April 2007 E-Newsletter

5. GSA Network News

GSA Network is accepting applications for new Youth Council members.
Go to the website and apply: http://www.gsanetwork.org/about/ycapp.html. The GSA Network Youth
Council is a diverse group of youth leaders from GSAs all over California. As a member of the Youth
Council, you will learn skills to become a stronger activist and work toward creating a safer climate at
your school for LGBTQ youth and straight allies. You will get support around mounting a campaign,
planning events, and starting a GSA club on your campus. In addition, Youth Council members are
responsible for giving input to GSA Network and helping to guide our programs. Youth Council members
will represent the needs of GSAs and youth activists from their geographic region, as well as plan
events and lead peer-to-peer workshops, leadership trainings, advocacy trainings, and activist camps.

GSA Network is Hiring a National Program Manager
GSA Network is seeking a National Program Manager to oversee the development and management of
its new national programs. Over the past two years, GSA Network has embarked on an exciting
national expansion. In 2005, GSA Network founded the National Association of GSA Networks, which
brings together youth and adult leaders from state and regional GSA networking groups in nearly 20
states to network and share best practices for GSA organizing.

The National Program Manager is responsible for running GSA Network's national programs, including
supporting the core current operations of the National Association of GSA Networks and the
development and coordination of our National Training and Replication Program.

To view the entire job description and learn how to apply, visit: http://www.gsanetwork.org/about.

3. SRGSA Yvonne & Lance Scholarship deadline May 1
SRGSA scholarship applications are still being accepted! The Sacramento Regional Gay-Straight Alliance
(SRGSA) was founded by a group of students who wanted to see a change in the public school system.
They were tired of seeing the inaction by administration in dealing with harassments that were
directed at actual and/or perceived lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) students.

This year the SRGSA, along with its “parent” organization Respect Sacramento, has decided to grant
two $500 scholarships to graduating seniors in the greater-Sacramento area. This scholarship is
named after two students, Lance and Yvonne, in honor and respect for the hard work in ensuring that
LGBTQ students (actual or perceived) are protected on their campus and full compliance with California
state law.

Download complete information and application directions here. Download the Application Form
here. Download the References Form here. The deadline for submitting the application is May 1.

That's enough for now. Did I leave anything out? Please drop me a line. Do you have an
announcement or item that you'd like to include in our newsletter? Would you like to write an
opinion piece about something in the LGBT education area? Tell us about what's going on in your
GSA! Send complaints, comments, or submissions to admin@respectsacramento.org and I will be
happy to place it in our newsletter, which is composed at the end of the current month and sent out
in the first week of the subsequent month. Make this your newsletter by contributing to it!

See you at our next meeting on April 11 at the Lavender Library, 1414 21st Street at 6:30 pm.

Jerry O'Connor
Respect Sacramento Board Member

Respect Sacramento
PO Box 191678
Sacramento CA 95819
(916) 733-2135
info@respectsacramento.org
www.respectsacramento.org

1. From the Editor

Day of Silence / Night of Noise - April 18
Last year's Day of Silence resolution by the Sacramento City Unified School District became a really big
issue here in town when "religious" extremists attempted to silence our youth and impose their
orthodoxy on all of us. Don't let them forget that our students are protected and valued in our
community by joining with them this year at the Day of Silence/Night of Noise March! This year we'll
march from the Lambda Center to the Capitol.

The schedule:
Youth show up at Lambda Center 1927 L Street after 3:45; sign making from 4:30 to 5pm
Youth Speaker will address the crowd outside the steps at the former Lambda Center at 5pm.
At 5:15, participants walk down L Street towards 10th and L (in front of the North Steps of the Capitol
(stay on the sidewalk).
Adult volunteers show up at 4:45ish to act as moderators to keep the youth moving and on the
sidewalk. Head back to Lambda at 6 pm

Tina Reynolds is helping and needs some additional support to help the youth put on this event. It is
not so much but if we all pitch in it will be a SNAP SISTER! We need HELP WITH: Printed arm bands,
t-shirts, poster boards and markers; money donations will help in all these areas!

DO A LITTLE - HELP A LOT! Just let us know what you are able to do. Email Lance Chih
lance@respectsacramento.org or tina@uptownstudios.net.

