Join us in celebrating LGBTQ equality, with a night of cheers and thanks to those who have blazed trails for our community. We're honoring pioneers such as Alvin Ailey, Cyndi Lauper, and the creators of Will & Grace (Max Mutchnick & David Kohan) + more! Watch the show June 23rd @ 9pm! For more information visit logotv.com/trailblazer-honors Below are exclusive videos from Logo about LGBTQ historical figures - all narrated by Laverne Cox: Mattachine Society & Daughters of Bilitis -  “The history of gay resistance groups began long … [Read more...]

“Being someone’s only trans friend is a big responsibility. We often become people’s de-facto Trans Ambassador, we are bombarded with questions upon coming out, and we have to clear up misconceptions spread by pop culture and the media, all while also navigating our own new public identity and the feelings that come with it. We know you mean well, but it can be a lot. There’s a do/don’t list a mile long when engaging with your newly-out trans friend, and I wanted to talk a bit about some common ones that I’ve noticed in my first few months as … [Read more...]

“Tam Welch is a queer single parent and a Korean-American adoptee. Welch is also a gender and sexuality specialist at UC Santa Cruz’s Cantú Queer Center and Grand Marshal of the 2017 Santa Cruz Pride. Despite the multiple signifiers attached to identity these days, Welch asked the crowd gathered at Santa Cruz Pride on Sunday to cast aside labels and rally together as a unified, activist whole. “We have seen local activist groups lose sight of the big picture by attacking potential allies. Now is not the time undermine one another. It’s a time … [Read more...]

“At Delta, Rocamora started a peer counseling program. The program aims to give teens an alternative ear to their issues, with Rocamora saying there is a stigma in talking to adults...“It’s nice to have a peer-on-peer counseling because they’re just sort of relating things in an easier way.” Read the full article in The Santa Cruz Sentinel … [Read more...]

Remembering and Honoring: Pulse-Orlando, Watsonville Join Pajaro Valley Pride for an evening dedicated to sharing words, and holding space where we can continue to show our solidarity with the ongoing march for equality. Tragedies like these reminds us that we yet have work to do, and why it's important to stand together regardless of social creeds and backgrounds. Only united in love can we come closer to a peaceful society where these events will only linger as historical memories. Let's share poems, music, thoughts, ideas, and art, which … [Read more...]

“Berkeley Unified first officially acknowledged transgender students and families when it adopted the Welcoming Schools curriculum at all elementary schools in 2010. The curriculum, developed by the Human Rights Campaign, includes lessons on LGBTQ families and gender expression and teaches students not to bully or stereotype classmates who do not conform to gender conventions. Last year, California began requiring all districts to touch on those topics in sex-education lessons. “ Read the full article in Berkeleyside … [Read more...]

“Under a $10,000 Diversity Partnership Grant from the Community Foundation of Santa Cruz County, Indra and 10 other educators from school districts across the county have met monthly since January to learn to bring LGBT history into their classrooms. Each was given a curriculum guide aimed at U.S. history courses and later reported back on student reception to the topic.” Read the full article in The Santa Cruz Sentinel … [Read more...]

Video: Ian McKellen reciting Harvey Milk’s famous speech will make you proud to be gay “Milk’s speech called for gay and lesbians to come out to the friends and families, to keep hope alive for a better world, and to get involved in politics if they wanted to make a change. Since then thousands of queer folk around the world have come out of the closet and for many LGBT people, the world has become a better and more accepting place.” - LGBTQ Nation Governor Brown Issues Proclamation Declaring Harvey Milk Day “Today, on the 87th anniversary … [Read more...]

Support your child by being in the parade. (You won’t embarrass them too much, as we’re walking as a separate group.) Meet other parents and supportive adults of queer youth in a casual and festive atmosphere. When: Sunday, June 4th, 2017 Location:  Meet us at Pacific & Cathcart in downtown Santa Cruz @ 10:30am … [Read more...]