“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...]
17th Annual Queer Youth Leadership Awards is Looking for Volunteers! May 10 [This Saturday]
Make this event truly amazing by helping set up for this empowering ceremony! Shifts are available from 10am to 10:30pm, and run from 1 to 2 hours in length. Click Here for specific time slots and to submit your short application! As a special thank you to day-of-the-event volunteers who take on two or more shifts, we will give you a FREE QYLA ticket! For more information contact CoordinateQYLA@gmail.com or call (831) 427 - 4004 … [Read more...]
LGBT News: Boy Scouts of America Shuts Down Seattle Troop Over Gay Scoutmaster
“The BSA has revoked the charters of the Rainier Beach United Methodist Church and its two scouting units, Troop 98 and Pack 98, for standing by Geoffrey McGrath after the BSA ousted him as a scoutmaster in March, according to Scouts for Equality, a group that lobbies against discrimination in the scouting movement.” Read more in Time Magazine … [Read more...]
World LGBT News: Australia’s Biggest Professional Sports Unite to Eliminate Homophobia
“Each of Australia's five major sports has not only pledged to end homophobia, they've set out a timeline to implement policies and programs which will ensure that they do so.” Read more at GLAAD’s Blog … [Read more...]
Day of Silence Statement of Support!
For the 12th year, Congressmember Sam Farr has spoken out on the floor of Congress to support LGBTIQ/Ally Youth while youth are silent on the Day of Silence (www.dayofsilence.org). We are grateful to Congressmember Farr and his congressional staff for their ongoing support of the LGBTIQ/Ally community. Attached, please find the text. 2014.04.10 Rep. Farr Day of Silence Floor Speech … [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...]