GSA Network News: June 28, 2006

Please note that during the months of July and August GSA Network News will be bi-weekly instead of weekly.

In this issue of GSA Network News, you'll find:
GSA Network Highlight
GSA Members took to the streets across the State to show their PRIDE!!

GSA Network Announcements
1. Urgent Request from Senator Sheila Kuehl
2. GSA Network Activist Camps! APPLY ONLINE NOW - SPOTS GOING FAST!
3. Join GSA Network at the SF AIDS WALK (San Francisco)
4. GSA Network is Hiring! - Development Coordinator (San Francisco)

Other Announcements
Southern California
5. FREE! Indigo Girls Concert (Santa Monica)

Northern California
6. Going through the coming out process and feeling alone? (San Jose)

National
7. Production Company Looking For LGBTQ Youth For Documentary

Jobs
8. Department of Public Works (DPW) is hiring between 20 - 40 young adults (San Francisco)
9. Program Coordinator - GLSEN San Francisco-East Bay

News
10. NEWS: Huge Celebration of PRIDE
11. NEWS: S.F. gay pride group hurls a 'Pink Brick' at Gov. Schwarzenegger
12. NEWS: SF GSA members recognized

Read GSA Network News on our website: http://www.gsanetwork.org/news/networknews.html


+++++++++++++++ GSA NETWORK HIGHLIGHT+++++++++++++++
GSA Members took to the streets across the State to show their PRIDE!!

Fresno Pride - June 3, 2006
GSA Network was able to march and hold a booth at this year's Pride March. With 18 people marching we were able to show our pride in our voices and in our signs! There were a fair number of people cheering from both sides of the street for all the youth who are brave enough to come out and join in the yearly march for equality and pride, but we still struggle in our numbers. This is due to the fear that overcomes youth at the thought of coming out publicly and those with parents who are not supportive. As we all know, the Central Valley is still very conservative. For some youth it is just a struggle to just go to school, let alone come out to the world. However, when you hear one youth saying, "We may be small, but we sure are loud!" it tells you that it's not in the numbers, but in the courage and the volume of the voices. Another youth stated: "I am here for those who couldn't be..."

Los Angeles Pride - June 12, 2006
One hundred GSA members, allies, teachers, advisors, and community members came together on Sunday, June 11, to march in the Los Angeles Pride Parade under the banner "PRIDE IN OUR SCHOOLS". Youth from across Southern California were accompanied by Assemblymember Lloyd E. Levine (D-Sherman Oaks, Assembly District 40) and United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA) President Mrs. A.J. Duffy, as well as members from GLSEN Los Angeles, Friends of Project 10, L.A. Unified School District, Long Beach Gay & Lesbian Center, CTA (California Teacher's Association), and UTLA. The enthusiastic marchers, who were from schools across the region including Fairfax, Belmont, South Pasadena, Cleveland, Paramount, Banning, Saugus, Washington Prep, Kennedy, Winward, Marina, Jordan, and Pasadena City College, made an enormous balloon arch, created posters and signs identifying their schools and GSAs, chanted slogans, danced, partied, were cheered on by the crowd, and had an all around wonderful time getting to know other youth who are also fighting for safe schools. "It was an amazing experience," said Courtney, a junior at Marina High School, "It was so empowering to come from Orange County where people can be hostile, to a place where I felt that my viewpoint was not only accepted but supported." GSA Network worked closely with GLSEN L.A. to organize this event and plans are already underway to have an even bigger and better march next year.
San Francisco Pride - June 26th
Pride weekend in San Francisco was fabulous and fierce. It all started on Friday with the Trans March. Then on Saturday at Dolores Park the youth took part in the Dyke March, and on Sunday, GSA Network youth organized one of the most energized contingents in our history! Yvonne Neis from C.K. McClatchy in Sacramento commented: "Every time I march in the San Francisco Pride Parade I always feel so empowered. I've marched for three years in a row now and every year, I tear up a little when I and so many other youth are being cheered on for just being ourselves. There is so much energy and so much support for youth power."
Over 150 GSA activists came from places like Santa Rosa, San Jose, Sacramento, Fresno and the East Bay; carrying signs of revolution, including: "Everyone deserves equal access to education", "Don't forget the T", "Viva la Revolucion Lesbica" and "Jesus was bi", and of course, "Safe Schools for All". Marching on Market Street was a blast, and later at the Civic Center celebration the youth were busy making buttons and educating people about safer schools legislation like AB 606 and SB 1437. GSA Network will continue to reach out to more people next year and provide a platform for youth to address LGBTQ issues and celebrate diversity.
+++++++++++++ GSA NETWORK ANNOUNCEMENTS +++++++++++++


