Greetings!
GSA Network congradulates Danielle Askini, Ragnar Thorisson, the GSA Network Staff and the Texas GSA Network on having a scucessful National Gathering 2009 in Austin TX.
It was a great expiernece for all involved and we encourage everyone to read more about the National Association of GSA Networks in this weeks highlight.
We hope everyone is having a great summer!
In Solidarity,
GSA Network
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NETWORK NEWS HIGHLIGHT: National Gathering of GSA Networks: Expanding the GSA Movement into New Frontiers
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| National Gathering of GSA Networks: Expanding the GSA Movement into New Frontiers
Each year the National Association of GSA Networks comes together for a summit aimed at expanding the GSA movement across the country. This year, we held the National Gathering in Austin, Texas. We were graciously hosted by the Texas GSA Network, a replication site of GSA Network, and the University of Texas Gender and Sexuality Center.
This year's National Gathering was the largest to date with:
� 18 workshops
� 2 large group sessions� Evening activities each night
� 13 states as diverse as Mississippi, Oregon, and Rhode Island
� 43 youth participants
� 22 staff member participants
This year's focus was on expanding the GSA movement into new frontiers.
One large group session included examining Gender Identity and Expression work in GSAs, the importance of addressing transphobia and systemic gender segregation in schools, and passing transgender-inclusive school policies and legislation. Since so much of the bullying and harassment at school is targeted at students who are gender non-conforming, participants felt this topic was essential to GSA organizing.
"The most valuable/powerful part of the National Gathering was the incorporation of controversial but important issues that range from complex human emotions to systemic oppression and institutions, while bringing together people from all over the nation and the perspective and experience which they hold," said Juan Gabriel Padilla, a 15 year old participant from Austin, Texas.
The second large group session focused on the unique needs and challenges to expanding GSAs in three geographic regions: Suburban, Urban, and Rural. Youth and staff broke into groups based on geographic region. Many groups identified transportation, infrastructure, and after-school activity culture as being key to the success of GSAs. Each group worked to develop solutions and strategies for increasing their outreach to GSAs in their region.
 Austin Lea from Oregon Safe Schools and Communities Coalition shared one highlight: "The best part was watching youth take discussions that started in a workshop and continue them in free time. The youth facilitated these discussions themselves and at the end of discussion they all shared that they felt inspired, empowered, and excited to continue those discussions online."
"I can't wait for next year!" said Graham Brinklow coordinator of the Indiana Youth Group's network of GSAs. "This was a transformative experience for me. It was definitely life changing."
Overall both youth and staff remarked that this year's gathering was the best to date. One key highlight for all was a field trip to see the "Bats of Austin," the largest urban bat colony in the U.S., which numbers close to 1.5 million bats during August. "It was definitely one of my favorite parts of the gathering," said Ragnar Thorisson, GSA Network's national program intern for summer 2009.
Thank you to Ragnar and Danielle Askini, our National Program Manager, for putting on an incredible National Gathering!
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GSA NETWORK ANNOUNCEMENTS
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1. GSA Network Co-Sponsors the 5th Annual Rainbow Youth Festival! August 15th!
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When: Saturday August 15, 2009 2pm - 9pm
Where: LA Gay & Lesbian Center's Village
@ Ed Gould Plaza, 1125 N. McCadden Place
Los Angeles, CA 90038
The Rainbow Youth Festival is an outreach and fun event and resource
fair providing a safe and healthy place for lesbian, gay, bisexual,
transgender,questioning (LGBTQ) youth and their friends, ages 15 to 24,
to learn about community resources and socialize.
Resource Tables Performances
DJ & Dance Fun Activities
Youth Talent Show Food Vendors
For more info, go to:
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OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS
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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. |
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CA STATEWIDE
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2. EQUALITY RIDE: Apply Now for the 2010 Equality Ride-Application Deadline September 20th, 2010
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Apply Now for the 2010 Equality Ride-Application Deadline September 20th, 2010
The 2010 Equality Ride is hitting the road this March, and we are currently seeking young adults (18-28) to be riders!
