In this issue of GSA Network News, you'll find:
GSA Network Highlight
School Board News Publishes Article on GSAs
GSA Network Announcements
+++++++++++++++ GSA NETWORK HIGHLIGHT +++++++++++++++
School Board News Publishes Article on GSAs
A Guest Viewpoint article by GSA Network Executive Director Carolyn Laub was published in the Dec 10 issue of School Board News, a publication of the National School Boards Association.
An excerpt:
"Gay-Straight Alliances are here to stay. After years of local controversy and struggle, most school administrators and school boards now recognize that these student-led clubs have an equal access right to exist. But it's time for school administrators and school boards to move beyond grudging acceptance. GSAs provide significant opportunities for youth leadership development and can be valuable partners in supporting schools' commitment-and legal obligation-to provide a safe and nondiscriminatory school experience."
Read the full article, "View Gay-Straight Alliances as Partners" at http://www.nsba.org/sbn/02-dec/121002-7.htm.
+++++++++++++ GSA NETWORK ANNOUNCEMENTS +++++++++++++
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1. GSA Network Meeting and Holiday Celebration (Central Valley)
HAPPY HOLIDAY HAPPENING IN THE CENTRAL VALLEY!
Come and join in a brief GSA Network meeting followed by holiday fun and games!!!
Saturday, December 14th, 2:30 - 5pm
at the Fresno office (985 N. Van Ness between Olive and Belmont in the Tower neighborhood)
Join us for holiday merriment and a gift exchange ($5 limit)! Please bring a wrapped gift and something to eat or drink. E-mail or call ahead to let Diana know how many to plan for - Diana@gsanetwork.org, 559-442-4777. See you there.
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2. Gender Mini-Training This Weekend (SF)
Join the GSA Network Northern California Youth Council, the OHMY Steering Committee, and reps from Bay Area GSAs for a mini-training on gender identity!
Learn more about what gender is, how it affects everyone, the experiences of trans and genderqueer youth, and what you can do to make schools safer for gender-nonconforming students.
Saturday, December 14th, 1:00-3:00pm
at LYRIC, second floor (127 Collingwood St. in the Castro)
RSVP to Emilie at GSA Network - emilie@gsanetwork.org.
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3. Upcoming GSA Leadership/Make It Real Training (Central Valley)
Wanna learn about your legal rights as a youth activist?
Wanna meet other people fighting homophobia?
Wanna learn how to start/improve a GSA?
Wanna become a leader?
Then attend our upcoming GSA Leadership Training!
This year, we've combined our Leadership and Make It Real (AB 537) materials to make our regional trainings better than ever!
Fresno:
Saturday, January 11th, 10am - 4pm
GSA Network Central Valley office: 985 N. Van Ness between Olive and Belmont (in the Tower neighborhood)
For more information call Diana Bohn at GSA Network at 323.662.3160.
All GSA leaders and those hoping to start GSAs are strongly encouraged to attend to learn about running a GSA, strategizing for making change in your school, and how to use the law as a tool.
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4. Central Valley Conference Planning Meeting (Fresno)
Sunday, January 12th, 2pm
GSA Network Central Valley office - 985 N. Van Ness between Olive and Belmont in the Tower neighborhood
This is our next meeting to continue planning the EXPRESSION NOT SUPPRESSION! LGBTQQI and ally conference, scheduled for March 29th. We need you! Come and join us!
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5. Looking For Straight Youth Media Contacts
Are you a straight youth who has been bullied or harassed for being perceived to be gay?
Would you be willing to talk with reporters about it?
The National Mental Health Association is releasing a new poll on kids attitudes about bullying and prejudice. It found that anti-gay bullying is the most common form of bullying, and that 4 of 5 kids are upset by it. Another report has found that three out of four victims of anti-gay bullying are actually straight.
In response to this data, The National Mental Health Association will be holding a conference call with reporters on Thursday, December 12th. GSA Network is helping them to find youth spokespersons.