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1. Urgent Request from Senator Sheila Kuehl

Please take a few minutes of your time to read Senator Sheila Kuehl's
message below re: SB 1437. Call the Governor's office to add your
support for this critical bill.

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From: SJKuehl [at] aol.com
Subject: new request for help on 1437
Date: Sun, 18 Jun 2006 17:42:27 EDT
Dear Everybody:
A few weeks ago, I asked you to write and call the Governor in support of SB 1437, the fair curriculum bill. As the opponents of the bill continue to barrage his office and held a rally at the Capitol, I believe it is useful to continue to call and write as the bill goes through the Assembly. As you know, the Governor has set up an automated system for this bill, pro and con and it takes about 15 seconds to record your support. Please continue to do this from each of your phones and also please circulate it widely. The original message is also reproduced below, in case you want to forward it.
here's how to call:
CALL the governor's office: 916-445-2841
press 1 for English
press 2 for legislation
press 1 for SB1437- Bias Free Curriculum Act
press 1 to support it!
thanx!
here's my original message:
Dear Friends who are getting this for the first time: The Governor, in an unprecedented move, since the bill is only now making its way through the Assembly and is nowhere near his desk, threatened to veto my bill, SB 1437, which would simply help make our schools safe for ALL students. Currently, the law requires that the historical roles and contributions of traditionally underrepresented groups be included in the curriculum, while prohibiting discrimination against these groups in instructional materials. SB 1437 would add the role and contributions of LGBT people, and expand the prohibition of curricular discrimination to include sexual orientation and gender identity. I need every possible person to let the Governor know the bill has support out here in the real California. Calling the Governor's office to leave your feedback will take less than a minute of your time(see above for how). The Christian Right is mobilizing phone calls to the Governor's office (encouraging people to phone multiple times from their home, cell, and office phones). Research shows that violence and discrimination against students who are or are preceived to be lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT) is still rampant in our schools, but an inclusive and bias-free curriculum that talks about the contributions of LGBT people to our society (SB 1437) and strong policies against discrimination (AB 606)can stem the tide of that violence and harassment.
If there is to be any chance of reversing the Governor's announced plans to veto SB 1437, everyone needs to phone the Governor's office in support, now, and continue to call and vote over the next months. The vast majority of Californians want our schools to be safe for all our children regardless of their actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity. Don't let a small hateful minority dominate the discussion .
More Information on the Bill:
SB 1437(Kuehl) - the Bias Free Curriculum Act updates existing protections against biased curriculum to include sexual orientation and gender identiy bias.
The bill also expands the law that requires our history text books to include the contributions of under-represented minorities (women, African Americans, Asian Americans, etc) to include LGBT people. For further information go to: http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/postquery?bill_number=sb_1437&sess=CUR&house=B&author=kuehl


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2. GSA Network Activist Camps! APPLY ONLINE NOW - SPOTS GOING FAST!

The GSA Activist Camps are youth-planned and youth-led intense 3-day events featuring hardcore community building, skill-building, political education, and leadership training for GSA members. All youth who will be involved in a high school or middle school GSA next year are strongly encouraged to apply.
Southern California Activist Camp - Los Angeles
July 14th - 16th, 2006
Central Valley Activist Camp - Fresno
August 11th - 13th, 2006
NEW DATE and LOCATION
Northern California Activist Camp - Fresno
August 11th - 13th, 2006
Exciting News!! We have decided to join the Northern California and Central Valley Camps this year to make one large, super fun, networking extravaganza!! This year the Northern California Camp will take place in sunny Fresno, California where we will house you at Fresno State University for three days of trainings, networking and FUN!! Lots of great activities including swimming, ping pong and pool.

