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

GSA Network Highlight
Congrats to new youth members of the GSA Network Governing Board!

GSA Network Announcements

1. Upcoming Central Valley Meetings
2. Apply for the GSA Network Youth Council!

3. q-team (LA)
4. Chico Chats (SF)
5. Teaching Respect for All 2002 - Student Scholarships
6. NYAC Pacific Regional Conference (Reno)
7. NGLTF Youth Advisory Council

+++++++++++++++ GSA NETWORK HIGHLIGHT +++++++++++++++

Congrats to new youth members of the GSA Network Governing Board!

GSA Network's Governing Board is a youth-adult partnership board, with 50% of the members required to be youth involved in GSAs.

Congratulations to the youth representatives who will be serving on GSA Network's Governing Board this year!

Southern California:
Viannah Duncan, La Cañada High School
Kc Martin, La Jolla High School
Laura Vilchez, South Pasadena High School

Central California:
Kelly Klein, Lincoln High School (Stockton)
Jennifer Lopez, Redwood High School (Visalia)
Julie Silva, Clovis High School

Northern California:
Trent Rich, Burlingame High School
Emily Shine, Notre Dame High School
John Thompson, Mills High School

+++++++++++++ GSA NETWORK ANNOUNCEMENTS +++++++++++++

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1. Upcoming Central Valley Meetings

Attention Northern Cluster Meeting of Central Valley GSAs and all those interested in starting a GSA! Join us if you live in Stockton, Tracy, Modesto, Merced and other nearby towns. Saturday, July 27th 2pm at St. Paul's United Methodist Church in Manteca (corner of Power and North streets) Call for more information or if you need a ride (559)442-4777

LGBTQ And Straight Ally Youth Conference Planning Meeting! Come and bring your ideas! Sunday, July 28th at 2pm at the Destination Out office in Fresno (633 N. Van Ness between Olive and Belmont) Call for more information (559)442-4777

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2. Apply for the GSA Network Youth Council!

GSA Network is still taking applications for our regional Youth Councils. If you're interested in being on the Youth Council for the upcoming term (now through the end of the '02-'03 school year), apply now!! We will be accepting applications on an ongoing basis.

Questions about the Youth Councils??
Northern CA - contact Emilie:415-552-4229 or emilie@gsanetwork.org
Central CA - contact Diana:559-442-4777 or diana@gsanetwork.org
Southern CA - contact CC:323-662-3160 or cc@gsanetwork.org

You can also get a Youth Council application at http://www.gsanetwork.org/about/apply.html.

JOB DESCRIPTION:

Youth Council Description: The GSA Network Youth Council is a diverse group of youth leaders who care about fighting homophobia 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.

Schedule: The Youth Council meets once a month, generally on a Saturday. Meetings will take place in each office of the GSA Network, in Northern, Central, and Southern California. 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.

Job Responsibilities
Each Youth Council member is expected to:

1. Make a one-year commitment to serve on the Youth Council.
2. Represent your region as fully as possible.
3. Prepare for and attend monthly meetings of the Youth Council.
4. Participate in setting goals and making decisions about the programs of the GSA Network.
5. Identify needs of GSAs and LGBTQ youth and straight allies in schools and guide the direction of the GSA Network activities accordingly.
6. Help plan and/or conduct workshops at GSA Network trainings and conferences.
7. Help coordinate youth involvement in events such as National Day of Silence.
8. Be a resource to new and/or struggling GSAs in your region.

1. Willing to commit to serve on the Youth Council for one year.
2. Interested in developing and suggesting ideas to strengthen the GSA Network.
3. Committed to creating change for LGBTQ youth and fighting homophobia in schools.
4. Be able to work well in a group.

RETURN TO:

E-mail:
Northern CA: emilie@gsanetwork.org
Central CA: diana@gsanetwork.org
Southern CA: cc@gsanetwork.org

Other:
Northern CA: 160 14th Street, San Francisco, CA 94103, fax:415.552.4729
Central CA: 985 N. Van Ness, Fresno, CA 93728, fax:559.442.4734
Southern CA:4477 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90027, fax:323-662-3167

Name:
Address:
City:
State:
Zip:

Phone Number

(home):

(alternate):

Do we need to be discreet when contacting you?

School Info:
School You Attend:
Name of GSA or LGBTQ-Related Group:

The GSA Network strives for diversity in all aspects of the organization. Please provide the following information about yourself:

What's your age?
What year in school are you?
Gender:
Sexual Orientation:
Race/Ethnicity:
Anything else you'd like us to know about you:

Reference:
Please provide contact info for a reference who knows about your work with a GSA or LGBTQ youth group and/or can attest to your abilities as a youth leader. It can be a peer, friend, teacher, or anyone else.

