The design contest is open to all currently enrolled high school and middle school students located in Santa Cruz, San Benito, or Monterey counties. All entries need to incorporate the summit theme “Capybaras: A Nonjudgmental Look on Queer History.” The winning designer will receive a hoodie with the design and a $25 gift card. Guidelines – Learn how to submit a t-shirt design! Due Friday, September 1 by 5:00 pm Learn more at the Safe Schools Project … [Read more...]
The Diversity Center | Genderventurers: A Journey of Shared Strength (Ages 11 – 18), September 2 – December 2, Santa Cruz
Genderventures is a 4-part series gender diverse support group open to people ages 11-18 who are wanting to explore and understand how our gender informs the way we experience the world. When: Four first Saturdays from September to December @ 2:30 - 4:30 pm Euphoric Explorers Exercise: September 2nd Sparkling Spectrum Skills: October 7th Fabulously Fluid Fashion: November 4th Gender Gratitude Gathering: December 2nd Where: The Diversity Center, Santa Cruz If you're interested in being part of the group please fill out … [Read more...]
Santa Cruz County Office of Education | Join the Youth Led Leadership Alliance!
The Santa Cruz COE is currently recruiting high school students from across the county to become part of our Youth Led Leadership Alliance. The Alliance consists of six different project-based, topically focused groups including the Queer and Trans Youth Council, the Youth Mental Health Leadership Council, Youth Artists Taking Action, Youth for Environmental Action, the Countywide Black Student Union, and Multilingual Youth Taking Action. Each group engages youth in issues they care about while also helping them develop … [Read more...]
Weekly & Monthly LGBTQ+ Youth Programs
The Diversity Center Youth Program, Santa Cruz County The youth program at TDC provides supportive, educational and social activities for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer and questioning (LGBTIQ) youth. Check out their weekly schedule events at diversitycenter.org/youth Questions? Email youth@diversitycenter.org Shine Your Pride LGBTQ+ Youth Mixer Co-hosted by TDC and Big Brothers Big Sisters, Weekly on Thursdays Join us at The Diversity Center for a LGBTQ+ Youth Weekly Mixer! Co-hosted by The Diversity … [Read more...]
“Chicago White Sox prospect Anderson Comás on his decision to come out: ‘Now is when I feel good with myself. Now I accept myself.’”
Chicago Tribune - “I wanted to open that door for those people that are fighting for their dreams,” Comás said during a videoconference call Friday. “I feel like they cannot do it because of people’s opinions, so I wanted to share a little bit to help, to open that door and to inspire all of them to keep fighting.” … [Read more...]
“Pieces of Me: Samira Wiley’s Radiant LEGO Self-Portrait”
Rolling Stone - "I didn’t see a lot of characters that looked like me and loved like me. If I did, they weren’t fully realized, three-dimensional people or played by people who identified the same way the characters did. That was a big moment for me to realize —wow, these things which didn’t exist when I was younger—not only do they exist now, but I’m a part of them." … [Read more...]
“Alex Newell & J. Harrison Ghee Become First Nonbinary Tony Winners”
Out - Newell won the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical for their performance in Shucked. Newell said in their acceptance speech: “Thank you for seeing me, Broadway! I should not be up here as a queer, nonbinary, fat, black little baby from Massachusetts. To anyone that thinks they can’t do it, I’m going to look you dead in your face [and tell you] that you can do anything you put your mind to.” … [Read more...]
“‘Everybody assumes that it’s like the rest of California and it’s not’: Rural LGBTQ students and administrators describe campus strife.”
All across California, but especially in rural areas and small cities scattered across the Central Coast, the Central Valley, and the Far North, community college leaders push back at the notion that California is an easy place to be queer. Cecil Dexter, a member of the Lavender Initiative at Bakersfield College, stands at the entrance of the Campus Center on June 14, 2023. Photo by Larry Valenzuela, CalMatters/CatchLight Local … [Read more...]
Reminders
Camp OUT! August 4 - 6, Watsonville The Diversity Center is housing a Camp OUT for LGBTQ+ youth. The Camp Out is an LGBTQ+ inclusive and accessible camping experience for campers ages 14-18 at Mt. Madonna County Park. The Camp Out is free and we have space for 20 campers. When: Friday, August 4 - Sunday, August 6 Where: Mt. Madonna County Park Campers can reserve their space at camp by filling out this form: tinyurl.com/TDCcampout2023 … [Read more...]