Save the date & contact us: GSA Leadership Summit - April 21!
We have a date - April 21; we'll have a location finalized this week (it's between two sites in the
Sacramento City USD). So mark your calendars and spread the word to GSAs and friends throughout
the Sacramento area: Saturday, April 21 is our annual GSA Leadership Summit. All GSA member, allies,
and advisors are welcome. This is NOT an open forum, however. You need to register by sending us
an email or by going to our registration page. Provide us with the names and school affiliation of those
who are planning to attend, or call us at (916) 733-2135 and leave us a message.

GSA Dance - April 28
The 4th Annual Gay-Straight Alliance Dance will be held April 28 from 7 to 11 pm at Hiram Johnson
High School, 6879 14th Avenue in Sacramento. Hiram Johnson GSA students are taking the lead in
planning, but we need more students to get involved for planning, decorations, etc. Contact Respect
Sacramento at info@respectsacramento.org to see how you and your GSA can help and how many are
planning to attend, or check out Hiram Johnson's GSA webpage!

4. Announcements

Fun 4 Rainbow Families Festival - April 21
The LGBT Family Support Network, with grant funding from First Five of Sacramento, will sponsor a Fun
4 Rainbow Families festival on Saturday, April 21, 2007 from 10am - 3pm. The free festival is intended
to specifically attract families of same sex parents who have children aged 0-5 years. Hosted at
Parkside Community Church, 5700 S. Land Park Drive, Sacramento, the outdoor event will provide
support resources for families, games and art activities for the children, pony rides, a bounce house
and a free food court featuring healthy snacks and lunches. Resource agencies from the Greater
Sacramento community will be present including the LAMBDA Center, Parkside’s Health Ministry, the
Red Cross, Fire department, Sierra Adoption agency, First Five of Sacramento, manalive-SACRAMENTO,
and Breaking Barriers. Vendors will also be on site introducing age appropriate toys and books along
with demonstrations of healthy cooking. Families who attend the festival will be invited to participate in
on-going monthly gatherings for educational support and social activities.

For further information contact Lester Neblett of the LAMBDA Center at 442-0185 or Rev. Dr. Susan
Hamilton of Parkside Community Church at 421-0492.

Sacramento International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival looking for volunteers
The Sacramento International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival (SIGLFF) is looking for volunteers for the
2007 year. See lots of films, meet the artists; use your talents, be appreciated; be on the inside of one
of Sacramento's biggest LGBT arts event; meet and connect with interesting people; learn new skills;
build relationships, network; play & have fun. Contact Diva at phyllips@comcast.net if you are
interested in learning more or visit the website at http://www.siglff.org.

True Colors Women's Chorus hosts Women's Choral Festival in Davis
Women's choruses and singers from across Northern California will converge in Davis on April 14, for
the second annual "Sing Out! A Women's Festival of Song," an all-day gala event hosted and produced
by the True Colors Women's Chorus of Sacramento. The festival will culminate with a 7:30 pm concert
for the public, "Touching Spirits, Touching Hearts," held with the Festival at the United Methodist
Church, 1620 Anderson Road in Davis.

For this final concert of its twentieth season, True Colors will perform its repertoire under the
leadership of its Artistic Director, Alicia Jorge. Other choruses who will attend and perform in the
concert include the Inland Valley Women's Chorus (Mendocino County), Rainbow Women's Chorus (San
Jose), Northern California Threshold Choirs (Bay Area and Davis), the New Freedom Choir (Placerville),
and Small Difference Women's Choral Ensemble (Sacramento).

Tickets for the 7:30 pm public concert may be purchased in advance for $12.00 through the True Colors
website. Tickets will be $15.00 at the door, $12.00 for students and seniors and $10 for groups of 10
or more. For more information, please call (877) 758-7827, or visit the website at www.
truecolorschorus.org.

True Colors Women's Chorus is sponsored in part by a grant from the Sacramento Metropolitan Arts
Commission.

Sacramento Stonewall Democrats Four Freedoms Awards Dinner
Save the date of May 31st, 2007 for the annual Four Freedoms Award Dinner. Sacramento Stonewall is
building on the success of last year’s fantastic evening, and this will be a night to remember. Tickets,
tables, and sponsorship opportunities will be finalized soon, so check the website often (www.
sacstonewall.org) to be the first to purchase your tickets! They still need volunteers to help out with
the logistics; contact Sacramento Stonewall Democrats at info@sacstonewall.org.