Apply now: http://www.soulforce.org/equalityride
What is the Equality Ride?
The Equality Ride is a traveling forum that gives young people the chance to deconstruct injustice and the rhetoric that sustains it. It allows emerging young leaders to unite in the struggle for common equality. Everyday thousands oflesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning people suffer harassment, violence, and discrimination at the hands of those who do not understand them. The idea is this. We get on a bus and journey to variousinstitutions of higher learning, many with explicit discrimination policies. Through informal conversation and educational programming we explore concepts of diversity, comparing the effects of inclusive and exclusive viewpoints. More practically, we share and gain insights about how our beliefs influence policy and culture, thereby impacting society. Guided by the principles of nonviolence, we set out ready to meet people where they are. Our goal is to carefully and collectively examine the intersection wherein faith meets gender and sexuality. Such discourse, especially when it affirms the beauty of our differences, plays an essential role in creating a safe learning and living environment for everyone.
Thus far, the Equality Ride has engaged nearly seventy academic communities. Many have shown considerable hospitality in welcoming us, and our legacy at those schools is one of mutual growth and compassionate fellowship. In addition to panels and school-wide symposiums, we have joined students in cafeterias and coffee shops, participated in Bible studies and worship services, and given presentations in packed classrooms. Unfortunately, not every school chooses to host the Equality Ride. Voluntary redemptive suffering in the form of civil disobedience may become our avenue towards progress if, and only if, a school ignores the urgency and rejects dialogue.
Who is an Equality Rider?
An Equality Rider is a young adult, age 18 to 28, who recognizes that we must work with religious attitudes, challenging negative and discriminatory religious voices, if we are to reach reconciliation. A Rider may live anywhere in the world, come from any ethnic background, claim any gender identity or sexual orientation, and may or may not identify as a person of faith. They understand the value of meeting people where they are and that the process towards peace and liberation begins with a conversation, not hostility. What we look for is a willingness to learn, to engage, and to create.
So far, over 100 young adults have joined together as Equality Riders to challenge the religion based discrimination coming out of religious colleges and universities in the US. Will you join this tradition of nonviolent resistance and get on the 2010 Equality Ride?
When is the 2010 Equality Ride
The 2010 Equality Ride will be on the road in the months of March and April, 2010, and includes a mandatory weeklong training in preparation for the ride the first week of January, 2010.
If you are ready to board the bus this spring and join the nonviolent struggle to end faith based discrimination of LGBTQ individuals, apply now. The deadline to apply is September 20th, 2009. Follow the link below for more information and an application:
www.soulforce.org/equalityride
In solidarity,
The 2010 Equality Ride Team
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3. Call for Submissions: GENDER OUTLAWS: THE NEXT GENERATION�
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http://www.jewishmosaic.org/page/load_page/166
Call For Submissions
GENDER OUTLAWS: THE NEXT GENERATION
Kate Bornstein & S. Bear Bergman, eds
Deadline:1 September 2009
In the fifteen years since the release of Gender Outlaw, transgender narratives have made their way into cultural locations from the margins to the mainstream and back again. Today's trannies and other sex/gender radicals are writing a radically new world into being.GENDER OUTLAWS: THE NEXT GENERATION (Seal Press) will collect and contextualize the work of this generation's most forward-thinking trans/genderqueer voices-new voices from the stage, on the streets, in the workplace, in the bedroom, and on the pages and websites of the world's most respected mainstream news sources. Edited by that ol' originalGender Outlaw herself, Kate Bornstein and writer, raconteur, and theater artist S. Bear Bergman, GENDER OUTLAWS: THE NEXT GENERATION will include essays, commentary, comic art and conversation from a diverse a group of trans-spectrum people who live and believe in barrier-breaking lives.
What we're looking for
GENDER OUTLAWS: THE NEXT GENERATION wants to collect work that represents a quantum leap forward in thinking and talking about gender and the gender binary, in the same way Gender Outlaw did almost twenty years ago. So blow us away. Bring the smart, bring the sexy, blind us with science, break the gender barrier, shine a bright light (or a disco ball) on the whole gender situation. Tell us about your future, what you imagine, how you want things to go and what you (and your friends) intend to do about it. Think big.
