raffle ticket) ΘΠΣ seeks to make all of our events … [Read more...]
GSA Day For Racial Justice, Feb 20
“National GSA Day for Racial Justice is an annual day of action to mobilize for racial justice and celebrate the multiple identities we hold as LGBTQ youth. This year, GSA Day for Racial Justice will honor Audre Lorde’s words, impact, and legacy, and take action across the country in support of the #BlackLivesMatter movement. Get involved by holding teach-ins, teach-outs, rallies, marches, and other actions on February 20th in support of #BlackLivesMatter, and create #BlackFutureLegends videos about how past or present Black activists or … [Read more...]