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Queer Youth Updates: March 15
1. Queer Youth Task Force Meeting, Monday, March 15
2. QYLA Core Production Planning Meeting, March 18
3. YQA meetings (Young Queer Alliance), March 21
4. QYLA Nominations Open until March 25
5. Serenity Out in the Open Youth Queer Alliance dinner, March 27, 6 pm
6. The 20th Annual Santa Cruz AIDS Walk, April 10
7. News: Queer Youth Scene gets “100+ Women Who Care” Funds
8. Let Constance Take Her Girlfriend to Prom!
9. Take Action: Queer the Census!
10. News: March 8th was International Women's Day!
11. Take Action: Show LGBT support for victims in Haiti
12. News: Creating Change 2010: NYAC's recap for LGBTQ youth
1. Queer Youth Task Force Meeting, Monday, March 15
About the Queer Youth Task Force:
The mission of the Queer Youth Task Force (QYTF) is to improve the quality of life for all LGBTIQ youth in Santa Cruz County, as well as children and siblings raised in homes where LGBTIQ people live. The task force is comprised of individuals and organizations that work with, or are interested in helping, queer youth in Santa Cruz County. We exchange information about current services, assess unmet needs, strategize about new resources and improve current resources, collaborate county-wide about ways to improve services, and develop community response to issues that arise. Be part of the Task Force! Aptos Public Library, 7695 Soquel Drive, Aptos, 95003. For additional information, contact us at (831) 427-4004 or
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2. QYLA Core Production Meeting, March 18
Be part of the core production team for the 13th Annual Queer Youth Leadership Awards -- taking place on Saturday, May 15th, 5:30 PM Dinner/7:00 Awards Ceremony. Help out with the logistics team, decorations team, outreach team, and much more. For a complete list and description of volunteer opportunities, please visit: http://www.qyla.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=43&Itemid=72
3. YQA meetings (Young Queer Alliance), March 21
Are you an activist at heart and tired of injustice? Want to learn leadership skills and meet new youth you can connect with? Get community service hours for volunteering to work with Queer Youth! Come join us! We also have internships available!
Sundays @ 5:30-7:30ish, Inner Light Ministries 5630 Soquel Dr., Aptos, CA 95073. About once a month we hold our meeting at an alternate location -- "Call or text Vanessa at (831) 428-5426 or call Nikira at (831) 419-9361 to confirm location and meeting times!" Call Vanessa for transportation support.
4. QYLA Nominations Open until March 25
Nominations for the 13th Annual QYLA open March 10th! The QYLA is an opportunity to honor and celebrate queer youth and their allies who have demonstrated exceptional leadership. Leaders come from all walks of life and are actively engaged in academics, sports, theatre, art, activism or music. Nominate a queer youth or their ally who are making a difference and positively impacting our community! Nomination forms can be downloaded from the QYLA website beginning March 10th. Save-the-date: QYLA takes place on May 15th, 5:30 PM. For more information, visit www.QYLA.org or contact us at
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(831) 427-4004.
5. Serenity Out in the Open Youth Queer Alliance dinner, March 27, 6 pm
Serenity Out in the Open is a fundraising dinner being held by Young Queer Alliance in order to raise enough money so that no youth is turned away from an event he or she wishes to attend such as the Youth Empowerment Summit, Leadership Training Events, and various Gay Day & Pride events. It will be taking place at Inner Light Ministries. Tickets are available at The Diversity Center, 1117 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz Volunteers are also needed for the event. Info: (831) 425-5422.
6. The 20th Annual Santa Cruz AIDS Walk, April 10
Calling LGBT youth and straight allies! Saturday, April 10th, from the Wharf to Natural Bridges, Help The Santa Cruz AIDS Project by walking, volunteering, or donating. These funds are much needed, as Santa Cruz County is home to a large number of HIV/AIDS positive people, and the AIDS Project provides case management and other services to all who request it free of charge. With such a large population and so little funding for organizations that combat AIDS, it is vital that the money raised at this year’s Santa Cruz AIDS Walk goes directly to medical, housing, food, and support services for those infected. For more information and registration forms, drop by at 313 Front St., or visit www.scapsite.org. Questions? Feel free to contact us at (831) 427-3900 from 9-5 pm every weekday.