Name:________________________________________
Relationship to You:_________________________
Phone:_______________________________________
Email:_______________________________________

Open-Ended Questions:

1. Please describe your involvement and experiences with the LGBTQ movement and any other movements or anti-oppression work you have been a part of.
2. Why are you interested in serving on the GSA Network Youth Council?
3. What would you be able to contribute to the Youth Council?
4. In your opinion, what are the greatest challenges facing GSAs and youth fighting homophobia in schools?
5. Share some ways that racism, classism, sexism, and other oppressions have affected you and your activism.

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3. q-team (LA)

q-team is a collective of queer youth of color in los angeles examining and organizing around multiple social justice issues. q-team seeks to engage LA queer youth of color and our allies in political discussion groups which dissect issues/oppression on multiple levels.

in an attempt to de-colonize our minds and de-marginalize our bodies, the queer youth of color in q-team invite you to join the first of MANY...

q-team political discussion group:

7.30.02 * 6-8pm
Communities for a Better Environment
5610 Pacific Blvd., Ste. 203,
Huntington Park, 90255
RSVP and info:qteam@hotmail.com

OCCUPIED VIEQUES:a political discussion of the U.S. military occupation and colonization of Vieques, Puerto Rico

The U.S. Navy continues to use the island of Vieques, Puerto Rico to practice military maneuvers of war. Following the events of 911, Bush delayed the planned evacuation of the island and allowed bombing to continue to prepare for the "war on terrorism." Given the unforeseen future of this war and the years of destruction and decay on the island, we MUST STOP THE BOMBING, DEMAND U.S. MILITARY EVACUATION OF THE ISLAND and SUPPORT THE VIEQUENSE PEOPLE IN THEIR ATTEMPTS TO RESCUE AND REDEVELOP THEIR HOMELAND.

For q-team, it is also important to link the struggle to demilitarize Vieques to the legacy of U.S. imperialism and colonization globally. The land of Vieques is not the only occupied land... think of Afghanistan, the Philippines, Okinawa, etc. And in lands which have been physically conquered by euro and U.S. forces, we recognize the thick residue of oppressive laws and repressive ideas and values. In the case of Puerto Rico, we will also look at the anti-sodomy law prohibiting sexual activity between same gender people which was modeled after California's anti-sodomy law.

q-team also recognizes the need for queer youth of color to form coalition with other people committed to comprehensive social justice. we will look at the example of Vieques and coalition building between odd bedfellows:the Catholic church and queers...all in the name of Vieques Libre. what can we take from this lesson? how can we build our movements stronger and avoid divisive tactics?
come chill, check q-team out and speak yo' mind about liberation.

***please do not bring or invite members of the government or press***

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4. Chico Chats (SF)

CHICO CHATS!!
para latino guys 25 and under who dig other guys!!

Chat about our lives and take action to make San Francisco a better place for you and your hermanos! Spread the chismes, have some risas, learn some skills and make new friends.

Novios. Dating. Sex. Love. Familia. Machismo. Homophobia. Racism. Comunidad.

Para mas info and to sign up contact Roberto:415.865.0790 x303 or ROrdenana@stopaids.org

Getaway:Sat August 3 & Sunday August 4, 2002. And Get2Gethers Wednesdays after that!!

CHICO APURATE! PUES SPACE IS TIGHT!!

brought to you by !Ya Basta!, Q Action's community organizing project for young Latino bi/queer/joto/questioning/gay men. at the STOP AIDS Project.

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5. Teaching Respect for All 2002 - Student Scholarships

Teaching Respect for All 2002, GLSEN's sixth annual national conference, will be on October 4-6, 2002 in Los Angeles.

GLSEN's Student Organizing Department is offering scholarships for students who want to attend the conference. The deadline to apply is Friday, July 26th.

Learn more about Teaching Respect for All student scholarships at:
http://www.glsen.org/templates/student/record.html?section=45&record=1311

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6. NYAC Pacific Regional Conference (Reno)

Get packed for Reno - the 2002 NYAC Pacific Regional Conference!

11-13 October 2002
University of Nevada, Reno

For more info or to register online, visit:http://www.nyacyouth.org

Co-sponsors:
A Rainbow Place, Nevada Young Activist Project, PFLAG Reno, University of Nevada (Reno) Queer Student Union (as of 7/17/02)

Scholarship Info:
Scholarships that cover registration only are available to youth ages 22 and under living in the Pacific region (Alaska, Washington State, Oregon, California, Nevada, Hawaii and Guam). Deadline for applications is Friday, August 23!

Contact:
Joseph Truong, Regional Field Assistant, NYAC, 1638 R Street, NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20009. E-mail:joseph@nyacyouth.org Phone:(202) 319-7596, ext 12. Fax:(202) 319-7365

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7. NGLTF Youth Advisory Council

Are you a young woman or youth of color who might be willing to serve on the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force's Youth Advisory Council?

NGLTF's web site is http://www.ngltf.org. For more info about the Youth Advisory Council, contact Lorri L. Jean 202-332-6483 or mailto:owinet@ngltf.org.

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--

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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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