“You'll note, I'm sure, that I talk of anti-transgender violence, and I want to tell you why I make this distinction. These are not simply the deaths of transgender men and women, and it is not their own identities as transgender men or women that led to their deaths. Rather, it is their killers who determined their gender identity and took the lives of transgender people because the killers felt that transgender people are somehow lacking.” Read More in The Huffington Post … [Read more...]
PFLAG: Tips for a Happy Holiday for LGBT People
The holidays can be a stressful time for LGBT people or families with LGBT members, but there are several strategies that you can use to help reduce stress and create a happy holiday this year. If you are gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender…. Click Here If you are the friend or family member of someone who is LGBT…. Click Here … [Read more...]
Good Times Community Fund
HAVEN OFFERS HOPE/Safe Schools Project, Nov 27, 2013 Good Times -- Two years ago, Ron Indra, a teacher at Harbor High School in Santa Cruz and director of the Safe Schools Project for Santa Cruz County, received a phone … [Read More...] … [Read more...]
Student Asks Apple To Change ‘Gay’ Dictionary Definition
“Becca Gorman was shocked when she looked up the definition of "gay" in the Apple dictionary while working on a school project about gay rights. The third definition provided by Apple struck Gorman as incredibly offensive: 3. informal - foolish; stupid: making student wait for the light is kind of a gay rule.’’ “ Read More in The Huffington Post … [Read more...]
School Dons Skirts in Honor of Local Burn Victim
“Luke "Sasha" Fleischman's classmates at Maybeck High School in Berkeley came up with the idea of trading pants and shorts for kilts and sarongs as a way of condemning the attack and supporting Fleischman while the teen recovers at a San Francisco hospital, school director Trevor Cralle said” Read More at ABC News … [Read more...]
GSA Activity: “What the Heck is PGP?”
Gender pronouns are used in our daily lives whether we notice their abundant use or not. Female pronouns are “she” or “her” and male are “he” or “him”. During GSA meetings it is a good practice to have everyone introduce themselves with their name and PGP or “Preferred Gender Pronoun” in order to make the space comfortable for all members. For many, society often uses gender pronouns that individuals don’t identify with. This practice veers away from assuming what someone else’s gender identity is and lets the individual share what they … [Read more...]
LGBT Everyday Terminology
LGBT vocabulary may be something you're already well versed in, but there are many words that aren’t frequently used in some regions or misinterpreted. To brush up on definitions or if you're interested in sharing them with your GSA visit UC San Diego’s LGBTQIA Terminology To access a quiz on LGBT vocabulary to help your GSA better understand these definitions visit The Anti-Violence Project … [Read more...]
GSA Summit
Santa Cruz County LGBTQ youth meet to network, encourage one another SANTA CRUZ -- Heather Turley and Anissa Balderas stood face to face Saturday during an ice breaker at the Gay-Straight Alliance Summit. "Remember your first coming out day?" said Turley, 16, a student at Watsonville High School. "There were really awkward moments and no one was talking." Balderas, 16, who was also a student at Watsonville High School, smiled and the two laughed. They were two of 20 middle school and high school students from across the county attending … [Read more...]
[Reminder] UCSC LGBT Theater Production: The Normal Heart
“Set in New York in the early 1980's, The Normal Heart follows the story of gay activist Ned Weeks and his struggle with the emerging realities of HIV/AIDS.” To read more about this play Click Here When: November 7th - 10th Thursday, Friday, and Saturday @ 7pm Sunday’s @ 3pm Location: Theater Arts Experimental Theater, University of California, Santa Cruz Tickets: $12 General Admission, $11 Seniors (62+), $11 Students w/ ID Advanced ticketing available at UCSC Ticket Office (831) 459-2159 or Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium box office (831) … [Read more...]
[Reminder] This Weekend! Fall GSA Summit of Santa Cruz County, Nov 9
Meet students from Queer-Straight Alliance (QSA) & Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) clubs throughout Santa Cruz County – from Scotts Valley to Watsonville! STRANGE's Cosplay Fashion Show - Come dressed as a character or idea from your favorite film, cartoon, TV Show, book, anime, comic book or video game and walk the runway in our GSA COStume PLAY Fashion Show! This is your chance to celebrate your identity and 3 winners will be crowned as reigning GSA Fashion Show "Supremes"! When: Saturday, November 9, 2013 1:00 – 6:00 pm Where: Boys … [Read more...]


