Date:Fri, 24 Aug 2001 13:28:56 -0700
From:Carolyn Laub carolyn@gsanetwork.org
Subject:GSA Network News:August 24, 2001
X-Sender:cmlaub@postoffice.pacbell.net

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

  1. Diversity 2001 Youth Conference / NYAC Regional Conference -- this weekend!
  2. San Francisco Vigil in Memory of Native American Two-Spirit Fred Martinez, Jr.
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1. Diversity 2001 Youth Conference / NYAC Regional Conference

"Generation NeXt:Don't Cross Us Out!"

August 24-26, 2001
Oakland, CA

Workshops Location:YWCA, 1515 Webster Street, Oakland CA 94612

Workshop Sessions:
Friday, 8/24 --> Session 1:11:30 - 1:30
Session 2:3:30 - 5:30
Saturday, 8/25 --> Session 3:11:30 - 1:30
Session 4:3:30 - 5:30
This conference is co-sponsored by Sexual Minority Alliance of Alameda County (SMAAC) and National Youth Advocacy Coalition (NYAC).

For More Information, contact:
www.diversity2000oak@yahoogroups.com or call SMAAC at 510-834-9578

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2. San Francisco Vigil in Memory of Native American Two-Spirit Fred Martinez, Jr.

PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Seth Watkins
phone:(415) 595.6120
e-mail:twilightchild@hotmail.com

VICTIM'S MOTHER TO SPEAK AT SAN FRANCISCO VIGIL IN MEMORY OF FRED C. MARTINEZ, JR.

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIF., TUESDAY, AUGUST 21, 2001 -- Pauline Mitchell, mother of slain Navajo gay Two-Spirit youth Fred C. Martinez, Jr., will take part in a candlelight vigil and march in her son's memory on Saturday, August 25, 2001 at 7:30 p.m in San Francisco.

The vigil will begin at the southwest corner of Dolores Park at 7:30 p.m. and end at Metropolitan Community Church (MCC), 150 Eureka Street. At 9 p.m., Mitchell and others will speak at a vigil.

Martinez was brutally murdered in Cortez, Colo. in June. His death has received national attention during recent weeks with vigils being organized around the country.

"I am so touched that the San Francisco community would hold a vigil in honor of Fred, Jr.," Mitchell said. "I do not want to see what happened to F.C. happen to anybody else. I look forward to joining the people of San Francisco so that we may let those who come from hatred know that we will be silent no more."

Vigil organizer Seth Watkins said Martinez lived his life proud of who he was and for that, his life was taken. "I couldn't just sit by and do nothing so I decided to try to raise the money and support to bring his story to San Francisco," said Watkins. " And who better to tell that story than his mother, Pauline Mitchell."

As part of the vigil, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors has prepared an official Offering of Condolences that will be presented to Mitchell that evening. "This vigil for Fred Martinez Jr. is something that San Francisco can do to honor his memory. This is a tragic loss for the entire LGBT community, even here in San Francisco and that's why there's still a need for us to send a message that discrimination, hate, bigotry, and violence shouldn't be cultivated in our country."

The Vigil is being co-sponsored by the National Transgender Advocacy Coalition (NTAC); the National Native American AIDS Prevention Center; Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG); the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD); Bay Area American Indian Two-Spirits; Communities United Against Violence (CUAV); the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR); the San Francisco Transgender Civil Rights Implementation Task Force; Proyecto ContraSIDA Por Vida; ELLAS en Accion; The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence; the San Francisco Board of Supervisors; and the offices of Supervisor Mark Leno, Mayor Willie Brown, Rep. Nancy Pelosi; and State Assemblymember Carole Migden.

For information, please contact vigil organizer Seth Watkins at (415) 595.6120 or via e-mail at twilightchild@hotmail.com.

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empowering youth activists to fight homophobia in schools

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 8/24/2001 by Jean Richter, richter@eecs.Berkeley.EDU