"Santa Cruz Mountains Short Film at Cannes" - San Lorenzo Valley Post "Mom(s), a short film written by and starring Pacific Collegiate School student Abby Nuccio, 13, debuted at the Emerging Filmmaker Showcase at Cannes Film Festival in France and was nominated for the 2024 Emerging Filmmaker Showcase LGBTQ+ Films award at the American Pavilion during the Festival." "This nonbinary student activist has some powerful words as equalpride's 2024 valedictorian" - Advocate "One day, your daydreams of feeling accepted won't be daydreams … [Read more...]
Upcoming Pride Celebrations Across the Central Coast
Pajaro Valley Pride | pajarovalleypride.org | When: Sunday August 18 Salinas Valley Pride | salinasvalleypride.com | When: Saturday October 12 … [Read more...]
Reminders
Fall 2024 Rainbow Conference A day of celebration, community, and learning for LGBTQIA2S+ students, their allies, and the adults who support them in Monterey, San Benito, & Santa Cruz Counties, September 28, Watsonville The Safe Schools Project is proud to announce the Rainbow Conference — a day of celebration, community, and learning for young people and the adults who support them in Monterey, San Benito, & Santa Cruz Counties. When: Saturday, September 28, 2024 @ 9:30 AM - 2 PM Where: Watsonville High … [Read more...]
GLSEN National Student Council (NSC) – 24/25 Application Open Soon!
The NSC is a platform for LGBTQ+ youth to cultivate their leadership potential, amplify their voices, and actively contribute to creating more inclusive and equitable environments for all students.The NSC plays a pivotal role in providing feedback on GLSEN's processes, programs, resources, and overall strategy. As youth representatives, they offer their unique perspectives and insights, ensuring that GLSEN's initiatives remain relevant and impactful. NSC members are passionate about social justice and actively seek to deepen their knowledge and … [Read more...]
Upcoming EDI Educators Youth Programming
Queer Trans Youth Meetup, Saturday's @ 1 - 3 PM July activities include intersectional queer trivia 7/13, an all-levels music lesson field trip 7/20, and a puzzle creation craft 7/27. What: Join us weekly for community building, activities, peer support, leadership opportunities, snacks, skill building, fun, and hangout space. Where: 175B Walnut Avenue, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 Felton SAGA | 2nd & 4th Wednesday's @ 3 - 5 PM There's a big storytelling theme this month, and that counts for SAGA too. Join us for the raising of our … [Read more...]
Upcoming Diversity Center Youth Programming
Tween Time: Paint and Dip, July 11th (Meets 2nd Thursday of Each Month) Get ready to dip your brush in creativity at The Diversity Center Paint and Dip. Join us at The Diversity Center from 3:00 to 5:00 pm for an afternoon of creativity and dippable snacks! We'll provide all the painting supplies you need, so all you have to bring is your artistic flair and a willingness to have a blast. Grab your friends and join us for an unforgettable Paint and Dip experience! When: Thursday, July 11, 2024 @ 3 - 5 PM Where: The Diversity … [Read more...]
Weekly/Monthly Queer & Trans Youth Programs
The Diversity Center Youth Program, Santa Cruz County The youth program at TDC provides supportive, educational and social activities for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer and questioning (LGBTIQ) youth. Check out their weekly schedule events at diversitycenter.org/youth Questions? Email youth@diversitycenter.org Weekly and Monthly Happenings Let’s Connect LGBTQ+ Youth Group (4th Wednesday of Every Month @ 2:30 - 5 PM) The Diversity Center is hosting a LGBTQ+ youth group at Pajaro Valley Prevention and Students … [Read more...]
LGBTQIA2S+ News
QYLA in the news / "Honoring Youth Leaders" - The Pajaronian “The reason it’s important to do this work is so that other queer and trans youth like myself don’t have to feel isolated, threatened for just existing, and so they can live their lives freely,” Brown said. “So they can live in society without feeling that they are an outcast or like they have to second-guess whether or not a space is safe for them to truly express who they are.” "Pajaro Valley Unified School District sees large turnout for Pride flag raising" - Santa Cruz … [Read more...]
Reminders
CampOUT 2024 - Registration NOW OPEN!, August 2 - 4, Watsonville CampOUT is FREE and open to LGBTQ+ youth and allies ages 14-18 who are looking for a safe, supportive, and seriously fun camping experience. We'll be pitching our tents and soaking up the beauty of nature at Mt. Madonna County Park in a private campsite. Get ready to relax, enjoy shared meals, share stores by the campfire, and maybe even spot a shooting star or two! When: Friday August 2 - Sunday August 4, 2024 Where: Mt. Madonna County Park Ages: 14 - … [Read more...]
AB 1955 Safety Act – Support Academic Futures and Educator for Today’s Youth Act
Proposed Bill (AB 1955 Factsheet) Assembly Bill (AB) 1955, the Support Academic Futures & Educators for Today’s Youth Act (SAFETY Act), would strengthen existing California protections against forced outings of LGBTQ+ students in schools; provide critical resources for parents and families of LGBTQ+ students to support them in working towards family acceptance on their own terms; and provide additional protections to educators who face retaliatory actions from administrators and school boards for seeking to create an inclusive and safe … [Read more...]