+++++++++++++++ GSA NETWORK HIGHLIGHT+++++++++++++++
A Special Highlight
What an amazing and historic week it has been, as same-sex couples have begun getting married legally in California! GSA Network congratulates all of the happy couples, including many GSA advisors and GSA Network's own Central Valley Program Coordinator, Robin McGehee and her partner, who got their marriage license yesterday in Fresno! - Carolyn Laub, Executive Director
GSA Network Co-Presents "Tru Loved" at Frameline (San Francisco)
Gay-Straight Alliance Network is proud to co-present "Tru Loved" at Frameline32, the 32nd San Francisco International LGBT Film Festival: TRU LOVED Saturday June 21 4:00 pm Castro Theatre http://www.frameline.org/festival/film/detail.aspx?FID=42&id=1428* GSA Network Executive Director, Carolyn Laub, and "Tru Loved" Writer/Director, Stewart Wade, and "Tru Loved" Producer, Antonio Brown, will be speaking on a panel after the film screening on Saturday, June 21. We hope you'll join us! TRU LOVED Wednesday June 25 12:00 pm Castro Theater http://www.frameline.org/festival/film/detail.aspx?FID=42&id=1428When her two moms uproot her from the comfortable trappings of a San Francisco upbringing for a generic Southern California suburb, high school sophomore Tru despairs. Surrounded by homophobic football players, Paris and Nicole wannabes and a doting but closeted English teacher, Tru escapes into fantasy: She daydreams of living in a 1950s black-and-white Leave It to Beaver-like household (with two moms and two dads, no less) and imagines herself as a benevolent Maria in a Jets-versus-Sharks dance sequence. Astonished to win the attention of the town's star quarterback, Tru soon realizes that her new "boyfriend" is simply another closet case. While protecting her appearance-wary friend by putting on a public front, Tru finds an outlet for her frustrations with her homogeneous high school peers by co-founding a chapter of the Gay-Straight Alliance. But now she must reconcile her very public positions on sexual orientation with her private "gentleman's agreement." Tru Loved is an examination of one adolescent's courageous ability to counter small-town small-mindedness, broaching tough issues - interracial dating, gay parenting, school-sanctioned homophobia - that the average after-school special eschews. And, in the end, Tru actually finds true love. (Extra bonus: This family-friendly film features appearances by Bruce Vilanch, Alec Mapa, A Different World's Jasmine Guy, Best in Show's Jane Lynch and David Kopay - the first openly gay professional athlete!) - JENN PREISSEL
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1. GSA Network Offers Free Tickets to Frameline32 (San Francisco)
Free tickets to Frameline32: San Francisco International LGBT Film Festival GSA Network has FREE tickets available to see select shows from the Frameline Film Festival. If you are interested in seeing any of the following shows, please contact Seth (seth@gsanetwork.org) with which shows you would like to see and how many tickets you would like for each in order to reserve them. Tickets will be reserved on a first-come/first-serve basis. After reserving them, you will need to come into the San Francisco office (1550 Bryant St., Suite 800, San Francisco, CA 94103) to pick them up yourself anytime Monday-Friday, 10am-6pm. Tickets are available to the following films: Mala Noche -- Friday June 20, 2:15pm -- Castro Theatre The Young and the Evil -- Friday June 20, 4:15pm -- Castro Theatre 2nd Verse: Rebirth -- Friday June 20, 6:00pm -- Roxie Film Center The World Unseen --Tuesday June 24, 12:00pm -- Castro Theatre Lilies -- Wednesday June 24, 2:15pm -- Castro Theatre Big Eden -- Thursday June 26, 1:00pm -- Castro Theatre Karmen Gei -- Friday June 27, 1:00pm -- Castro Theatre Worldly Affairs -- Friday June 27, 3:00pm -- Castro Theatre To read more about any of the shows, please visit http://www.frameline.org/festival/. ********************************************* 2. Kudos to Chico High GSA! Winners of $100 in GSA Network's Drawing
Congratulations to Chico High School for winning the $100 in the Year-End Evaluation drawing.
If your GSA would like the chance to win $100, be sure to fill out those evaluations next year.
