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In this issue of GSA Network News, you'll find:
GSA Network Highlight
Seeking GSA Stories
GSA Network Announcements
+++++++++++++++ GSA NETWORK HIGHLIGHT +++++++++++++++
Seeking GSA Stories
Calling all GSAs! We're looking for GSAs to feature in GSA Network News. Tell us about what your GSA has been up to, your recent successes and obstacles, and how you feel you have impacted your school. See your GSA story printed as the GSA Network Highlight! Send your 75-100 word articles to john@gsanetwork.org.
+++++++++++++ GSA NETWORK ANNOUNCEMENTS +++++++++++++
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1. Save the date:GSA Activist Camp 2003! (Northern and Southern CA)
GSA Activist Camp is a youth-planned and youth-led event that features intensive community building, skill-building, political education, and leadership training for GSA members. Last year's participants had a great experience, and we hope to make this year even better! All youth who will be involved in a GSA next year and who want to develop leadership skills, network with other youth activists, learn a lot, and have a fabulous time are encouraged to apply. Cost:$0-$100 sliding scale - no one turned away for lack of funds.
Northern California Camp: August 6-8 in Oakland. Application deadline:July 7, 2003
Southern California Camp: July 18-20 in Santa Monica. Application deadline:June 24, 2003
More information at http://www.gsanetwork.org/camp
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2. Join the GSA Network Youth Council!
The GSA Network Youth Council is a diverse group of youth leaders who care about fighting homophobia and transphobia in schools. There are 3 Youth Councils: Northern California, Central California, and Southern California. Each Youth Council is responsible for making decisions about and guiding the programs of the GSA Network in their region. Youth Council members will represent the needs of GSAs and youth activists from their geographic region as well as set goals and establish priorities for the entire GSA Network.
The Youth Council meets once a month, generally on a Saturday. Meetings will take place in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Fresno. Typically, Youth Council members are also involved in planning and/or implementing other trainings and conferences, most of which happen on weekend days as well.
For more information and to apply, visit:http://www.gsanetwork.org/about/ycapp.html
++++++++++++++++ OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS ++++++++++++++++
GSA Network News is a publication of Gay-Straight Alliance Network. Events, resources,
and news items listed under "Other Announcements" are not sponsored or written by GSA Network, and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of GSA Network.
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3. El Camino High School presents:The Laramie Project (Bay Area)
The Laramie Project
El Camino High School
1320 Mission Road
South San Francisco, CA
May 1,2,3 at 7:30 pm and May 4 at 2 pm.
The play, a "documentary drama",
uses the actual words of more than 60 people who provide details and perspective about the tragic beating and subsequent death of Matthew Shepard, a gay college student in Laramie, Wyoming. The actors are El Camino high school students.
Ticket prices are:
$7.00 for adults
$5.00 for students of all ages, and senior citizens
For more information, call Mr. Thomas Crockett, Drama Director at 650-877-8806 ext. 6163.
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4. Aqueerium! Gay Prom 2003 (Bay Area)
Separate We Are One, Together We Are Whole
Saturday, June 14 from 7pm - Midnight
Centennial Hall, 22292 Foothill, Hayward, CA
welcoming lesbian, gay, bi, trans, questioning youth & friends
ages 25 & under
Theme: Aqueerium:Separate We are One; Together We are Whole
Dress: To the theme, or formal
Features: DJ Music, Raffle Prizes, King King Queen Queen contest
Light snacks and beverages available for small costs (like .50 and .75)
Sponsor:Lambda Youth Group at Project Eden, Horizon Services Inc, Hayward CA
Note:This is a CLEAN and SOBER EVENT
Order tickets from (510) 247-8200
http://www.gayprom.org
$20/adv $25/door
Last year, we had over 400 queer youth and allies show up, and we expect even more this year!
Check out http://www.gayprom.org for this year's info.
info@gayprom.org
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5. LGBT & Straight Ally Theatre Think Tank (Los Angeles)
ONLY 2 MORE WORKSHOPS!!!
Trying to deal with homophobia or transphobia in your school? Got an idea that you think might help students, teachers &/or parents tackle homophobia &/or transphobia in their school???