We'll look at whatever you have for us - essays, graphic art, interviews/conversations, haiku, rants - as long as you're thinking smart and fresh about sex and gender (and being an outlaw, of course). We will feel especially keen about your work if it adds to or advances the conversation about gender (as distinct from simply reflecting it, or lamenting it).
People of any identity are encouraged to submit work. This means you - yes, you!
We intend to privilege non-normatively gendered/sexed voices in the book but will include all the good stuff we can, regardless of current identifiers of the author.
The Details
Deadline: Sept 1 (early submissions are encouraged). Submissions should be unpublished; query if you have a reprint that you think we'll swoon for. While we hesitate to list a maximum, please query first for pieces over 4,000 words. If you have an idea and need help writing it out, contact us to discuss an interview-style piece or other accommodations.
Submit as a Word document or black/white JPEG (no files over 2MB). Please include a cover letter with a brief bio and full contact information (mailing address, phone number, pseudonym if appropriate) when you submit. Submissions without complete contact information will be deleted unread. Payment will be $50 and 2 copies of the book upon publication in Fall 2010. Contributors retain the rights to their pieces. Send your submission as an attachment to [email protected].
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4. OutHistory.org Extends Deadline for "Since Stonewall Contest"
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June 28th, 2009 Draft Deadline No Longer Required! All users now have until March 31st, 2010 to create and finalize exhibits for the contest.
OutHistory.org has extended the deadline for creating online exhibits on the local lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or queer histories of villages,
towns, counties, cities, or states in the U.S. since June 1969.
To enter the contest simply create and finalize an exhibit about a local
LGBTQ community by March 31, 2010. To commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall riots, OutHistory.org will award five prizes from $1,000 to $5,000 for the best online exhibits. A panel of judges, convened by OutHistory.org will assess the exhibits and OutHistory.org will announce the top five exhibits on June 28, 2010. In fall of 2010, OutHistory.org will host an event showcasing the winning exhibits.
Jonathan Ned Katz, OutHistory.org's Director, expects this contest "to draw
attention to LGBTQ histories of places and communities outside of major
cities, as well as in major metropolitan areas." OutHistory.org users have
already created exhibits about the histories of LGBTQ life in places such as
Tippecanoe County, Indiana, Columbia, South Carolina and Champaign-Urbana, Illinois. Lauren Gutterman, OutHistory.org Coordinator, hopes the site will "receive at least one submission from every state," but there is no limit on the number of entries per state, village, town, county, or city.
This contest is supported by the Center for Lesbian and Gay Studies at the
City of New York Graduate Center and funded by a generous grant from the
Arcus Foundation.
For more information visit:
http://www.outhistory.org/wiki/Since_Stonewall_Contest or contact the
Project Coordinator at [email protected].
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5. STUDY: Asian American GLB Attitudes and Experiences Survey
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Asian American GLB Attitudes and Experiences Survey
Dear Participant:
We are a culturally diverse sexual minority research team conducting an empirical study examining attitudes, feelings, and experiences associated with being an Asian American who experiences attraction to members of the same sex. Historically, researchers have neglected the lives of Asian American gay, lesbian, and bisexual persons, and very little research has looked specifically at attitudes, feelings, and experiences that sexual minority persons have based on their race and sexual orientation. We sincerely invite you to participate in this survey to help us learn more about the Asian American sexual minority persons in our communities!
To be eligible for this study, you must be an Asian/Asian American who is at least 18 years old, has experienced same-sex attraction, and currently resides in the United States. The survey is anonymous, and takes about 30 minutes to complete. As an incentive to participate, all participants will be given the chance to enter a raffle awarding $100 Amazon.com gift certificate to one randomly selected person. For those interested in participating in this study, click on the following hypertext link (or cut and paste it into your browser)
http://d1599.psysurvey.com
This will take you to the consent form and questionnaire.