TRANSPORTATION WILL BE PROVIDED FROM SAN FRANCISCO TO FRESNO!!
APPLY ONLINE! Go to http://www.gsanetwork.org/camp/camp2006.html to get more info and apply online!


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3. Join GSA Network at the SF AIDS WALK (San Francisco)

One easy way to give back this summer is by joining the LGBTQ youth walking contingent that will be participating in the San Francisco AIDS Walk on Sunday, July 16, in Golden Gate Park. GSA Network and the Lavender Youth Recreation and Information Center (LYRIC) are teaming up to make sure LGBTQ and straight ally youth have a huge presence at this year's AIDS Walk. Participants may even be eligible for $100 stipends if they walk this year, attend two related trainings, and volunteer for the AIDS Walk itself. More information about this is below!
Make $$$! Make Connections! Make a Difference!
Get your friends and get involved in a great cause: Join the Queer Youth Contingent of the 20th Annual AIDS Walk! (Sunday, July 16)
Get ACTIVE: Weekly Queer Youth Volunteer Nights at the AIDS Walk home base (Free dinner provided)
Get SMART: HIV 101 & Grassroots Fundraising Trainings
Get OUT: Use your new-found knowledge to raise money for communities affected by HIV/AIDS
Get PAID: $100 stipend for your participation
Get FASHIONABLE: Receive a free team T-Shirt
Get MOVING: AIDS Walk San Francisco - July 16, 2006
Get REGISTERED: For more information, contact Jaedon at LYRIC (mailto:jaedon [at] lyric.org) or 415.703.6150 x13

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4. GSA Network is Hiring! - Development Coordinator (San Francisco)

GSA Network seeks a part-time (20 hours per week) Development Coordinator to coordinate and support all aspects of the organization's growing individual donor program and development department systems. The Development Coordinator will be the first development staff member at GSA Network, and will work closely with the Executive Director, and development and special events consultants, to implement the annual fundraising plan ($86,250 from individuals in 2006, which is 9% of GSA Network's total budget). GSA Network now has 600 individual donors who contribute through personal solicitations of the Board and Executive Director, direct mail, a monthly pledge program, one annual fundraising event, and occasional house parties. The Development Coordinator will play an important role in helping GSA Network expand all of these activities and build stronger relationships with all individual donors. A demonstrated passion for LGBTQ youth leadership and empowerment, an understanding of youth culture, and commitment to social change is required for all positions at GSA Network.

To get more information about the job and how to apply, visit: http://www.gsanetwork.org/about/index.html#jobs

Equal Opportunity Employer:
GSA Network, a project of the Tides Center, is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from youth, people of color, people of all sexual orientations and gender identities, and people with disabilities.




++++++++++++++++ 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.
Southern California
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5. FREE! Indigo Girls Concert (Santa Monica)

Thursday, July 6, 7:30pm, on the Santa Monica Pier.
The Indigo Girls with Michelle Malone as the opening act.
This is a FREE summer concert and should be a lot of fun!!!!!!

Northern California
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6. Going through the coming out process and feeling alone? (San Jose)

Need to get advice on how to come out to friends and family?
Want to talk to other youth about their experiences?

There is a place for you!

The Youth Coming Out Support Group
Wednesdays from 4 pm - 5 pm
A ten-week series from June 28th to August 30th

The Billy DeFrank LGBT Community Center
938 The Alameda
San Jose, CA 95126

Spread the word!

Julianne Carroll
The Billy DeFrank LGBT Community Center
Youth Programs Coordinator
mailto:youthprog [at] defrank.org
408.293.3040 x111

National
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7. Production Company Looking For LGBTQ Youth For Documentary

World of Wonder is seeking LGBT youth, ages 18 and younger, to speak on camera for a new observational documentary about their lives and experiences.

