From the Editor: Sixth Anniversary of AB 537
Next month will mark six years since Assembly Bill 537--the California Student Safety and Violence Prevention Act of 2000--became law. Some of us have kicked around ideas for commemorating this anniversary; after all, this is the law that protects students and school employees against discrimination and harassment at all California public schools. This topic will certainly be discussed at our next meeting on December 14 (see below).
But as we celebrate the success of AB 537, we cannot forget that so much work needs to be done. We need look no futher than our own community and school districts right in our backyard to see that LGBT youth and those who are perceived to be LGBT are still at risk on our campuses. Are you a student who has encountered problems at your school with harassment or discrimination due to real or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity/expression? Contact us and let us know what is going on at your school. We want to help you and your classmates create a safe environment on your campus. Are you a teacher who has questions about what you can do to help students, staff members, or even yourself with a reluctant or resistant administration? Let us know what the situation is at your site. We are here to help.Our next meeting: Wed. December 14
Our next meeting will be Wednesday, December 14 at 6:30 pm. Our regular meeting time and place is the second Wednesday of the month at 6:30 pm at the Lambda Community Center, 1927 L Street in midtown Sacramento.
On our agenda: plans for February's GSA Youth Leaderhship Workshop. Are you a student at a local secondary school who would like to help plan our next workshop? Come on by or drop us a line. Our workshops are developed by local GSA members for their peers in the community. We hope to see you there! McClatchy HS LGSA Sponsors 'The Other Side of the Closet' Dec. 12
Set in and around a high school, "The Other Side of the Closet" tells the story of 5 teens who are grappling with issues of peer pressure, youth violence, homophobia, behavior norms, expectations, discrimination and identity. Each performance is followed by a facilitated discussion session with the cast. This hard-hitting play supports a safer school curriculum wherein students, teachers and parents can learn about diversity and acceptance in an innovative and engaging format."
Presented By: YouthAware Educational Theatre program at NCTC (http://www.nctcsf.org/Other.html).
Where can I go to see it?: C.K. McClatchy High School at 3066 Freeport Blvd. Sacramento, CA 95818.
Who can go?: Students, parents, teachers, community members, and anyone else that is supportive of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Community and wants to learn more about how harassment effects all students.
When is it?: December 12th, 2005 @ 6:30pm
Cost: FREE but donations are gratefully appreciated
Questions? Concerns?
Contact Yvonne Neis at yvonneneis@comcast.net.
The Lesbian Gay Straight Alliance at CKM High School would like to encourage everyone to come and show their support. Scholarship Information
An outstanding collection of links and resources for scholarships and grants for the LGBT community is maintained by The Safe Schools Coalition. Check out all the great information at www.safeschoolscoalition.org/RG-scholarships.html.
The mission of The Safe Schools Coalition: A Public-Private Partnership in Support of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Youth is to help schools - at home and all over the world - become safe places where every family can belong, where every educator can teach, and where every child can learn, regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation. Formerly known as the 'Safe Schools Coalition of Washington,' they now proudly serve a world-wide constituency. GSA Network News
Tomorrow's YES (Youth Empowerment Summit) Conference Dec 3
YES is a FREE conference for LGBTQQI youth activists and their allies who are dedicated to defeating homophobia and transphobia and creating safe and supportive schools for everyone. The target audience is high school & middle school students, and teachers & GSA advisors are welcome.
Where? Horace Mann Middle School, 3351 23rd Street, San Francisco
When? Saturday, December 3, 9:00 am -5:00 pm
How much? Everything, including food, is FREE!
Pre-registration was required, but on-site registration starts at 9 am on Saturday, Dec 3. Contact yes@gsanetwork.org or 415-552-4229 for more information.
GSA Network has a new Northern California Program Coordinator
GSA Network is very pleased to announce that our past Northern California Program Coordinator Lai-San Seto has taken a new position at GSA Network as the Advocacy Coordinator and we are excited to add Marco Castro-Bojorquez to the GSA Network team as our new Northern California Program Coordinator.
Marco Castro-Bojorquez was born and raised in Mexico and received his Bachelor in Science degree in Communications from the "Instituto Tecnologico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey" in Mexico. A 10-year resident of San Francisco, Marco worked as a Youth Program / Site Coordinator at Community Bridges Beacon (CBB) for the past 2 years, where he gained experience in youth development program planning, curriculum development, and evaluation. Marco lives with his partner of 4 years and two very special cats named "Lola and Kafka." He is honored to become part of the GSA Network.
LOUD, PROUD, & ON THE WAY TO THE CAPITOL!!!
Save the Date---Queer Youth Advocacy Day 2006!
Join GSA Network, EQCA, & hundreds of LGBTQ & straight ally youth for Queer Youth Advocacy Day.
Who: You & your friends, your GSA members & hundreds of youth activists
Where: Sacramento, CA
When: Monday, March 6, 2006
Why: To unite with GSAS & youth from all over CA!
To learn how to lobby lawmakers & influence people
To help create safer schools & make sure everyone has a chance at an education.
What: On March 6, youth will sit down & talk with each & every CA Legislature member about a proposed law that will make it clearer how schools can end discrimination and harassment based on sexual orientation or gender identity. Following a mass training & a huge rally on the capitol steps, we're going to visit every legislator's office to share our stories. This is your chance to make a difference that will affect schools in every corner of CA.
You'll tell lawmakers what it's really like to be in school. Tell them what you need to feel safe, supported, and ignored no more. They need to hear from you!
More info: Email Lai-San Seto at advocacy@gsanetwork.org or call 415-552-4229 Buyers guide for LGBT-friendly companies released
Fair-minded consumers have a powerful new tool for advancing workplace fairness with the release of the Human Rights Campaign's buyer's guide today. The publication - "Buying For Equality" - highlights corporate policies on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) equality and empowers consumers to make purchasing decisions based on a company's score on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation's nationally respected Corporate Equality Index.
"LGBT Americans are changing the policies of corporate America at the check-out line," said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. "With an estimated $610 billion worth of buying power, this guide empowers our community to easily support companies that take a stand for
fairness."
Hundreds of popular American brands are listed in the publication, drawing simple distinctions between products, services and retail outlets that consumers use on a daily basis. For electronics purchases, the guide illustrates Best Buy's 100 percent score over Circuit City's 43 percent. For pet food, Iams' 86 percent tops Alpo's 29. Other comparisons include: Aquafina over Poland Spring, Shell over ExxonMobil, and Balance Bar over Powerbar.
Seventy percent of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people are very or extremely likely to consider a brand that is known to provide equal workplace benefits for gay and lesbian employees, according to research by Witeck-Combs Communications and Harris Interactive.
The buyers guide harnesses the power of the Human Rights Campaign Foundation's Corporate Equality Index - a nationally recognized scorecard of corporate policies affecting their LGBT employees including domestic partner benefits and non-discrimination policies. This year, a record 101 companies scored a perfect 100 percent on the index - more than seven times the number of 100 percent scores when the index was introduced in 2002.
"Ensuring equality for all employees on the job is good for the bottom line and corporate America is responding in historic numbers," said Solmonese. "We are using our collective purchasing power to continue to
influence change."
The guide is available online at www.hrc.org/BuyersGuide. |
