Safe Schools Resources for

 

Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, & Questioning Youth & Allies

 

 

HOW TO FILE A COMPLAINT

 

If a student feels unsafe at school due to slurs and harassment, students, parents & community members can file a complaint at their school.

 

The Gay-Straight Alliance Network, a youth-led statewide organization based in San Francisco, offers a step-by-step process on how to file a complaint.

 

Info:  www.gsanetwork.org/ab537/file or (415) 552-4229.

 

 

RESOURCES

 

Safe Schools Project of Santa Cruz County is a county-wide effort to help make K-12 schools in Santa Cruz County a safer place for Queer & Queer-friendly youth. Students and parents can help make their schools a safer place. Info: www.QYTF.org (831) 427-4014, info@QYTF.org

 

 

Queer Youth Task Force is dedicated to improving the quality of life for all lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and questioning youth in Santa Cruz County, as well as children and siblings raised in homes where LGBTIQ people live. An affiliate of the Diversity Center, they also produce the annual Queer Youth Leadership Awards. Info: www.QYTF.org or call 427-4004.

 

 

Triangle Speakers is a Santa Cruz County organization that works to eliminate homophobia and transphobia by providing volunteer speaker panels to school classrooms (grades 4-12), colleges, community organizations, religious groups, government employees, teachers, volunteers; anyone who requests a panel. Speakers change hearts and minds, educating through the power of personal stories. Info: www.trianglespeakers.org or (831) 457-2934.

 

 

STRANGE is a queer youth organization dedicated to serving and empowering the multi-racial, intersex, transgender, queer, bisexual, lesbian, gay, and questioning youth of Santa Cruz County and their straight allies. They strive to create safe spaces, which provide opportunities for support, socializing, and activist work to end the social isolation often experienced by these youth. A program of Youth Services and S.C.C.C.C. Info: 469-1700 x 151

 

 

 

 

PFLAG Santa Cruz County - Parents and Friends of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex and Questioning Persons is a local chapter of a national organization that offers support, education, and the opportunity to do advocacy. Meetings are held on fourth Monday of every month at the Diversity Center at

7 PM. Everyone is welcome. There is no charge. Info: (831) 662-4780.

 

 

Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) is a student-run club which provides a safe place for LGBTQ students and their straight allies to meet, support each other, talk about issues related to sexual orientation and gender identity, and work to end homophobia. Many participate in the Day of Silence, a day when participants remain silent all day as a way of acknowledging the silence induced by homophobia in our society. For a complete list of the GSA's in the Santa Cruz County middle schools and high schools, visit the Diversity Center web site and click on the "Resources" button. Info: www.diversitycenter.org

 

 

Diversity Center, the LGBTIQ Community Center of Santa Cruz County, hosts the “Queer Youth Scene,” a safe space for queer youth ages 14 to 18 to socialize, watch Queer Movies, write Poetry, participate in Arts and Crafts, and help build a Queer Friendly community. The 4th Sunday and 1st Saturday of each month from 1 to 6 pm. Diversity Center, 1777 Soquel Avenue, Santa Cruz. Info: 425-5422 or diversitycenterintern@yahoo.com 

 

GSA Network - Gay-Straight Alliance Network, based in San Francisco, is a youth-led state-wide organization that connects school-based Gay-Straight Alliances (GSAs) to each other and community resources. Produces the "Make It Real" guide for students to ensure implementation of AB537.

Info: www.gsanetwork.org/ab537 or (415) 552-4229.

 

 

California Safe Schools Coalition is a statewide partnership of organizations and individuals dedicated to eliminating discrimination and harassment on the basis of actual or perceived sexual orientation and gender identity in California schools. Their chief goal is to ensure the effective and comprehensive implementation of the California Student Safety and Violence Prevention Act of 2000. Info: www.casafeschools.org or (415) 626-1680.

 

 

Queer History Month

 

In the early 1990's, a group of grassroots community leaders and teachers decided the country was in need of a special month to commemorate the struggle and accomplishments of the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, intersex, and questioning (GLBTIQ) community, and to recognize and celebrate how this history has changed our society.

 

As October commemorates the first gay and lesbian marches on Washington D.C. in 1979 and 1987 as well as National Coming Out Day on the 11th, it made for the perfect month to honor GLBTIQ history.

 

We hope you'll take the time during the month of October to reflect upon the GLBTIQ history created by those before us, celebrate the great accomplishments of the movement and use the struggles of the past to fuel support for queer youth and their families who are coming out today.

 

National Coming Out Day

 

"National Coming Out Day" on October 11th promotes honesty & openness about being GLBTIQ on campus, in the workplace and in the community.

 

As part of the Human Rights Campaign, the project was founded by those who believed that GLBTIQ people needed to be visible and that equality could not be achieved from the closet.

 

Goals of the project include: to educate America about the lives of GLBTIQ people; to dispel the myths and misconceptions; to help GLBTIQ people live fuller lives; and to better understand a friend, family member or coworker who is going through the process of "Coming Out."

 

In Santa Cruz County, Gay-Straight Alliance student clubs from Watsonville to Santa Cruz, will be celebrating Queer History Month in October with various events.