In this issue of GSA Network News, you'll find:
GSA Network Highlight
San Francisco Pride Weekend Wrap-Up
GSA Network Announcements
+++++++++++++++ GSA NETWORK HIGHLIGHT +++++++++++++++
San Francisco Pride Weekend Wrap-Up
On Sunday, June 29th, Gay-Straight Alliance Network joined forces with LYRIC and other youth organizations from throughout the Bay Area to march down Market St. during the 2003 San Francisco LGBT Pride Parade. We held our signs high, representing 150 middle and high school GSAs in the Bay Area. Hundreds of thousands of people cheered us on, excited to know that so many students are out in schools fighting homophobia and transphobia and giving a voice to all other students who feel they cannot be out.
The GSA Network staff want to thank all those who joined us in body and spirit this past Sunday, and we hope more of you can join us next year to make our contingent even larger.
To see GSA Network Pride pictures go to:
http://www.gsanetwork.org/photos/pride2003.html
+++++++++++++ GSA NETWORK ANNOUNCEMENTS +++++++++++++
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1. GSA Activist Camp 2003 - Extended Deadline! (Northern CA)
Be among the 25 students to join us for a 3-day, 2-night overstay event at the Center for Third World Organization. The 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 high school or middle school GSA in California 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.
We provide food, lodging, and other materials. You bring yourself.
Applications are available online at http://www.gsanetwork.org/camp
Cost: $0-$100 sliding scale - no one turned away for lack of funds.
Northern California Camp: August 6-8 in Oakland. Application deadline: July 11, 2003 (extended deadline)
More information go to: http://www.gsanetwork.org/camp or
Contact John at: john@gsanetwork.org
++++++++++++++++ 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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The Other Side of the Closet
2. The Other Side of the Closet (Marin, Bay Area)
This hard-hitting drama tells the story of five high school students whose friendship is put to the test when they must deal with issues of homophobia and violence. This powerful program reflects the reality of what is happening in high schools all over the country around issues of tolerance and acceptance.
The 50 minute play is followed by a facilitated discussion between the student audience and actor/educators. Lesson plans are also provided for teachers to continue discussion in the classroom.
The Other Side of the Closet will be going on tour to middle and high schools all over Northern California from October 20th - December 11th 2003. It can be performed in any theatre, gymnasium, cafeteria or other large multi-purpose room.
A small donation is requested from the school to cover production costs, but underwriting may be possible for schools facing financial difficulty. Thanks to generous funding in Marin County, we are able to offer this program free of charge to Marin schools.
For more information, or to schedule a performance date for your school contact:
Sara Staley
YouthAware
Programs Coordinator
The New Conservatory Theatre Center
(415) 861-4914 or
youthaware@nctcsf.org
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3. NEWS: New Protections for Gay Students in Maryland
New Protections for Gay Students in Maryland
Maryland - Ending years of dispute, the Maryland Board of Education recently voted for the first time to explicitly protect gay and lesbian students from harassment in the state's public schools. The board voted 8-3 to include "sexual orientation" as one of the categories in which students "have the right to educational environments that are safe." Several other categories, including race, age and religion, were protected in the regulation, which covers school safety standards under the new federal No Child Left Behind Act. Maryland becomes the ninth state to adopt language protecting students regardless of sexual orientation, according to the National Association of State Boards of Education.
Read the full story at:
http://www.sunspot.net/news/education/bal-te.md.school25jun25,0,5269552.story?coll=bal-education-k12
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4. NEWS: National Youth Advocacy Coalition Applauds Supreme Court Sodomy Ruling
National Youth Advocacy Coalition
June 26, 2003
National Youth Advocacy Coalition (NYAC) Applauds Supreme Court Decision Striking Down Sodomy Law
Decision Paves the Way for Implementation of NYAC's New "Blueprint for Justice" to Expand Access to Social Services, Legal Protections, Healthcare, and Safety.
Washington, DC - the National Youth Advocacy Coalition (NYAC) today hailed the Supreme Court's decision to strike down sodomy laws as a landmark victory in the fight to empower and protect LGBTQ youth.
NYAC is the only national organization focused solely on advocacy, education, and information for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) youth.
"The decriminalization of the LGBTQ community will open up access to important federal support and protection," said NYAC Executive Director Craig Bowman. "This is very important to LGBTQ youth, whose need for support services is particularly critical. Of course, we wish it had not taken so long, and we hope now that real equality can be achieved."
Today's Supreme Court ruling in Lawrence v. Texas overturned the Court's 1986 Bowers v. Hardwick decision, which upheld Georgia's criminal sodomy statute (later repealed). It also rendered all remaining state sodomy statutes unconstitutional. According to Justice Kennedy, Georgia's statute was "not correct when decided and not correct today."
"By allowing LGBT individuals to be convicted as criminals for their private consensual behavior, the Court implicitly condoned discrimination against our community and denied LGBTQ youth access to health, education and safety programs by limiting public discourse," said Bowman. "Today's ruling, in addition to eliminating sodomy laws, eliminates a long-time smoke screen for un-American, unequal treatment," he added.
"The issue of discrimination, of treating one group of people unequally because of who they are, is not a gay issue, it is a human issue. Striking down sodomy laws seemed like a no-brainer to us. We just wonder why it took so long to get it done," said Terrence Calhoun, Chair of NYAC's Board.
Sodomy laws, while not typically enforced, have been used to discriminate against LGBTQ people by establishing same-sex relations as illegal and immoral. Without the ability to categorize the lives of LGBT people - indeed their very existence - as criminal, employers, service providers and law enforcement professionals no longer have a legitimate basis to deny opportunities to members of the LGBTQ community.
"The effects of today's ruling on the self-esteem and safety of LGBTQ youth cannot be underestimated," said Calhoun. "This decision recognizes our worth as human beings, and that is so important to youth who struggle daily for acceptance. There is still a long way to go, but this is a significant first step."
Today, NYAC is formally releasing its `Blueprint for Justice,' a summary of key challenges facing LGBTQ youth, and a detailed outline of the steps NYAC is taking to address these issues. In honor of its tenth anniversary and this landmark decision, the document articulates both NYAC's history and a clear vision for its critical work with LGBTQ youth in the coming years.
At the core of NYAC's mission is a social justice orientation and a commitment to ensuring that diversity in all its forms is evident throughout all levels of leadership and program development at NYAC. A Blueprint For Justice reflects those central values and outlines seven major areas of focus for NYAC:
CONTACT:
Craig Bowman, Executive Director
1638 R St., NW, Suite 300
Washington, DC 20009
202.319.7596 x15
202.744.2567 / cell
craig@nyacyouth.org
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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 7/2/2003 by Jean Richter, richter@eecs.Berkeley.EDU