Please join us for a FUN and FREE THEATRE ACTIVISM WORKSHOP for GLBTQ youth & their allies !
Through brainstorming, discussion, improvisation and theatre & performance art exercises, we will collaborate to create fun & powerful school assemblies & PSA's & for Parent/Teacher Organizations
Sunday, May 4, 2003 from 2-to-5pm in Los Angeles
at GLASS:
735 South La Brea Blvd.
(1/2 block south of Wilshire Blvd.)
Metered street parking available
Free parking in the Bank of America lot on the southwest corner of Wilshire & La Brea.
For more information AND to let us know if you can join us, contact Cassandra at (626) 399-2933 or at Skorpeogrl@aol.com.
Fringe Benefits is a groundbreaking theatre company with a 12-year track record of collaborating with youth to fight discrimination. Two published anthologies of our plays, Friendly Fire and Cootie Shots, and the award-winning documentary film about our work, Surviving Friendly Fire, narrated by Sir Ian McKellen, have all received critical acclaim, support from educators & parents and RAVE REVIEWS from youth!
STAY TUNED:
Fringe Benefits Theatre is sponsoring 9 Theatre Activism workshops the
2nd Sunday of each month, 2-to-5pm, from September thru June, 2003. You're welcome to join us for as many workshops as you like! Please feel free to invite friends, fellow students or teachers and/or family members...
NO THEATRE EXPERIENCE IS NECESSARY!!
***** Our final LGBT Theatre Think Tank workshop for our 2003/2004 Season will be Sunday, June 22, from 2 to 5pm, also at 735 South La Brea.
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6. Mother's Stories:Coming to Terms with Coming Out (San Francisco)
Presented by Coalition of Gay Asian & Pacific Islander Organization
PANEL TO ADDRESS ISSUES OF COMING OUT WITHIN API FAMILIES
When:Mother's Day, May 4, 2003 from 2pm to 4pm
where:Chinese Historical Society of America @ 965 Clay St., SF (between Powell & Stockton)
A coalition of Bay Area lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Asian and Pacific Islander (API) organizations is proud to present Mother's Stories:Coming To Terms With Coming Out.
The forum is being presented by Asian & Pacific Islander Family Pride, Asian & Pacific Islander Wellness Center, the Asian Pacific Islander Queer Women and Transgender Coalition (APIQTC), the Gay Asian Pacific Alliance (GAPA), PFLAG Northern California Chinese Chapter (PFLAG Chinese) and South Bay Queer & Asian (SBQA).
"Many gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender APIs don't believe they can come out to their parents," said SBQA Social Chair Lee L. "This forum is so vital because it's important for LGBT sons and daughters to feel hope that their parents will accept them."
Family is a cornerstone in API communities. Issues of insularity, language, lack of resources and pressures to fulfill family roles make it difficult for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender APIs to talk about issues of sexual orientation and gender identity for fear of isolation.
In 1998, SBQA held the first Mother's Day community forum. The mothers shared their stories about their children coming out, their first reactions, and how they learned acceptance. So successful was the event that SBQA approached the coalition of LGBT API groups to create a forum that will outreach to the entire Bay Area community.
"As a mother, I want to make sure that all my children are happy and safe," said Belinda Dronkers-Laureta, a mother of a gay son herself and Co-Coordinator of API Family Pride, "I am honored to be given this opportunity to help bring understanding that will make the world a better place for my son and all children of API families."
Panelists include Dronkers-Laureta and her husband John; Leticia and Cesar Javier, whose eldest son is gay; Anh and Ken L, who also has a gay son; Dawning Chung, mother of a transgender woman; and others to be announced.
For more information about the community forum, please contact Ben Chan: 415.292.3420 x362 or ben@apiwellness.org
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7. Total Screaming Queers
Call for Submissions
Poetry, Art, Photos, and More! Zine Submissions Needed
Submissions needed for:TOTAL SCREAMING QUEERS - A Zine dedicated to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth.
Get your thoughts, art, prose, poetry, and photos in print! Send us your creative expression around being young and queer, HIV/AIDS, coming out - anything that YOU want to share.
Submissions are due no later than Wednesday, April 30!