The documentary is being developed by World of Wonder Productions, which is an award-winning, gay-owned production company which has a long history of producing acclaimed gay-themed documentaries including "School's Out", an MTV documentary on a gay high school student in Dallas, Texas; "Gay Republicans"; "The Eyes of Tammy Faye" and "TransGeneration", which focuses on transgender college students and is now airing on the Sundance Channel.
Parental permission is required. If you are interested, contact Danya Berman, Casting Director for World of Wonder at 323-603-6300 ext. 253

Jobs:
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8. Department of Public Works (DPW) is hiring between 20 - 40 young adults (San Francisco)

The City and County of San Francisco, Department of Public Works (DPW) is hiring between 20 - 40 young adults as 9916 Public Service Aides this summer. The goal of this program is for youth to retain their employment and be ready to enter a rigorous two-year paid apprentice program in early 2007. The 7501 Environmental Service Worker Apprenticeship Training Program provides opportunities for people with minimal work skills to join DPW's workforce and acquire the skills needed to become general laborers and gardeners in an apprenticeship training program. The program is a unique partnership between DPW and Local 261's apprenticeship training program and it combines hands-on work experience, a tailored state-approved apprenticeship program and supportive skills training. The two-year program is both comprehensive and rigorous.
For more information applicants should call 695-2144.

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9. Program Coordinator - GLSEN San Francisco-East Bay

Position: Full-time Program Coordinator, PRYDE Program
Target Start Date: 8/1/06 Application deadline: Open until filled

About Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network San Francisco-East Bay
GLSEN SF-EB is a nonprofit organization that strives to assure that each member of every school community is valued and respected, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression and works in Alameda, Contra Costa and San Francisco counties. Since the mid-1980's, GLSEN SF-EB has challenged anti-LGBTQ discrimination and harassment in schools and communities throughout the Bay Area.

Position Summary
GLSEN SF-EB seeks a full-time Program Coordinator who will be responsible for leading the organization's PRYDE Program - Peers Reaching Youth through Diversity Education. The primary duties of the Program Coordinator include designing and implementing PRYDE's youth leadership development, advocacy and educational programming, events, and activities in the Bay Area. This is a position for an energetic, motivated and highly organized candidate and is an outstanding opportunity to help grow a leading safer school communities organization working for social justice. This is a full-time position based in Concord, CA.

For full job description contact: Julie Lienert, Executive Director at mailto:julie [at] glsen-sfeb.org or fax to (925) 685-5413
Equal Opportunity Employer
GLSEN SF-EB is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from youth, people of color, people of all sexual orientations and gender identities, and people with disabilities.
News
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10. NEWS: Huge Celebration of PRIDE
Hundreds of thousands fill Market Street with 'incredible' color

by Simone Sebastian, Demian Bulwa
San Francisco Chronicle
June 26, 2006

Bull-riding cowboys, pirates dressed in pink and pit bulls in rainbow-colored tutus filled Market Street among the 200 groups that left no societal convention unscathed Sunday in San Francisco's 36th annual Pride Parade and Celebration.

Hundreds of thousands of spectators jammed downtown sidewalks and reached over police gates to score multicolored beads and candy that parade participants threw into the cheering crowd.

"I'll show you my breasts!" 22-year-old Riley Fitzgerald called out jokingly in an effort to get a beaded necklace to match the pink one wrapped around his wrist. Fitzgerald, an emergency medical service volunteer with a perfect view of the parade from a Muni platform on Market Street, cheered loudly as Mayor Gavin Newsom's Mardi Gras-themed group passed.

"I am soaking up this parade. I am so stoked," he said with candy overflowing from his fanny pack, which also carried Band-Aids, gauze and sunscreen. "I feel like I'm able to participate and contribute to the continuity of this."

People poured out of BART and Muni stations and climbed onto streetlight poles and newspaper stands for better views. Others peered from hotel and apartment windows, waving rainbow flags or dancing -- one man in his underwear -- to the marching bands' music.

Bare breasts and pierced chests spotted the parade, which spanned more than a mile from Beale to Eighth streets.
As always, the Dykes on Bikes women's motorcycle group led the procession.

"The Dykes on Bikes are where it's at," former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown said as he hurried into position before the parade started. "That's what you want to see."

"The color is just incredible," Brown said, scanning the sea of performers in front of him. "The Lord has blessed us."

Not far behind the Dykes on Bikes, performers on the Balloon Magic float, many topless and a few on roller skates, were dressed in little more than colorful inflated latex....

...Some spectators said they felt the parade had become more diverse in recent years. They said its contingents were more representative of the many members of the gay community. There were teenagers representing high school gay-straight alliances and members of Old Lesbians Organizing for Change, which includes women age 60 and older.