Keep in mind that even if your school did not win, we STILL NEED evaluations. Go online and fill out the evaluation on http://www.gsanetwork.org/yearendeval/index.html
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3. Apply for GSA Activist Camp This Summer!!
It's that time of year again! GSA Network Activist Camp is happening in Northern California.
Who's excited? We are!
The GSA Activist Camp is a youth-planned and youth-led 3-day event that features intensive community building, skill-building, political education, and leadership training for GSA members and potential members. All LGBT and straight ally youth from California can apply. Youth who will be in a high school or middle school GSA next year will be given priority.
APPLY ONLINE:
Northern California
On August 15-17 youth from all over Northern California and Central Valley will be heading to the Marin Headlands in Sausalito. Application deadline is July 25.
Questions? mailto:Kiely@gsanetwork.org or call 415.552.4229
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4. Youth in Motion - A New Project for GSA Clubs!
GSA Network and Frameline are excited to announce Youth in Motion, a new project that will provide schools in California with free LGBTQ movies that can be shown in classrooms or as part of your GSA's activities. We hope the power of film will supplement existing curricula and youth activism to help reduce homophobia and transphobia in your schools. Click here for more information about this project.
The project will officially launch this fall, but our focus now is to select a diverse batch of films that will be offered as part of the series - and we want your input!
There are a few ways we'd love for you to participate:
********************************************* 5. Are you on MySpace? The Northern California GSA Network region now has a myspace page!
Here's the link for all NorCal GSA members or those who are interested in GSAs:
http://www.myspace.com/norcalgsanetwork
Keep in contact with other GSA members, network with one another and exchange ideas, and keep updated on things happening in NorCal! ********************************************* 6. Trans March June 27th (San Francisco)
Come join GSA Network at the Trans March! We are excited to be involved in the 1st Trans Resource Fair at Dolores Park, Friday, June 27th from 3-7pm. So, come on by and say HI and then join the March itself at 7pm.
For more information:
http://www.transmarch.org/ or if you want to volunteer and hang out at our table ... contact t. aaron hans at aaron AT gsanetwork.org.
********************************************* 7. California Pride Continues
Its still... PRIDE!!!! Don't miss your opportunity to get involved, to organize with others on events and issues that are concerning your community and to meet all the members of our Prideful Rainbow Family!!!
And, to wrap up the June Pride celebrations, in San Francisco, they will be celebrating with one of the largest Pride Parades in the world. Don't miss the excitement.
San Francisco Pride Parade, Sunday, June 29th
Check GSA Network for exact location and time of where the NorCal GSA Network youth will be organizing on that morning
Questions? Contact Kiely Hosmon, Northern California Program Coordinator
415-552-4229 or mailto:kiely@gsanetwork.org
The first 50 GSA members to show up to the Pride Parade will get a free whistle to use and keep. There will also be hundreds of bead necklaces to pass out to the crowd while walking down the parade route. Youth who want their GSA recognized in a sign should either make it themselves or email/call me to let me know they want a sign made for them.
Looking for more Pride events that are closer to your area? Here is a listing, provided by http://www.hrc.org
Sacramento Pride
Saturday, June 21, 2008
San Diego Pride
Saturday, July 19, 2008- Sunday, July 20, 2008
Palm Springs
Saturday, November 01, 2008- Sunday, November 02, 2008
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++++++++++++++++ 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.
Central Valley
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8. Pride Movie Screening (Fresno)
Central California Alliance, along with support from Fresno Reel Pride
will be having a Pride Movie screening for GSA Network youth and other
youth from the Fresno community - if you'd like to attend, here are the
details:
June 28th from 12pm-4pm
846 East Fairmont
Fresno, CA 93704
For more information or to get directions to the event, call 559-221-8132.