How to send in your stuff:
The Zine will be distributed Saturday, May 17th at the 2003 WOAH Conference.
HEY! WHAT'S THE WOAH CONFERENCE?
Funny you asked! WOAH stands for Workshop Organized Against Homophobia. It is a free conference for Queer (LGBTQ) youth from Contra Costa County and beyond. There will be a variety of fun and interesting workshop topics, activities, prizes, speakers, and FOOD!
Join us at El Cerrito High School in El Cerrito on Saturday, May 17 for WOAH 2003! (540 Ashbury Ave. El Cerrito, CA 94530). Conference is from 9am-5pm.
For more information, email RobertImada@aol.com or call (925) 687-8844 ext. 310. More information, pre-registration info, and the WOAH Dance will all be sent via email very soon! Stay tuned and spread the word!
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8. Support Day of Silence Participant Recovering from Assault
PLEASE FORWARD WIDELY!
Caitlin Meuse, a sophomore at Concord-Carlisle High School in Concord, Massachusetts, was one of the nearly 200,000 students in nearly 2,000 schools who took part in the 2003 Day of Silence. On Wednesday, she was verbally harassed at school because of her participation. The following evening, Caitlin was severely beaten with a baseball bat just outside of her home.
Fortunately, Caitlin is now out of the hospital and recovering at home. Police are investigating the assault, and it is still unclear if the attack was related to the harassment she faced on the Day of Silence. GLSEN has expressed our profound sadness and shock at the horrifying attack that Caitlin endured. Our thoughts go out to her and her family in this difficult time and we are fervently hoping for a swift and complete recovery for her.
Please join GLSEN in sending Caitlin your support during this difficult time by sending her an email using GLSEN's Safe Schools Action Network!!!
JOINING IS FAST, EASY AND FREE - TAKE ACTION WITHIN MINUTES WITH THESE 4 STEPS!!!
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9. News:San Jose-Peninsula PFLAG and Peninsula/South Bay GLSEN 2003 Scholarship Winners
The SAN JOSE-PENINSULA PFLAG AND PENINSULA/South Bay GLSEN Scholarship committee is pleased to announce the winners of their 2003 scholarships. 15 high school and three community college applications, seven graduating high school seniors and one community college student were selected to receive PFLAG's and GLSEN's $1500 scholarships. The winners will be recognized at a 7pm, Tuesday, April 29 reception at the Quinlan Community Center, 10185 No Stelling Rd., Cupertino.
GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS
Morgan Early, Crystal Springs Uplands School, Hillsborough (GLSEN Joyce Palmer Fulton Memorial Scholarship;) The child of gay parents, Morgan became involved with COLAGE (Children of Lesbians and Gays Everywhere) as part of her school's Youth Leadership and Action Program. She has spoken on several panels about her experiences as a youth with LGBT parents in order to promote tolerance and to dispel myths about LGBT people. Morgan is also President of her school's Rainbow Alliance group where among other activities she has done fundraising for the AIDS Emergency Fund. She plans attend UCLA in the fall
Andrew Gonzalez, Sacred Heart Academy, Atherton (Gwen Araujo Memorial Scholarship;) "The issues surrounding homosexuality and sexual identity are not easily addressed in a Catholic environment and Andy has committed himself to making Sacred Heart a safe place for GLBT students and faculty." So writes one of his letters of recommendation. Andy is currently serving as the President of IRIS, Sacred Heart's Gay-Straight Alliance, a group with which he has been active the past two years. Immediately following the death of Gwen Araujo, He began his efforts to combat hate and ignorance on campus. Andy coordinated a fundraiser to benefit Gwen's family, organized lunchtime prayer service and coordinated a trip of 20+ students to the opening night of "The Laramie Project" in Newark. In the fall, Andy plans to attend one of following colleges:Seattle University, Chicago Loyola University or University of San Francisco.
Naomi Martinez, Santa Clara HS, Santa Clara; One of the only two straight members of her school's Gay-Straight Alliance, Naomi and a gay member experienced having rocks thrown at them by members of another club. Determined "to help stop the insanity and teach others about the gay culture," she decided to learn about the gay community by visiting websites, the Billy DeFrank LGBT Community Center etc. In her junior year she became President of her school's Gay-Straight Alliance where, after the club was denied participation in Multi-cultural Week events, she petitioned to have the GSA recognized as a legitimate culture and have the name of Multi-cultural Week changed to Diversity Week. "We won.!"
