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...]
2018 Queer Youth Leadership Awards Nominations — Open Until March 5
The Queer Youth Task Force of Santa Cruz County is seeking to honor local lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) youth and their allies at the 2018 Queer Youth Leadership Awards (QYLA)! Eligible awardees are those who have shown outstanding: leadership, academic excellence, or community engagement as an LGBTQ youth under the age of 18, or as an ally to LGBTQ youth. Allies to LGBTQ youth may be a straight youth, or can also be a straight or LGBTQ adult. If you know an LGBTQ youth who has made an effort to improve the … [Read more...]
New Diversity Center Program – Gender Expansive Youth Group
The Diversity Center's Youth Program is starting a new support group for gender expansive youth! Youth ages 12-18 from across the gender spectrum (including those questioning their own gender identity) are invited to share a supportive, community space with other gender expansive youth. Activities, dialogues, and events will be facilitated by the Diversity Center Youth Program's new Gender Expansive Facilitator: Jack Mayer. We hope to see you there! Email youth@diversitycenter.org or Call 831 - 425 - 5422 x104 for questions. … [Read more...]
2018 Queer Youth Leadership Awards Nominations Open Until March 5
The Queer Youth Task Force of Santa Cruz County is seeking to honor local lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) youth and their allies at the 2018Queer Youth Leadership Awards (QYLA)! Eligible awardees are those who have shown outstanding leadership, academic excellence, or community engagement as an LGBTQ youth under the age of 18, or as an ally to LGBTQ youth. Allies to LGBTQ youth may be a straight youth, or can also be a straight or LGBTQ adult. If you know an LGBTQ youth who has made an effort to improve the lives … [Read more...]
LGBTQ+ News
“Virginia Elects Its First Openly Transgender State Lawmaker” - Huffington Post “Democrat Danica Roem defeated the Republican who wrote the anti-trans bathroom bill.” “College students share advice to bullied LGBTQ youth” - GLAAD “This Spirit Day, our GLAAD Campus Ambassadors were asked to share words of advice with LGBTQ youth who are experiencing bullying. Because LGBTQ youth disproportionately face bullying and harassment, many of our Campus Ambassadors have had their own personal experiences with bullying. Read their heartful words of … [Read more...]
[Reminder] 13th Annual Youth Empowerment Summit (YES), November 18, San Francisco – Register ASAP!
YES is a free annual conference for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (LGBTQ) and ally youth activists who are dedicated to racial, economic, and educational justice for trans and queer youth. YES is youth-planned and youth-led.The cost to attend is FREE! This includes workshops, resource fair, dance, drag show, plus free HIV testing. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner will be provided. To end the day we have a DANCE! The dance is open to all registered participants of YES. This year's dance will include drag show/talent show open mic (sign … [Read more...]
LGBTQ+ Youth Holiday Resources
Home For The Holidays - A Guide for Self Care for LGBTQ+ During the Holiday Season “Queer, trans, gender non-comforming folks, and queer people of color — as well as others who may have challenging relationships with their families — can feel a challenging ambivalence about going home during the breaks daunting task. Here are a few tips for taking care of yourself!” Click Here to view the whole flyer created by UCSC’s Cantu Center Need a Break from the Family? Attend a Weekly Queer Youth Meet-Up Watsonville Queer Youth Meet-up - … [Read more...]