Happy Holidays! There will be no GSA Network News next week - the next GSA Network News will be sent out on January 2nd.

In this issue of GSA Network News, you'll find:

1. Call for art submissions for GSA Network
2. Extravaganza 2002 - Jan. 19 in Southern CA
3. Apply for the Day of Silence Project Leadership Team!
4. News from the North Bay GSA Coalition
5. NGLTF Scholarship Applications Due Feb.1

Would you like to have your art showcased with other queer youth art?
Would you like to contribute to an awesome youth led organization?

Gay-Straight Alliance Network is asking for your contributions to a queer youth (25 and under) art silent auction to raise money for our programs. We're looking for drawings, photos, collages, cartoons, paintings, sculptures, zines, etc. (if you can matte or frame your work that would be great). Learn more about the organization below or by visiting our web site at http://www.gsanetwork.org

Submissions due:January 7
for more information contact Jill at jill@gsanetwork.org or 415-552-4229

or just send your work to either our Northern or Southern California office:

GSA Network
art stuff
160 14th St.
San Francisco, CA 94103

or

4477 Hollywood Blvd. Suite #202,
Los Angeles, CA 90027

GSA Network is launching a new student led campaign to implement California's Student Safety and Violence Prevention Act, the law that protects all students from discrimination and harassment on the basis of actual or perceived sexual orientation and gender identity in public schools. This ground breaking law, known as AB 537, went into effect in 2000 but has not been fully implemented - particularly in schools and districts where LGBT students struggle with daily homophobia and harassment.

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2. Extravaganza 2002 - Jan. 19 in Southern CA

For all of you who enjoyed Gay Prom Check this out.......

GSA Network and Youth Drop In Center present Extravaganza 2002

Saturday Jan 19 from 8pm to 12 am

Queer youth from San Diego, Los Angeles, Inland Empire, and Orange County come together for a New Years Bash!!

Drag Kings *Disposable Boy Toys* to perform

Bands

Suprise Guest DJ

For more details, flyers, or to enter the
Amateur Drag Contest contact Paula @ 714-590-3140 ext 206

(not to be confused with girl fair in Feb)

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3. Apply for the Day of Silence Project Leadership Team!

Apply for the Day of Silence Project Leadership Team!
(Application Deadline:January 2, 2002)
http://www.dayofsilence.org/contact.html

Interested in supporting hundreds of others in your region? Have you led the Day of Silence in your high school before? Are you an experienced Day of Silence student organizer? Want to share your expertise, ensuring other student organizers have the tools needed to "Break the Silence" in their schools? Check it out...

The Leadership Team is a group of four (4) young people (Regional Organizers) supporting student-organizing efforts, each within their region (listed below), with an additional two (2) young people (Team Advisors) who've previously worked as a Regional Organizer to provide advice and guidance to the team.

2002 Leadership Team Goals & Responsibilities

1. Commit to participating on the Leadership Team for a nine-month term (January - September 2002);
2. Provide timely guidance and support through email and mail communication to student organizers within their respective regions, so they may organize successful efforts in their Middle & High Schools;
3. Increase the number of student organizers working on the Day of Silence Project within their region by outreaching to gay-straight alliances, other school clubs and community groups through email and mail;
4. Provide guidance and advice to the Day of Silence Project staff/leaders by attending six (6) out of seven (7) scheduled Leadership Team conference calls (toll-free number, currently scheduled from 6:00-7:00 pm EST on the following dates:1/9, 2/6, 3/6, 4/3, 5/1, 7/3 and 9/4);
5. Attend an annual Day of Silence Project Retreat and Training to be held at GLSEN's national conference, Teaching Respect for All (Los Angeles, CA - October 4-6, 2002, limited scholarships available if needed); and
6. Complete an end-of-year evaluation of the Day of Silence Project (due May 25, 2002).

1. Because the majority of request for support come via email, Regional Organizers must have access to email on a regular basis
2. To meet and share ideas with others on the Leadership Team, Regional Organizers must be able to attend monthly conference calls via a toll-free call in number (see conference call schedule listed above)
3. Students applying for the four Regional Organizer positions must be currently enrolled in school (Grades 6-12), and no less than 13 years of age

Apply for the Leadership Team Today online @
http://www.dayofsilence.org/contact.html
(application deadline:January 2, 2002)

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4. News from the North Bay GSA Coalition

North Bay GSA Coalition Meeting:

On Monday December 3rd The North Bay GSA coalition had it its first meeting.

26 people from seven different Schools came out, including a whole crew of people all the way from Sonoma.

It was incredible to hear about all the different work that GSAs are doing in their schools!

GSA Month:

As a group we named March North Bay GSA month

WE hope to gain media attention to the fabulous work of the GSAs and have special events throughout the North Bay.

We hope to include students and Advisors from every GSA in the North Bay and really build this movement.

January Meeting

Our next meeting will be January 7th 5-7pm @ Spectrum in San Anselmo. Please come!!!

Please email Dona to put things on the agenda for the January 7th meeting. dhwhite@spectrummarin.org

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5. NGLTF Scholarship Applications Due Feb.1

NGLTF ANNOUNCES FEB. 1 APPLICATION DEADLINE FOR MESSENGER-ANDERSON SCHOLARSHIPS

Four scholarships to be awarded for GLBT journalism students

Dec. 13, 2001 - The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force today announced a February 1, 2002, deadline to submit applications for NGLTF's Messenger-Anderson Scholarship. The NGLTF Messenger-Anderson Scholarship Program next year will award four $5,000 scholarships to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender high school seniors or undergraduate students who plan to pursue a bachelor's degree in journalism at an accredited four-year college or university.

Larry Messenger and Jim Anderson established the NGLTF Messenger-Anderson Scholarship in memory of Lawrence and Selina Messenger. The Messengers believed that there is a pressing need to encourage gay and lesbian people to become more involved in shaping media coverage.

"We are excited to be offering the Messenger-Anderson Scholarships for a third year in a row," said Lorri L. Jean, NGLTF's executive director. "By providing this type of educational financial support, NGLTF, like the Messengers, hopes to improve GLBT coverage in the media."

The scholarship competition is open only to undergraduate college students and to graduating high school seniors. Applicants must be pursuing a bachelor's degree in journalism. In instances where colleges or universities do not offer such a degree, applicants must be able to demonstrate that they are pursuing a career in either journalism or communications advocacy.

Each of next year's four Messenger-Anderson Scholarships will provide $5,000 the first year, renewable at $2,500 over the next two years for a possible total award of $10,000. Winners are required to participate in a paid summer internship at NGLTF offices in Washington, DC.

Applications for the NGLTF Messenger-Anderson Scholarship Fund must be postmarked by February 1, 2002. Download guidelines and an application at http://www.ngltf.org/about/messenger.htm. Winners will be announced in spring 2002, and the awards will be distributed in August 2002. A committee of working journalists, communications specialists and GLBT activists will select the winners.

For questions about the scholarship, send an email message to mcruz@ngltf.org.

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empowering youth activists to fight homophobia 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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