Arianna Trujillo-Robnett, a 16-year-old student at Mount Pleasant High School in San Jose, said she was excited because she attended the parade last year with her mom; this year she was joined by nearly a dozen classmates. She said being gay in high school still carries a stigma.

"You have people who support us but don't associate with us," Trujillo-Robnett said.

Members of the Gay-Straight Alliance Network, which unites school-based GSAs around the Bay Area, carried signs that ranged from the whimsical to the political, including: "If you don't want a gay marriage, don't get one," "Viva la Revolucion Homosexual!" and "My sexual orientation? Horizontal, usually."

To read the full story, visit:
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/06/26/MNGAVJKD7D1.DTL&hw=gay+straight+alliance&sn=001&sc=1000

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11. NEWS: S.F. gay pride group hurls a 'Pink Brick' at Gov. Schwarzenegger

By Phillip Matier, Andrew Ross
San Francisco Chronicle
June 21, 2006

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is preparing to embrace gay Republicans at a fundraiser in Southern California next week -- but back in San Francisco, a brick is headed his way over his veto of last year's same-sex marriage bill.
Schwarzenegger is this year's recipient of the "Pink Brick'' award, a raspberry handed out annually by organizers of the San Francisco gay pride parade.

The governor received nearly a third of the 3,043 mail-in ballots cast in advance of this Sunday's parade. That was well ahead of the second-place Concerned Women for America, a Christian-based group that campaigns against same-sex marriage.

Last year's brick winner was Sen. Dianne Feinstein, for her analysis that the "too much, too fast, too soon" push for same-sex marriage rights had helped cost the Democrats the 2004 presidential election.

"It's just another way to put pressure on a leader to look at our community ... and take our issues seriously," said Lindsey Jones, executive director of the San Francisco pride parade.

The brick wasn't the only snub Arnold got in repayment for his veto in September of Assemblyman Mark Leno's bill granting same-sex partners the right to marry. Organizers of gay pride events in San Diego, Long Beach and elsewhere declined to publish the greeting and letter of appreciation that Schwarzenegger sent out last month ahead of the celebrations.

In San Francisco's case, organizers ran the governor's letter in their gay pride magazine -- but also included a side letter pointing out both Schwarzenegger's good deeds and failures when it came to issues of interest to the gay and lesbian community.

Asked about his refusal to back same-sex marriages during a Webcam conversation with the public Tuesday, Schwarzenegger -- whose chief of staff, Susan Kennedy, is a lesbian -- emphasized his support for domestic partner rights. But he said voters had sent a loud and clear "no" in 2000 when they passed Proposition 22, which reaffirmed the state's definition of marriage as being between a man and a woman.

And you can bet he will be singing much the same tune June 29 when he's scheduled to appear at a big Hollywood gathering benefiting the gay Log Cabin Republicans. It's his first appearance before a gay audience since taking office in November 2003.

To read the full story, visit:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2006/06/21/BAG6SJHBAD1.DTL&type=politics

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12. NEWS: SF GSA members recognized

by Rob Akers
Bay Area Reporter

Three youth members of gay-straight alliances who are active in the fight for gay rights were among 15 local high school students honored during a special ceremony held Friday, June 9, in the California State Building in San Francisco.

Assemblyman Mark Leno (D-San Francisco), in collaboration with Youth Leadership Institute, recognized the students during the second annual event held to honor youth who have shown exceptional commitment to community service.

"We had such a great time doing this last year, we couldn't help but do it again," Leno said during the ceremony. "It is this time that we recognize these remarkable youth to be honored by our office for civic and community service. It is outstanding that each of these students understand at such an early age what value to a community means."

Students recognized came from various high schools throughout San Francisco and included Talen Lee, a sophomore from Galileo Academy High School who is openly gay; Mary Louise Northcutt, a senior from Raoul Wallenberg Traditional High School; and Adrienne Formentos, a senior from Thurgood Marshall Academic High School.

To read the full story, visit:
http://www.ebar.com/news/article.php?sec=news&article=952


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empowering youth activists to fight homophobia and transphobia
Gay-Straight Alliance Network
1550 Bryant Street, Suite 800
San Francisco, CA 94103
415.552.4229 (Phone)
415.552.4729 (Fax)
news [at] gsanetwork.org
http://www.gsanetwork.org