Gender Spectrum: Title IX and Transgender Students Q&A with Educational and Legal Experts Join Gender Spectrum’s Joel Baum and Asaf Orr, transgender Youth Project Staff Attorney at the National Center for Lesbian Rights, for a question and answer session about the Trump Administration’s rescission of federal guidelines supporting transgender students at school. This program is for educators, parents, teens, and any other individuals that work with and support transgender and non-binary youth. Tuesday, February 28 – 1-2pm PT / 4-5pm … [Read more...]
GLAAD: Black History Month Resource Kit
“For more than 85 years, Americans have set aside time in February to recognize the many accomplishments and contributions of African Americans. Originally founded by Carter G. Woodson as Negro History Week in 1926, Black History Month was officially expanded to a month-long celebration in 1976 by President Gerald Ford to "seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history." While the annual celebration has since expanded in reach to include festivals, … [Read more...]
[Reminder] 2017 GSA Day for Racial Justice, February 24
This year, GSA Day for Racial Justice takes place on February 24, 2017. #GSADay4RJ is an annual day of action in February to mobilize for racial justice and celebrate the multiple identities we hold as trans and queer youth. In the past, participants have hosted teach-ins, direct actions, and online campaigns to show solidarity. Check out the Actions page for ideas your community can use, or visit our Past Campaigns page to learn more about how folks have joined the movement in past years. … [Read more...]
Local LGBTQ News: “South County Summit Empowers LGBTQ Youth”
“One of the larger focal points of the event was the political atmosphere. With President Donald Trump in office, many in the LGBTQ community are afraid the social progress made in recent decades could suddenly slide back. Empowering and teaching youth to fight for policies they believed in was a large part of the workshops. One workshop focused on how to design informative posters to hang around campus while another emphasized how to lead protests against injustice.” Read the full article in The Santa Cruz Sentinel … [Read more...]
Scholarships Open to Undocumented Students
Visit My Undocumented Life for a list of available scholarships and opportunities. … [Read more...]
Pajaro Valley Pride Scholarship
Part of our efforts include providing resources to our under-resourced community in the form of scholarships to local LGBTQIA+ and allies that aspire to pursue higher education. We want to foster our leaders and provide them with the support, confidence, and resources needed to help them aim for long-term goals. Criteria Include: Enrollment in a high school under the Pajaro Valley Unified School District. 2.5 GPA or higher. Enrolling full-time to a higher education institution in the fall directly after graduation. Be LGBTQIA+ … [Read more...]
QYLA Nominations Now Open!! – Deadline March 10
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 2017 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. Queer Youth Leadership Award: for LGBTQ youth, Ally to Queer … [Read more...]
LGBTQ History: “Stuart Timmons, author of ‘Gay L.A.’ and noted LGBT historian, dies at 60”
“Timmons was best known as the author of two books on gay history. With Lillian Faderman, he co-wrote “Gay L.A.: A History of Sexual Outlaws, Power Politics, and Lipstick Lesbians” (2006), which traces more than 200 years of gay and lesbian life in Los Angeles, beginning with Spanish missionaries' encounters with cross-gendered Native Americans in the late 1700s.” Read the full article in the LA Times … [Read more...]
2017 GSA Day for Racial Justice, February 24
This year, GSA Day for Racial Justice takes place on February 24, 2017. #GSADay4RJ is an annual day of action in February to mobilize for racial justice and celebrate the multiple identities we hold as trans and queer youth. In the past, participants have hosted teach-ins, direct actions, and online campaigns to show solidarity. Check out the Actions page for ideas your community can use, or visit our Past Campaigns page to learn more about how folks have joined the movement in past years. … [Read more...]
Workshops Announced: Queer, Trans* & Allied Student Summit 2017
Queer, Trans* & Allied Student Summit 2017 Uniting POC and Queer/Trans* People Saturday, Feb 11, 2017 9:30 am - 2:00 pm Watsonville High School, Watsonville Workshops Announced! Special Guest: Lily Sturgis is a local, immigration attorney. Her family is from Nicaragua and Mexico, but she was raised in Santa Cruz. She will be on hand to talk about the rights of immigrants and recent changes in immigration law. She will also be available to answer any immigration questions students may have. Workshops Session # … [Read more...]