“But just because battles have been fought doesn’t mean the war for queer rights is over. The city may be a mecca for some — particularly the white and wealthy — but there is still a population in dire need of support as they fight on the front lines for acceptance. Through the hard work of past generations, non-heterosexuals have won some much-deserved freedoms, but those without traditional gender orientations are still struggling, even in San Francisco.” Read the full article in SF Weekly … [Read more...]

“Realizing that you couldn’t feel at home in either the Black community or the gay community felt isolating. Being Black and gay enough constantly weighed on your mind, and you tried to fix it. Well, Bex, it’s hard to fix something that’s not broken. You weren’t doing anything wrong. Generalizations and stereotypes help make some complex things more understandable to people, but they can be damaging. Grouping people together because they’re all supposed to act one way, or talk one way, or like the same things, leaves little room for … [Read more...]

“A British soldier who served in World War II is now coming out as transgender at the age of 90. Patricia Davies of Leicestershire, England, spent 87 years of her life known as “Peter” to the outside world. Now she says life’s too short to not be who she really is.” Read the full article in The Huffington Post … [Read more...]

GLSEN's National Student Council made a zine for #DayofSilence, sharing personal stories and essays, a playlist and poem, and tips and tricks for participating Visit GLSEN for a printable version and printing + folding guide … [Read more...]

The Queens of the Castro invite you to apply for a $2,000 scholarship for a post-secondary opportunity of your choice (college, vocational education, entrepreneurial, or other) in an effort to recognize your dedication to the LGBTQ+ community. We are seeking applicants, 16-25, who identify as members of the LGBTQ+ community. At some point in your high school or post high school career, you should have demonstrated a commitment to raising awareness about LGBTQ+ issues, combating homophobia and/or bullying or educating your community about … [Read more...]

The LGBTQ Youth Space and local LGBTQ+ youth leaders have partnered to host the first ever South Bay Youth Pride Festival!  This is a FREE event for and by queer and trans youth in the South Bay! Join us for music, entertainment, food, games & activities, a resources fair, guest speakers, and more! #SBYPF17 was developed by teens looking to unify LGBTQ+ students/GSAs (Gender & Sexuality Alliances) from high schools throughout our county. This event is intended for LGBTQ+ and ally teens. Families/adults supporters of youth are … [Read more...]

“When you type “diversity center” into your browser, the top hit will be for the one in Santa Cruz. That preferential placement probably reflects that your search engine knows you’re in Santa Cruz, but it also reflects a reality: Santa Cruz’s Diversity Center was once “The” Diversity Center—the first, the only. That’s not surprising for Santa Cruz, but unless you or a family member is on the gender spectrum, you might be surprised that living in our county as an LGBTQ youth is not all rainbows.” Read the full article in Growing Up In Santa … [Read more...]