Please feel free to forward this e-mail announcement to eligible friends/colleagues and other gay/lesbian/bisexual or Asian American related listserves. Thanks in advance for your help with this project!
Sincerely,
Dawn and Mi Ra
Dawn M. Szymanski, Ph.D., University of Tennessee
Mi Ra Sung, M. A, University of Tennessee
*********************************************
Dawn M. Szymanski, Ph. D ([email protected] or [email protected])
Mi Ra Sung, M. A. ( [email protected])
Department of Psychology, Austin Peay Bldg
University of Tennessee
Knoxville, TN 37996-0900
Office: 865-974-3302
Fax: 865-974-3330
*********************************************
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NOR CAL
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6. Systematic Satistifaction: Queer Youth Dance 8/29/09! (S.F.)
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FREE EVENT!
QUEER YOUTH & ALLIES!
Saturday August 29, 2009, 8:30p-12a
stystematic SATISFACTION
All queer youth & allies 24 & under are invited to come out
and party! Queer youth are going to rule the castro!
Eureka Valley Rec. Center Auditorium100 Collingwood Street, SF @ 18th Street(across the street from LYRIC) Light refreshments! ADA accessibleQuestions? 415.703.6150 x 15 or [email protected]
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7. YouthAware Educational Theatre - 2009 Fall Outspoken Tour Now Booking
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For over two decades, New Conservatory Theatre Center's (NCTC's) YouthAware Educational Theatre program has been working to generate young peoples' understanding and respect for other people and to help them understand the impact of making healthy choices to transform a world full of negative influences into one full of potential and possibilities. These programs reach over 20,000 young people annually both in house at NCTC in San Francisco and on tour to schools and communities all over Northern and Central California.
YouthAware is now taking bookings for the fall 2009 Outspoken tour. With the prevalence of violence and bullying in schools, Outspokenasks "How do we coexist peacefully with our differences?" After a highly successful spring 2009 tour visiting over 20 schools and over 5,000 7th- 12th graders in Northern and Central California, Outspoken returns to tour Mondays through Thursdays from October 28th - December 10th2009.
Created by the YouthAware program and based directly on the voices of young people, Outspoken by Prince Gomolvilas is an innovative play that has been presented to Northern and Central California teens since 2004. Appropriate for grades 7-12, Outspoken examines the many reasons young people feel ostracized in school and in their communities; reasons that include differences in race, religion, sexual orientation, body type, and socioeconomic background. Outspoken asks teens think about stereotypes and diversity from many unique perspectives, and helps to open up a dialogue on labeling, tolerance, bullying and school safety within their own communities.
YouthAware touring programs may be presented up to two times a day at your school site in any theater, gymnasium, or other multi-purpose room. We travel with our own set and sound equipment and do not require any special lighting. We prefer to see between 100-500 students per performance. Each 60-70 minute program includes the play and a facilitated post-show discussion with the cast. Pre and post-show handouts are provided for teachers including discussion questions, community resources, etc.
Outspoken is approved and sponsored by SFUSD School Health programs for Grades 7-12. Performances are free of charge for SFUSD. A small donation is requested to cover touring costs for performances outside of San Francisco. YouthAware is part of a non-profit organization, and we do not like to turn away schools for lack of funds, so please contact us to discuss possible underwriting by our YouthAware funders. We have funding in place to bring performances FREE of charge to middle and high schools in the Central Valley in 2009.
Reservations and questions about YouthAware bookings should be directed to Sara Staley, YouthAware Program Director,[email protected] (415) 694-6149. Book now for the best selection of dates!
Visit the YouthAware homepage: http://www.nctcsf.org/YouthAware.html for more program info and to download scripts for preview.
For publicity-related inquires, interviews, and high-resolution photographs contact Anne McMurrey, Publicist, [email protected]
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8. Youth Calendar (S.F.)
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San Francisco's LYRIC Youth Center hosts events almost everyday for LGBTQQ youth.
