Queer Youth Updates: January 13
1. Rainbow Snow Dance, Friday Jan 15, San Jose
2. Haiti Earthquake Disaster - LGBT Community Responds
3. PFLAG National Scholarship Application due March 12
4. Monterey PFLAG Newsletter
5. News: The Conservative Case for Gay Marriage
6. Honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
----------------
1. Rainbow Snow Dance, Friday Jan 15, San Jose
Winter/New Years Dance for Queer Youth & Allies
For ages 13-20, id (school or state) required for entry.
WHERE: Billy De Frank BALLROOM, San Jose
TIME: 8 pm to 12 Midnight
ATTIRE: Semi Formal (Optional)
No drinking/drugs/smoking
$5 donation (no one turned away for inability to pay)
Door prize will be a Green iPod, everyone present will be eligible to win!
Info: http://www.defrankyouthspace.org/calendar.php
2. Haiti Earthquake Disaster - LGBT Community Responds
Consider donating $5, $10, or what you can to support the Rainbow Fund helping in world crisis. Since 2004, Rainbow World Fund has supported ongoing projects in Haiti focusing on improving nutrition and developing safe drinking water access. They have been able to help improve the lives of thousands of Haitians. Please be part of the LGBT community's emergency response to the Earthquake. Our Compassion in Action! LGBT People Responding to World Need. www.rainbowfund.org. Donate online at: http://www.rainbowfund.org/donate specify "Haiti"
3. PFLAG National Scholarship Application due March 12
PFLAG National scholarships available for 2010: $5,000 scholarships, $2,500 scholarships, $1,000 scholarships! Review the following eligibility requirements:
* You are a graduating senior entering higher education for the first time in 2010 (if you graduated in 2009 and took a year off you are still eligible to apply).
* You self-identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) or as a straight ally
* You demonstrate an interest in service to the LGBT community.
* You have applied to an accredited higher education institution.
In order to be considered for a scholarship, you will need to submit:
* A complete application form
* A one page essay
* A high school transcript
* One letter of reference
* A release form
Application Process:
Send your high school transcript, letter of reference and the release form in one packet to: PFLAG National, 1726 M St. NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20036
Submit your application and essay online (if you prefer, you may submit a hard-copy of your application and essay). For online submissions, you will be assigned a reference number; this number needs to appear on the cover of your packet containing the reference, transcripts and release form that you send to PFLAG National.
4. Monterey PFLAG Newsletter
Share the Jan/Feb Monterey PFLAG Newsletter with your parents, friends and relatives. Queer youth and families from Santa Cruz County welcome at Monterey PFLAG Meetings. Attached.
5. News: The Conservative Case for Gay Marriage
Newsweek has a front page article on gay marriage that is getting much acclaim. To read the article, please visit: http://www.newsweek.com/id/229957/page/3
6. Honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Jump start Your GSA's Work to End Racism and Other Oppressions -- From the GSA Network:
Monday, January 18th is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Honoring our nation's most famous civil rights leader gives us the opportunity to reflect on and step up our own work to fight injustice.
Do you believe GSA clubs should fight racism, sexism, classism, ableism, and other oppressions? Does yours?
At GSA Network, we believe that GSA clubs can and should fight not only homophobia and transphobia, but other oppressions as well. Why? Recall what Martin Luther King, Jr. said: "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." When one form of oppression goes unchallenged in our schools or our society, it threatens all of us. Furthermore, addressing multiple forms of oppression is a powerful way to build our movement and incorporate all members of our diverse, multiracial community.
Gay-Straight Alliance clubs are effective vehicles for fighting all types of oppression because the GSA movement was founded on the belief that we can end oppression by building alliances. GSA activists can use their leadership and organizing skills to ensure that everyone can go to school free from harassment and discrimination.
There are numerous ways that your GSA can fight injustice. Check out these ideas and add your own ideas to our blog!
1. Create an Inclusive GSA: Visit this section of our website to find out what you can do to build an anti-racist GSA, address transgender issues, and incorporate straight allies, students with LGBT parents, and adult supporters.
2. Speak up when you hear derogatory comments or jokes that put down people of color, women, people with disabilities, or other groups. As Dr. King said, "Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter."
3. Build Coalitions: Visit this section of our website to learn the basics of coalition building, discover why immigrant rights is a queer issue, and find out what you can do to combat harassment and discrimination against Arab and Arab-American students since 9-11.
4. Fight for Inclusive Curriculum: When asking teachers to include the contributions of LGBT people in their lessons, take a step back and consider who else's history is not being taught. Form partnerships to ensure that none of our histories are erased.
5. Expand Your Day of Silence: Unite with students of color and other groups to highlight the silence, harassment and discrimination faced by many communities every day. Join forces to break the silence.
6. Follow the lead of kick-ass GSA organizers like Lea and Michael, who suggested: "Have a joint meeting with the BSU (Black Student Union) at your school and talk about the connection between different types of anti-oppression work. Also, show this film called Brother Outsider about Bayard Rustin, who was influential in the civil rights movement, but got little recognition because of his sexual orientation."
7. Increase your personal understanding and commitment to anti-oppression work by attending a Leadership Training or Summit or coming to GSA Activist Camp this summer.
If you have questions or need ideas, contact Kiely:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
"Human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable... Every step toward the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle; the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals."
- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
|
|
Queer Youth Task Force Projects
|
