“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...]
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...]
LGBT News: Gaming in Color Documentary Focuses on Queer Gamers
“The feature focuses on gaming in American society as a whole, the few LGBT characters in narratives currently seen in video games, and the growth of the queer geek community over the past few years.” Read More in The Advocate … [Read more...]
LGBT Youth Voices: 14 year old Christine Breaks Her Silence
Christine has partnered with The Poet Warrior Project to share this beautiful and powerful spoken word piece about breaking the silence. View her video on YouTube … [Read more...]
[Reminder] 17th Annual Queer Youth Leadership Awards!
The Queer Youth Leadership Awards recognizes queer youth across Santa Cruz County for being leaders within their community. Being a leader encompasses many attributes and spans across all disciplines and activities. We are looking for youth who inspire, be they into anything including sports, academics, activism, art and performance. When: Saturday May 10th, 2014 Where: New Brighton Middle School, 250 Washburn Ave, Capitola 5:30 pm: Resource Fair 6:00 pm: Buffet Dinner 7:00 pm: Awards Ceremony Reserve your QSA/GSA table! … [Read more...]
“Out in Santa Cruz” Radio Show Features QYLA Nominees!
Tune into KSCO 1080 AM Saturday May 3rd from 7pm to 8pm to listen to the LGBTQ youth and allies nominated for the 17th annual Queer Youth Leadership Awards! … [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...]
LGBT State News: A Journey From Daughter to Son – A Transgender Teen’s Story
“A California transgender teen is sharing his story to encourage acceptance of other LGBT kids like himself. Jadee Dennis, the youngest of six children, says he left a letter for his mother that put into words what he felt for so long, but never quite knew how to say it.” Watch this story on LGBTQ Nation … [Read more...]
LGBT Youth Voices: Open Editorial – I Am Your Gay Immigrant Brother
“I am your gay immigrant brother, and I need your help to stop the discrimination, the deportation, and the despair faced by so many undocumented communities right now. I came to the United States from Peru and recently became a naturalized citizen. Yet as I write this, my friends sit in immigration detention.” Read more in The Advocate … [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...]