LYRIC
LYRIC's
mission is to build community and inspire positive social change
through education enhancement, career trainings, health promotion, and
leadership development with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer,
and questioning youth, their families, and allies of all races,
classes, genders, and abilities.
Calendar of Events
http://lyric.org/calendar.html
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Central Valley
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9. Study for Gay Men in Central Valley
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Study for Gay Men in Central Valley
ATTENTION GAY MALES IN SACRAMENTO OR FRESNO
WHO ARE 16-18 YEARS OLD
Receive $20 to be in a research study focusing on gay teenagers!
If you fit the following description, I would like to talk to you in a group format with other gay teens about your experiences with anti-gay discrimination, prejudice and stigma.
➢ Self-Identified Gay Male
➢ Age 16, 17 or 18
➢ Current participant or leadership role in High School GSA
Participation in this research will involve one 90-minute confidential group interview with the researcher and five other gay male teenagers.
Each group participant will receive $20.
For more information, please email or call the researcher,
Peter Madsen:
[email protected]
510-637-8423
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10. Fresno GLBT History Project
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"The Project"
My name is Chris Jarvis and I'm beginning a project which requires the participation of the Central Valley's LGBT community. "The Project", as I'm currently calling it, involves documenting the history of the LGBT community in Fresno and the Central Valley. I feel we may lose our history if it's not recorded. While the scope of the project will be determined by the information I find, I hope to at least focus on the Central Valley from the 1950's to the present...
Click here to read the rest of this article
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11. Community Links Youth Meetings Every Friday (Fresno)
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So Cal
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12. Life Works Bike Trip 8/23! (L.A.)
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Life Works Bike Trip 8/23!
LifeWorks annual mountain biking trip will be Sunday August 23rd! If you've never been on a bike trip with LifeWorks this is one of our most exciting events of the year. We provide free bikes, helmets, transportation, food, and fun activities throughout the day. It's a great way to get outside, get some exercise and fresh air, and meet other LGBTQ young people. Space is limited, so if you're interested put the date on your calendar and contact Dan for more information about how to reserve your spot. The online application will be coming next week.
LIFEWORKS:
The Village at Ed Gould Plaza
1125 N. McCadden Pl.
Los Angeles, CA 90038
(323) 860-7373
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13. Outspoken! Open Mic! August 28th! (L.A.)
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14. Inland Empire: Rainbow Pride Youth Alliance
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Rainbow Pride Youth Alliance. We are open all summer!
If you are in IE & are Queer + Queer positive youth ages 13-20 yrs, drop in! Activities, trips, friends and fun. Fridays 7-10pm. Find us at 860 E. Gilbert Complex (at Paseo) in San Bernardino, 92404.
For more info, contact [email protected] or 909.725-0417.
"So Many Good Ways to Be Bad" RPYA theatre performance coming soon....stay tuned for details. |
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15. Inland Empire: Drag Queen Bingo, 22 August, 7-9:30pm @ the Lark (San Bernardino)
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Drag Queen Bingo, 22 August, 7-9:30pm @ the Lark, San Bernardino.
Fun and fundraising to benefit Rainbow Pride Youth Alliance, a center for LGBTQI and ally youth in the Inland Empire. Bingo gamemistresses the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. Prizes and surprises! This is a 21 and over event! Tickets $10 (includes 2 bingo sheets).
For more info, contact Alfie or Robert at [email protected]
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16. Models of Pride - October 17th, Save the Date!
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17TH ANNUAL MODELS OF PRIDE CONFERENCE FOR LGBT
& STRAIGHT ALLY YOUTH!
OCTOBER 17TH, 2009
OCCIDENTAL COLLEGE
MODELS OF PRIDE is a free one-day conference that focuses on the concerns and interests of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered, Queer youth and allies, ages 14 to 23.
The conference is filled with workshops, entertainment, a resource faire, food, networking opportunities, and more!
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17. Students Register for Los Angeles AIDS Walk Oct. 18th.