Northern California
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9. Straightlaced Rough Cut Screenings
Rough cut screenings of Straightlaced with youth will be used to gather feedback about the content of the film, which features teenagers talking about the limitations of strict gender roles and the underlying homophobia at the heart of it all. Rough cut screenings can take place in high school classes, afterschool programs, community gatherings, religious youth groups etc. If you work with youth or know of other adults who do and can help us arrange for a screening, please contact Sue Chen, producer, at 415-641-4616 ext 304 or mailto:schen@groundspark.org. Screenings will take about 2 hours, which includes viewing the film as well as time for feedback and discussion with the filmmakers. This is a great opportunity for youth to be involved in the filmmaking process and have a dialogue about gender roles and homophobia.
GroundSpark
2180 Bryant St. Ste. 203
San Francisco, CA 94110
Tel: 415-641-4616 Fax: 415-641-4632
http://www.groundspark.org
mailto:info@groundspark.org
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10. Queer Prom - Midnight Masquerade (San Francisco)
June 21st Saturday
QUEER PROM-Midnight Masquerade
(2nd annual SF Queer Prom)
8pm-Midnight
The SF LGBT Center
1800 Market St @ Octavia
Free for youth 24 & under (ID & dress code required)
RSVP for VIP List 415.865.5633
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11. YouthAware Educational Theatre at the New Conservatory Theatre Center Presents The Other Side of the Closet (Northern CA)
The Other Side of the Closet
by Ed Roy Directed by Sara Staley
A Safe Schools Educational Play for Teens
Touring Northern California Schools and Communities from
October 27th- December 11th 2008
Book now for the best selection of dates!
Harassment based on actual or perceived sexual orientation remains persistent in schools all over the country. The Other Side of the Closet by Ed Roy is a drama for teens that is produced by the New Conservatory Theatre Center's Youth Aware Educational Theatre program, based in San Francisco. This program has been touring to Northern California middle and high schools every fall, since 2000, to educate young people about homophobia, diversity, discrimination, hate crimes, verbal & physical harassment, and about the California School Safety Act (AB-537). The Other Side of the Closet supports a safe school curriculum where students, teachers and parents can learn about acceptance and respect in an innovative and engaging format. This is a great program for your GSA or other diversity based club to sponsor on campus. We are also available to present community performances of this program on Monday and Tuesday evenings during the run of the tour.
You may download a preview copy of the script at
http://www.nctcsf.org/other.html
For more information or to book a tour date for your school,
email mailto:sara@nctcsf.org or call (415) 694-6149.
Southern California
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12. Free Taping of New Gay Comedy (Los Angeles)
Join GLAAD for a FREE live taping of the next big gay network comedy!
Thursday, June 19, 5pm arrival at Warner Bros. Studio in Burbank
From the creators of "Will & Grace," David Kohan and Max Mutchnick, comes this new ABC comedy pilot about the relationship between two men - Derek (Josh Cooke), who is straight and Drew (Alan Tudyk) who is gay - lifelong best friends and business partners. Both of them are in serious romantic relationships and try to find a balance between their allegiances to each other and to their significant others.
Also stars Sarah Lafleur and Ty Burrell
SPACE IS LIMITED; RSVP WITH NAME, EMAIL & PHONE TO: tgif@glaad.org
Confirmation and arrival instructions will be sent upon your RSVP.
18 & over only
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13. ATB Black Pride Los Angeles seeks volunteers! (L.A.)
Interested in giving back to the Black LGBT community? Networking, meeting new friends and reconnecting with old? Why not become an ATB 2008 Volunteer! The 20th Annual At the Beach Los Angeles Black Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Celebration is going down July 3-6, 2008. We are looking for outgoing, friendly, and dependable people to become part of the ATB team! If you are interested please contact Christina at 213-740-1182!
I look forward to hearing from you and seeing you
At The Beach!!!
http://www.myspace.com/atthebeachlablackpride
********************************************* 14. Models of Pride Conference (Save the Date)
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2008
OCCIDENTAL COLLEGE
The annual Models of Pride (MOP 16) is scheduled for Saturday, November 1, 2008, at Occidental College in Eagle Rock. This is a free one-day conference for youth, ages 14 to 23. The focus of the conference is on LGBTQ
youth interests and issues.
Applications for workshop proposals, volunteers, and the resource faire will be posted in the next few weeks.
Youth and adults are invited to propose workshops and ideas for roundtable discussions--start putting your ideas together!