7. News: Queer Youth Scene gets “100+ Women Who Care” Funds
Congratulations to The Diversity Center’s Queer Youth Scene. They were awarded funding from the “100+ Women Who Care” to enhance their 2010 Queer Camp. Read the full article in the Santa Cruz Sentinel at:
http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/ci_14517555?IADID=Search-www.santacruzsentinel.com-www.santacruzsentinel.com
8. Let Constance Take Her Girlfriend to Prom!
A Mississippi high school has canceled their senior prom, rather than letting a girl attend with her girlfriend. She is now being harassed by her class for “ruining their senior year.” Please join us in emailing the school board - you can find their contact info on the gay blog and below. Join the Facebook group too. 250,000 have already joined today!
Facebook-
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Let-Constance-Take-Her-Girlfriend-to-Prom/357686784817
Please respectfully contact-
Superintendent Teresa McNeece:
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/ phone (662) 862-2159 Ext. 14
Principal Trae Wiygul:
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/ (662) 862-3104
School Board Member Eddie Hood:
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School Board Member Jackie Nichols:
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School Board Member Harold Martin:
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School Board Member Clara Brown:
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School Board Member Tony Wallace:
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9. Take Action: Queer the Census!
Why Queer the Census? The Census tells the story of who we are as a nation, and that includes LGBT people – but only when we participate, and only when we are fully counted. Although 99% of all US Counties have same-sex couples living in them….There is NO question on the 2010 Census that asks individuals if they are LGBT! This is a big problem. That’s why The Diversity Center is supporting the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, together with CREDO Action, in an attempt to…QUEER THE CENSUS. Go to www.queerthecensus.org to:
· Get your sticker!
· Sign the petition to pledge your support!
· Spread the word!
10. News: March 8th was International Women's Day!
Following the decision agreed upon at Copenhagen in 1911, International Women's Day (IWD) was honored the first time in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland on March 19th. More than one million women and men attended IWD rallies campaigning for women's rights to work, vote, be trained, to hold public office and end discrimination. For more information on IWD, visit: http://www.internationalwomensday.com/
A Few Notable Lesbian and Bisexual Women:
http://lesbianlife.about.com/od/famouslesbians
A Few Famous Trans Women:
http://ai.eecs.umich.edu/people/conway/TSsuccesses/TSgallery4.html
11. Take Action: Show LGBT support for victims in Haiti
Our hearts go out to the victims of the devastating earthquake that recently hit Haiti. We invite you to consider supporting the Rainbow World Fund's efforts to put LGBT dollars to good use in the ongoing recovery operations. For more information about the fund and the immediate response to the crisis in Haiti, as long term efforts, please visit www.rainbowfund.org
12. News: Creating Change 2010: NYAC's recap for LGBTQ youth
Now that the 22nd National Conference on LGBT Equality: Creating Change of Dallas, Texas has wound down, NYAC shares some highlights and recounts the strength of the LGBTQ youth presence at the event:
"As a young gender queer of color in this LGBTQ movement, I was moved, I was inspired; we were on fire! I felt community amongst a group of young people who played, rocked, and mocked gender, who rejected the old "Gay" movement stereotypes, who flowed in and out and over the identity/personal/political borderlands, who saw no other option than to be inclusive of multiple identities, intersectionalities, and communities. There were moments that we moved beyond demanding that we needed space and took it, filled it, made space for others to use it, and made it more beautiful than imagined."
Click here to read more on NYAC's blog: http://blog.nyacyouth.org/2010/02/creating-change-youth-are-doing-it.html
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