“Breaking the Silence,” a rally held last Friday at the downtown Santa Cruz Town Clock, expanded awareness of the national Day of Silence, an annual event formed in 1996 by the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network (GLSEN) during which students across the country vow to stay quiet for a whole day to symbolize the silencing effects of harassment and bullying on LGBTQ students. Read more in City on the Hill Press … [Read more...]
[Reminder] 40th Anniversary of Santa Cruz Pride Parade and Festival, June 1
Join the greater Santa Cruz Community and beyond to celebrate 40 years of LGBTQI pride! The parade will feature favorites such as Dykes on Bykes, CHEER San Francisco, PFLAG, and Radical Faeries! Afterwards, venture to the festival where there is a kids area, local organizations with resources, and shopping, and live performances. Parade: Starts at Pacific Avenue and Cathcart in downtown Santa Cruz at 11am. Festival: Starts at 11am and goes till 4pm on Pacific Avenue between Cooper Street and Water Street. … [Read more...]
[Reminder] 17th Annual Queer Youth Leadership Awards! May 10
The Queer Youth Leadership Awards recognizes queer youth across Santa Cruz County for being leaders within their community. Being a leader encompasses many attributes and spans across all disciplines and activities. We are looking for youth who inspire, be they into anything including sports, academics, activism, art and performance. When: Saturday May 10th, 2014 Where: New Brighton Middle School, 250 Washburn Ave, Capitola 5:30 pm: Resource Fair 6:00 pm: Buffet Dinner 7:00 pm: Awards Ceremony Reserve your QSA/GSA table! Consider hosting … [Read more...]
[Reminder] PFLAG Monthly Meeting: Creating Families Through Local Adoption & Foster Care, April 8
When: Tuesday April 8th, 2014 @ 7pm - 9pm Where: Peace United Church of Christ, 900 High Street, Santa Cruz, CA This month we will discuss adoption and foster care as a way to create warm and loving families in the LGBT Community. Right now in our county, there are amazing kids of all ages who are waiting for wonderful homes. Loving homes are particularly needed for sibling groups and older children. This Months Keynote Speakers Are: Anastasia Torres-Gil, Resource Family Specialist with the County of Santa Cruz’s Roots & Wings Program, … [Read more...]
LGBT News: Neon Trees’ Tyler Glenn Comes Out as Gay in Rolling Stone
“Glenn speaks candidly about his first gay experiences, his band's reaction to his coming out and his complicated relationship with his conservative religion in our new story.” Read More in Rolling Stone … [Read more...]
LGBT News: Frameline Youth Program Goes National
“Now, Youth in Motion is having the same impact but on a national scale. Since last August, 100 new schools outside California registered, bringing the total number of schools serviced by the program to 620 in 34 states.” Read more in The Bay Area Reporter Click Here to register your GSA for FREE Frameline films! or Email youthinmotion@frameline.org with questions. … [Read more...]
LGBT News: GSA Network Joins Teachers, Advocates in Calling for Restorative Practices, Not Suspensions through #GSAs4Justice Campaign
“The #GSAs4Justice campaign empowers youth to push back against punitive discipline policies that create a school-to-prison pipeline for youth of color, youth with disabilities, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) youth.” Read more at GSA Network … [Read more...]
Local LGBT News: Marriage Equality Defender Speaks at Santa Cruz Eighth-graders Private School Class Studying History of Civil Rights
“Kris Perry took her fight to marry the woman she loved all the way to the land's highest court...Some two dozen of Gateway School's eighth grade humanities class, in the midst of a three-week civil rights unit, peppered Perry with a series of questions about her modern-day civil rights struggle for marriage equality.” Read more in The Santa Cruz Sentinel … [Read more...]
[Save the Date] 17th Annual Queer Youth Leadership Awards
QYLA was created in 1998 to shift the conversation about queer youth from risk to leadership. This county-wide, collaborative event serves to honor and celebrate queer youth leaders and the ally’s that support and empower them. Stay tuned for more information at QYLA.org May 10, 2014 New Brighton Middle School, Capitola Community Resource Fair - 5:30pm Catered Buffet Dinner - 6pm Awards Ceremony - 7pm Community Dance to Follow To volunteer contact Joe Cosentino at volunteer@QYLA.org … [Read more...]
The Biggest Transgender Moments of 2013
“From solidified rights for transgender minors to representation of trans people and experiences on mainstream television -- what is means to be transgender is receiving arguably more mainstream recognition than at any prior point in our history.” Read More in The Huffington Post … [Read more...]