If you're interested, contact Michael Shellenberger ASAP - michael@luminastrategies.com.
++++++++++++++++ OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS ++++++++++++++++
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6. qteam Discussion About Trans Justice (So Cal)
Please join the qteamers for a political discussion on trans JUSTICE! We will be focusing on the case of Gwen Araujo, 17-year old trans woman of color from Newark, CA, brutally murdered at a house party on October 3, 2002.
Plus, join us for discussions about gender identity and politics, the media's butchering of transfolk, violence against trans people and much more! This is not an event for transfolk only- we must ALL come together in solidarity to seek justice for trans people. (that means YOU- gays and lesbians, men and women, straights, bisexuals, intersex people, queer people, etc.!!)
December 12, 2002
6:30-8:30PM
Lafayette Park Recreation Center
625 S. Lafayette Park Place
Los Angeles, CA 90057
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7. Holiday Rainbow Lollapalooza (Palo Alto)
A party for LGBTQQ youth and their straight-ally friends!
Talent Show & Open Mic
Music
Food & Beverages
Fun People
Monday, December 16th
6-9pm
Outlet @ YWCA of the Mid-Peninsula
4161 Alma St., Palo Alto
(between San Antonio & Charleston Rd.)
Need more info?
juan@ywcamid.org
(650) 494-0972 ext. 301
http://www.ywcamid.org
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8. NEWS: San Jose adopts gender-identity protection
San Jose adopts gender-identity protection
http://Advocate.com
11/28/02-12/02/02
Prompted by the recent slaying of transgendered teen Gwen Araujo in nearby Newark, Calif., the San Jose city council voted unanimously Tuesday to add transgendered people to the list of groups protected under the city's antidiscrimination policy, reports The [San Jose] Mercury News.
Councilman Ken Yeager proposed changing San Jose's harassment policy after learning about the beating death of Araujo last month. Araujo was murdered when some men with whom she'd had sexual relations discovered she was biologically male. Members of the Bay Area Municipal Elections Committee, a gay and lesbian political advocacy group that Yeager cofounded in 1984, approached Yeager and Mayor Ron Gonzales about amending the city's antidiscrimination policy to add protections for gender identity. Current classes covered include race, color, ethnicity, national origin, disability, age, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, and religion.
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Coordinator, California Safe Schools Coalition (CSSC)
9. JOB ANNOUNCEMENT: Coordinator, California Safe Schools Coalition
The California Safe Schools Coalition is seeking a coordinator to support its efforts to build a statewide campaign to advance the implementation of California's Student Safety and Violence Prevention Act of 2000, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity in California schools.
Founded in November 2001, CSSC is a statewide coalition with more than 15 organizational members including Gay-Straight Alliance Network, Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network, ACLU of Southern California, the California Alliance for Pride and Equality (CAPE), California Teachers Association (CTA), Human Rights Watch (HRW), L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center, National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) and Parents, Friends, and Family of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG).
The coalition seeks to hire its first staff person to start in 2003. The coordinator will provide support to CSSC committees, will assist the Steering Committee in carrying out its activities, which include developing and implementing the coalition's advocacy, evaluation, training, and model local tools programs; will work with the Executive Committee to secure funding, complete grant reports, and conduct coalition communications work, and will attend to the day-to-day administrative and financial operations of the coalition.
This position is funded, in part, by a grant from the Haas, Jr. Fund.
Responsibilities will include:
Salary:
$35,000 - $40,000 + medical, dental, and vision benefits package
Equal Opportunity Statement:
CSSC is an equal opportunity employer and encourages people of color, LGBT people, older or younger people, women, and people with disabilities to apply.
To Apply: Send resume and cover letter to ccscjobsearch@yahoo.com - questions about the job may be directed to the same e-mail address.
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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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Last updated 12/11/2002 by Jean Richter, richter@eecs.Berkeley.EDU