Nonprofits and for-profits (businesses and corporations) are invited to have a resource table at the resource faire.
We are offering sponsorships at the $250, $500, $1,000 + levels.
National
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15. The 3rd World Writing Contest for Youth
Win $1500 by Writing a 2 to 3 page Essay!
In an effort to promote and sustain the writing and critical thinking skills
of the younger generations, underground rapper and revolutionary, Immortal
Technique, is inviting high school students to write essays about their
perceptions and/or experiences in regards to the United States' relations to
the third world in general, or a third world country/countries in
particular. The essays must be original work and must be limited to 500-750
words. Immortal Technique will read the essays and choose the top three.
Too often students are bogged down with necessary after school jobs and do
not have the free time needed to cultivate their writing and analytical
thinking skills. Recognizing that these skills are crucial, Immortal
Technique would like to award the writers of the top three essays with money
meant to allow them more free time to reflect on the state of the world and
to develop their writing skills. The essay contest is meant to demonstrate
to the youth that their writing and critical thinking skills can generate an
income for them and their families.
Prizes:
1st Prize- $1,500
2nd Prize- $1,000
3rd Prize- $500
Eligibility:
This contest is open to high school students nationwide enrolled in grades
nine through twelve. Seniors graduating May-June of 2008 are still welcomed
to submit an essay.
Requirements:
-Must be between 500-750 words. (2 -3 pages)
-Only one submission per student.
-Submissions will be admitted until July 8, 2008.
-Essay must be the original work of the student.
-Essay must be about U.S. relations to a third-world country or countries.
-Please make sure you include a cover letter with your submission.
-Your essay should be double-spaced whether type-written or neatly
hand-written.
SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS:
To submit your essay by mail, please staple a cover page to the front of
your essay. The cover page should include your name, address, phone number,
the name of your school, and grade level. Then mail the essay to:
The 3rd World Writing Contest
49 W. 83rd Street
New York, NY 10024
To submit your essay by e-mail, please include two separate attachments: 1)
the actual essay and 2) a cover page that includes your name, address, phone
number, the name of your school, and your grade level. Send both attachments
in the same e-mail to:
WritingContest@40immortal-technique.com
* NOTE: Submitted essay entries will not be returned, so please make a copy
of your entry if you would like to keep a copy of your work.
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16. Day of Silence: Suspended? Was it Legal? Lambda needs to hear from you.
A message from the GLSEN Student Organizing Department.
Day of Silence: Suspended? Was it Legal?
Congratulations on a successful Day of Silence!
Although we have heard many Day of Silence success stories, we know that some students faced problems during the day. Did you receive unfair treatment? To help you find out, Lambda Legal, our legal partner, has some questions for you:
DURING THE DAY OF SILENCE:
* Did someone threaten or punish you for participating in the Day of Silence?
Sometimes students are threatened with suspension or are suspended for handing out Day of Silence speaking cards and/or promoting the day of action.
* Did you/your club get treated differently from other students/clubs who engage in school activities?
Are other clubs allowed to post on billboards or make announcements about their activities, but you were not able to do so?
* Were your rights to express yourself restricted? For example, did the school make you take off your Day of Silence t-shirt?
All students have a right to express their thoughts (as long as they are not obscene or deeply offensive), and you have the rights to express yours too, even if some people disagree or don't like them.
If you answered "yes" to any of the questions above, contact Lambda Legal. Write to schoolhelp@lambdalegal.org or call 212-809-8585 and ask for the Day of Silence Help Desk. If you can't make long distance calls, or if you have legal questions about LGBT issues that are not related to the Day of Silence, call Lambda Legal's regular help desk at (866) 542-8336.
***********************************17. A lesson plan for your last day of class, from Teaching Tolerance: Calif. Court Extends Marriage Rights to Gays
High school teachers, do you find it tough to engage students this near the end of the school year? This great lesson plan uses primary source material and will grab their attention:
Teach Tolerance Link
Scholarships/Jobs
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18. Two FREE leadership programs Offered by the A WORLD OF DIFFERENCEŽ Institute
For more information call Marisa Romo at (310) 446-8000, email
mailto:mromo@adl.org mromo@adl.org or <http://www.adl.org/education>click here to visit the ADL Education Home page.
