The New Yorker “Edna Chavez, a seventeen-year-old student from Manual Arts High School, in Los Angeles, led the crowd in chanting the name of her brother—Ricardo—who had been killed by a gun. She said she was there to “stand up with the Parkland students” and to “uplift my South Los Angeles community.” A strikingly self-possessed eleven-year-old named Naomi Wadler took the stage to, as she said, “represent the African-American women who are victims of gun violence, who are simply statistics instead of vibrant, beautiful girls full of … [Read more...]
March For Our Lives And Gay Activism:
‘They’re Definitely Linked For Me,’ Says Emma González - Huffington Post “People soon tweeted that González should run for president. The 18-year-old noted that she already is president — of her school’s Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA). She then told the Washington Post that she identifies as bisexual, and suddenly her fierce badassery just made that much more sense for a whole lot of people, particularly fellow LGBTQ folks and queer activists for whom self-identity and a willingness to stand up for justice have long been inextricably linked.“ … [Read more...]
21st Annual Queer Youth Leadership Awards, May 12
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. Volunteer Buy Tickets For more information visit QYLA.org When: Saturday, May 12, 2018 @ 5:30 PM Where: Soquel High School, Soquel … [Read more...]
GLSEN: Trans and Gender Non-Conforming (GNC) Stories
Trans students: we see you, and you are loved! For Trans Day of Visibility, we are sharing trans and gender non-conforming students' stories. More info on supporting trans students at your school glsen.org/trans GLSEN: 4 Ways to Support Trans Students of Color “I’m a 16-year-old brown, trans guy. As a visibly trans brown person, I face different and often more intense forms of both racial and gender discrimination. Through this discrimination I often feel like my identity is being erased. I often don’t see myself represented in LGBTQ spaces, … [Read more...]
[Save the Date] Day of Silence, Friday, April 27
National Day of Silence is a student-led national event where folks take a vow of silence to highlight the silencing and erasure of LGBTQ people at school. Visit glsen.org/day-silence for event planning tips, way to participate, and resources for students and educators. Past Day of Silence Events in Santa Cruz: 2017: Breaking the Silence Rallies were organized in both Watsonville & Santa Cruz featuring guest speakers, open mics, and public demonstration. 2016: “Break the Silence Rally” - A video created by the Diversity Center Youth … [Read more...]
Queer Youth Prom, April 7
The Diversity Center Youth Program's second annual Queer Youth Prom is around the corner! High School Youth ages 14-18 are invited to spend an evening under the stars with special performances, dinner, and a night of dancing. When: Saturday, April 7th @ 6:30 pm - 10:00 pm Where: First Christian Church, 15 Madison St., Watsonville Cost: Tickets = $5, at the door. *** Student ID Required. *** Email youth@diversitycenter.org or call 831-425-5422 x104 for more info. ------------- Want to support this delightful event? We need volunteer … [Read more...]
[Save the Date] 21st Annual Queer Youth Leadership Awards, May 12
Please join us in honoring & celebrating Queer Youth Leaders and their Allies! Purchase Tickets - Sponsor/Host a Table - Volunteer When: Saturday, May 12, 2018 @ 5:30 PM Where: Soquel High School For more information: www.QYLA.org or call (831) 427-4004 or email us at info@QYLA.org … [Read more...]
[Video] “A Mother’s Promise: You Can Be Yourself” – Gender Spectrum Blog
A New York Times video series recently featured a short animation with Laurin Mayeno, a Bay Area parent, author and founder of Out Proud Families. Laurin previously joined with Gender Spectrum to record a “Story Time” reading of her children’s book, One of a Kind Like Me/Único Como Yo. Laurin’s “Story Time” videos are available for viewing in English and Spanish. The Times video tells Laurin’s moving story of her family and her Gender-expansive child, don’t miss it! Read the Blog & View the video at Gender Spectrum … [Read more...]
“Meet the Openly LGBTQ Athletes Competing at the Winter Olympics” – HRC Blog
“More than 10 LGBTQ athletes from around the globe are in Pyeongchang to compete in the Winter Olympics, the most ever to participate in the Winter Games. At the 2014 games in Sochi, seven openly LGBTQ athletes competed, all of whom were women. Russia’s harsh anti-LGBTQ agenda made public expression of support for the LGBTQ community a risk for both Olympic athletes and attendees. Unfortunately, while there are many talented and successful transgender athletes around the globe, there are no openly transgender athletes competing in the Olympic … [Read more...]
“Here’s What It’s Like At The Headquarters Of The Teens Working To Stop Mass Shootings” – BuzzFeed
Just days after surviving a mass shooting, a team of teens are trying to start a revolution from their parents’ living rooms. “By Sunday night, as their names and movement trended worldwide, the teens regrouped in a makeshift “headquarters” in a living room. Some of the students hold leadership positions at their school, so they’re used to planning committees and meetings. (As people online tweeted that González should run for president, she joked that she already is president — of her school’s Gay–Straight Alliance.)” Read the whole article … [Read more...]