The White House Today, the Biden-Harris Administration is releasing the first-ever Federal Evidence Agenda on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Intersex (LGBTQI+) Equity, a roadmap that federal agencies will use to ensure they are collecting the data and evidence they need to improve the lives of LGBTQI+ Americans. … [Read more...]
“LGBTQ+ Representation in Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties” – Queer Silicon Valley
Queer Silicon Valley "A group of prominent LGBTQ people in our community that we know the least about is Superior Court judges. Queer Silicon Valley is pleased to showcase 5 of the 9 judges in Santa Clara and San Mateo counties who identify as LGBTQ. I know you will be as impressed by their individual stories and how they came to be judges as I was..." - Ken Yeager … [Read more...]
“Sam Smith And Kim Petras Make LGBTQ History With Major Grammy Win” – HuffPost + Video: Kim Petras Acceptance Speech
"Petras, who collaborated with Smith on the pair's song "Unholy," became the first out trans artist to win the Grammy for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance." Video Below: Kim Petras Grammy acceptance speech … [Read more...]
Black History Month
Ibram X. Kendi & Nic Stone, How to be a (Young) Antiracist (Every Thursday this February), Santa Cruz Bookshop Santa Cruz, NAACP Santa Cruz County Branch, the Santa Cruz County Office of Education, and the Santa Cruz Warriors welcome Dr. Ibram X. Kendi and Nic Stone for a discussion about their new book, How to Be a (Young) Antiracist—a dynamic reframing of the concepts shared in Kendi's book, with young adulthood front and center. Aimed at readers 12 and up, and co-authored by award-winning children's book author Nic Stone, How to Be … [Read more...]
[Reminder] Queer Youth Leadership Awards Nominations Open February 3 – March 3!
QYLA was created in 1998 to shift the conversation about queer youth from risk to leadership. This county-wide, collaborative event serves to honor and celebrate queer youth leaders and the ally’s that support and empower them. With the help of individuals like you who take the time to write nominations, we can continue to celebrate our youth leaders and their ally’s as well as the thriving and inclusive community we are creating, together. QYLA consists of three award categories: Queer Youth (for out LGBTQIA+ youth) Ally to Queer … [Read more...]
Crisis Support
Weekly LGBTQ+ Youth Virtual & In-Person Events
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 The Epicenter Presents: "Sharing Circle" - In Person Developed from the concept of peer social support, our Sharing Circle is designed to create a safe space for LGBTQ+ youth to express themselves … [Read more...]
LGBTQ+ News
"California Supreme Court welcomes 1st queer woman" - The Bay Area Reporter "From humble beginnings growing up in a Denver public housing development reared by her grandmother with limited means, Alameda County Superior Court Judge Kelli Evans is now making history as the first queer woman of color to serve on the Golden State's highest court. " "New LGBTQ laws take effect January 1" - The Bay Area Reporter "Due to the adoption of Senate Bill 107, authored by gay state Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco), starting next … [Read more...]
Queer History
Making Gay History - The Podcast | Bayard Rustin "Bayard Rustin was a key behind-the-scenes leader of the Black civil rights movement—a proponent of nonviolent protest, a mentor to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and the principal organizer of the landmark 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. And he was gay and open about it, which had everything to do with why he remained in the background and is little known today in comparison to other leaders of the civil rights movement." Listen at Making Gay History - The Podcast Bayard … [Read more...]
Youth Updates
1. Goodtimes | "How the Queer Youth Task Force Helps Keep Kids Safe - The Santa Cruz Gives organization is helping to increase the visibility of local LGBTQIA+ youth" “The heart and soul of Santa Cruz County is people who are wanting to make life better for other people,” Rosenstein says. “And that’s how the Queer Youth Task Force was founded and that’s what it’s done since.” Read the full article at Goodtimes Luka Chavez, 13, is one of many young queer people whose life journey has been aided by the Queer Youth Task Force. PHOTO: … [Read more...]