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Students Register for Los Angeles AIDS Walk Oct. 18
A message from: James Leahy
AIDS Walk Los Angeles & AIDS Walk New York
Team Coordinator & Fundraising Specialist
Direct Line: (212) 367-1438
AIDS Walk Los Angeles: (213) 201-WALK (9255)
AIDS Walk New York: (212) 807-WALK (9255)
This year is the 25th Annual AIDS Walk, and we're celebrating the Los Angeles community coming together to help those living with HIV/AIDS in Los Angeles county. The 25th Anniversary will be on October 18 in West Hollywood Park and I'd love to see as many groups join as possible.
It's FREE to register, and there is NO fundraising minimum, which means that anyone can register to support AIDS Walk Los Angeles. If you're interested in receiving more information (including complimentary promotional materials for those teams who register), I'm here to help.
You can reach me in the AIDS Walk Los Angeles office at (213) 201-WALK (9255). You can also encourage students to register on the AIDS Walk website right away at www.aidswalk.net/losangeles. They can click 'REGISTER TO WALK' and then click 'REQUEST A TEAM'. I'll approve their team and help them get started so they can recruit friends and family to the cause.
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18. NEW LGBT Friendly Charter School In SoCal
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NEW LGBT Friendly Charter School In SoCal
A LGBT Friendly evening program to promote education
in a diverse and safe environment. Sponsored by
Opportunities for Learning (OFL) Public Charter School.
*Tuition Free
*WASC Accredited Program
*Obtain Your High School Diploma
*A Guided Independent Study Program
*Optional Conversation Groups to share issues
*Program to Open the week of September 14,2009
Informational Meetings
See the school, set up an enrollment date and meet some of the staff.
Call a location to RSVP for meeting or if you have any questions.
Pasadena Meeting
August 24, 2009 6:30pm
2029 Lincoln Ave.
Pasadena, CA 91103
Contact: Kathryn Syed
(626) 398-8940
Huntington Park Meeting
August 26, 2009 6:30pm
5949 South State St.
Huntington Park, CA 90255
Contact: Gloria Escobedo
(323) 588-7118
Studio City Meeting
August 27, 2009 6:30pm
12029 Ventura Blvd.
Studio City, CA 91604
Contact: Julie Rangel
Contact: Jenner Jose
(818) 506-5344
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19. LGBT Youth Calendars (L.A. and San Diego)
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Check out these new calendars for LGBT Youth!
Los Angeles Youth
http://lalgbtcalendar.pbwiki.com/
http://www.virsil.com/
San Diego Youth
www.ourlgbtevents.org/
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JOBS AND SCHOLARSHIPS
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20. Queer and Trans Youth 14-25 GET PAID to MAKE ART! (S.F.)
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Queer and Trans Youth 14-25 GET PAID to MAKE ART!
The Love and Justice Project
- Meet other LGBTQQ YOUTH
- Learn how to SCREEN PRINT:
MAKE YOUR OWN POSTERS
and TSHIRTS
- talk about RELATIONSHIPs & Dating
7-week Internship
6 hours per week
$450 stipend for completion of project
September - November
Starts with 2-day Safety Team orientation on
Sept. 19 + 20
For more information contact Tamara
[email protected] / 415.777.5500 x.12
visit www.cuav.org
www.myspace.com/loveandjusticeproject
* L&J is the youth component of CUAV's Safety Team. The Safety Team brings together diverse LGBTQQ folks to learn skills to transform violence and bring them back to the people they care about.
A collaboration of CUAV's Love + Justice Project and SF Print Collective.
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NEWS
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21. NEWS: Gay-Straight Alliance allowed to meet at Yulee High
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Gay-Straight Alliance allowed to meet at Yulee High
By Mary Kelli Palka
Florida Times-Union
Aug. 11, 2009
Two Yulee High School students were "grateful" Monday when they learned that a federal judge ruled that the Gay-Straight Alliance can meet on campus and have the same privileges as other student groups.
U.S. District Judge Henry Lee Adams issued a permanent injunction Friday that the district can't make the group change its name or interfere with its ability to "advocate for tolerance, respect and equality of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people."
To read the full story: visit the article here
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