Danielle Povio, Milpitas HS, Milpitas; Danielle stands on the brink of a new chapter in her life, having been accepted to her dream school, UC Berkeley. Now President of the GSA, earlier she became a member and was soon immersed in attempting to bring an acclaimed art exhibit on stereotypes to the school. As one of her recommenders writes, "Danielle and a group of students went before the school board to request permission to host the display. They spoke eloquently about the need for inclusion of all students.and spoke of the detrimental effects of being largely invisible on campus. The (very conservative) school board was moved to tears by the students' presentation. They gave permission and told the students that they had never met a group of students who displayed such courage.. Danielle was the backbone of this group."
John Thompson, Mills HS, Millbrae (GLSEN Joyce Palmer Fulton Memorial Scholarship;) After coming out at 15, John was fortunate to have the support of his family and seeking a place to express himself and where he would be understood, he sought refuge in his school's Gay-Straight Alliance. He has been President of Spectrum, his school's GSA, and he has served on the GSA Network's Northern California Youth Council and the Network's Governing Board. He has excelled as a peer educator, and for several years has presented highly acclaimed workshops at the Overcoming Homophobia Meeting for Youth Conference. John is also secretary of "Best Buddies Club," a group which helps team up regular students with students who are limited intellectually functioning. After graduation, John will attend U.C. Santa Cruz where he will major in Sociology.
Shannon Van Meir, Abraham Lincoln HS, San Jose; Shannon writes, "After four years of organizing and participating in Lincoln's GSA, I know I leave Lincoln a safer place to go to school." As President of Lincoln's GSA, she has been a vocal and visible presence in promoting tolerance by speaking at educational seminars for students and faculty. Every year she's organized "The Day of Silence" and was instrumental in bringing "High Contrast," a traveling art exhibit dealing with the issue of discrimination to Lincoln. A member of the National Honor Society, Shannon will be attending Mills College to major in Fine Arts.
Devin Wikke, Abraham Lincoln HS, San Jose (San Jose State University Scholarship;) In his sophomore year Devin became a member of the school's dance team and about the same time recognized that he was gay. Openly gay at school, many times throughout the year he has been approached by teachers and school officials seeking his thoughts and opinions on gay issues. A regular attendee of PFLAG meetings he is an eager learner about other families and their experiences. On the honor roll for six consecutive semesters, Devin has completed Honors and Advanced Placement classes, has won two Northern California dance titles and was a first place winner at the National Contest of Champions in Florida this spring. Devin will attend San Jose State University where to major in Industrial Design with a possible minor in Dance.
TRANSFERRING COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENT
Jason Bacon, DeAnza College, Cupertino; Jason moved to San Jose in January 2002 to work and attend DeAnza college.
Active with the Billy DeFrank LGBT Community Center, he has participated in the "20 Something" and " Coming Out over Coffee" social and support groups. He is the founder and President of DeAnza's Gay and Lesbian Association (GALA) where he helped initiate such awareness events as "The Forum for Homosexuality and Religion," and the LGBT Film Fest. This spring he and others in GALA will be doing outreach to seniors in local high schools who plan to attend DeAnza in the fall. After graduation, Jason will be attending California State University Dominguez Hills to major in Communications.
SAN JOSE-PENINSULA PFLAG scholarships are made possible through the generosity of BayLands FrontRunners, I.R.L.M. (The International Royal Lion Monarchy,) individual donations and through the sale of PFLAG pins and mugs. Joyce Palmer Fulton Memorial scholarships are made possible through the donations of PENINSULA/South Bay GLSEN members.
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empowering youth activists to fight homophobia and transphobia in schools
Carolyn Laub
Executive Director
Gay-Straight Alliance Network
160 14th Street
San Francisco, CA 94103
ph:415.552.4229
fax:415.552.4729
carolyn@gsanetwork.org
http://www.gsanetwork.org/
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Last updated 4/24/2003 by Jean Richter, richter@eecs.Berkeley.EDU