Grosfeld Family National Youth Leadership Mission to Washington DC
For High School Juniors
Deadline for Applications: July 1, 2008
We invite you to nominate high school students, who will be juniors during the 2008-2009 academic year, that show an interest in fostering understanding among diverse groups, and have an interest in learning about past and current examples of bias and discrimination. The National Youth Leadership Mission to Washington DC takes place from Sunday, November 16 to Wednesday, November 19, 2008.
The centerpiece of the National Youth Leadership Mission is a guided tour of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. In addition to dramatically portraying the events of the period, the Museum provides a backdrop for exploring issues of bigotry and extremism in America today. As a means of motivating students to fight prejudice and intolerance in their own lives and schools, we also examine historical and modern-day examples of moral courage, and visit with prominent national and community leaders as well as with activists. Each speaker addresses specific ways students can work to promote pluralism and equality in their communities.
DREAM Dialogue
For High School Students
Deadline for Applications: July 3, 2008
DREAM Dialogue is an ongoing youth program that brings together a diverse group of high school students, ranging from grades 9 through 12, who demonstrate a belief in combating bias and discrimination within their schools and communities. In six meetings during the academic year, participants from various regions within Los Angeles County bond across ethnic groups and develop teen leadership skills through service learning experiences and a youth driven community social action project of their choosing.
The strength of the National Youth Leadership Mission and DREAM Dialogue comes from the diversity of the students and their ability to discuss issues of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, socio-economic status, and beyond. We ask that you consider each prospective participant's ability to represent their school and community, their leadership potential and their willingness to share the experience with their peers and actively participate in group discussions regarding bias, prejudice, and discrimination.
News
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19. NEWS: Manual Arts High: 'That's so gay will slip out but then they apologize'
LA Times
by Carla Rivera
June 17, 2008
As the first full day of legal same-sex marriage dawned in California, a class of ninth-graders at Manual Arts High School in South Los Angeles considered the issue with surprisingly sophisticated and opinionated views.
"Gay people have rights just like everyone else and can do what they want," said one student.
"They're not going to hurt anyone else since it's only between two people," said another.
But, "How will it impact society if they won't be able to reproduce?" was a common argument against voiced by one boy.
"Anger against same-sex marriage might promote violence against gays," said another boy.
The discussion was part of Travis Miller's effort to promote better writing and communicating by having his second-period English students organize thinking about a subject and defend their reasoning.
Questions generated by the group will be put to a married gay couple and an opponent of same-sex marriage who is supporting the November ballot measure to ban the practice, whom Miller has invited to be interviewed by the students.
The students, said Miller, 34, seem to be far more open-minded about gays and same-sex marriage than he remembers teenagers being during his own high school years.
The prevailing sentiment expressed in the class was "it's cool but weird." A few students expressed strongly held religious beliefs, reinforced, they said, by family and church.
"It's a sin in the Bible," said one girl, but her male classmate responded, "Jesus said we can forgive anyone."
One young man argued for same-sex marriage, reasoning that "gays make the community look better," reflecting changing - if stereotypical - societal and cultural influences, as Miller pointed out.
"The whole metrosexual thing has exploded and really had an influence," he said.
But despite such sentiments, said Miller, the derogatory comment of choice on campus remains, "That's gay."
A discussion of Shakepeare's "Romeo and Juliet" elicited comments that all the men must be gay because they were wearing tights. When Miller taught the students Greek mythology, some commented that because Achilles cried, he must be gay.
Gay, lesbian and bissexual students said they have heard such jokes and slurs but that the climate for them on campus is improving. Health teacher Vanya Hollis started a Gay-Straight Alliance club a year ago and during the first week of June, the school held its first Annual Gay Pride Week.
More than 800 students and teachers heard guest speakers, and during the festival the students set up a marriage booth where they could exchange vows, receive a certificate and exchange rings.
To read the full story, visit:
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2008/06/manuel-arts-hig.html
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