Introduction      GSA Network Staff      Youth Council      Governing Board      Jobs/Internships      FAQ Introduction  Mission Statement Gay-Straight Alliance Network is a youth leadership organization that connects school-based Gay-Straight Alliances (GSAs) to each other and community resources. Through peer support, leadership development, and training, GSA Network supports young people in starting, strengthening, and sustaining GSAs and builds the capacity of GSAs to:  1. create safe environments in schools for students to support each other and learn about homophobia and other oppressions,  2. educate the school community about homophobia, gender identity, and sexual orientation issues, and  3. fight discrimination, harassment, and violence in schools.    History GSA Network was founded in 1998 to empower youth activists to start Gay-Straight Alliance clubs and fight homophobia and transphobia in schools. GSA Network began working with 40 GSA clubs in the San Francisco Bay Area during the 1998-99 school year. The organization quickly expanded and by 2001 GSA Network became a statewide organization. In the past ten years, GSA Network has: • grown the network of GSA clubs in California from 40 clubs to over 650 clubs (representing nearly 50% of the state's high schools); • provided training and support to over 8,000 youth activists and organizers across the state; • played a leadership role in grassroots organizing for the passage of ground-breaking, statewide legislation, AB 537: The California Student Safety and Violence Prevention Act of 2000 which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity; • achieved a critical victory as plaintiff in the first lawsuit filed under AB 537; the three-year settlement agreement required the Visalia schools to enact sweeping reforms including mandatory teacher and student trainings. GSAs draw on the courage of LGBT youth and the commitment of straight allies working in partnership to build bridges, change school climates, and reform school policies. Strong, well-supported GSAs can have a major impact on the education environment and possess the power to transform individuals, school cultures, and educational institutions. All of our work with students focuses on leadership development and activism that prioritizes building alliances not only across sexual orientation and gender identity lines, but also across race, ethnicity, and class lines, and our resources and trainings are designed to facilitate alliance-building. Our programs benefit our constituents in three critical ways: 1. Ending Isolation through Building GSAs: Our GSA support programs help students start school-based GSAs, clubs that have proven to be vital support systems or "safe zones" for enhancing the well being of youth suffering from isolation, harassment, discrimination, and violence. 2. Developing Leaders: Our networking and leadership training programs develop youth leaders capable of effecting positive change in their schools and communities. 3. Making Schools Safer: We help student organizers learn how to educate teachers and student peers to reduce slurs and work with the school administration to implement school policies that prevent harassment and violence.   Our overall strategy for fighting homophobia and transphobia in schools is to work with grassroots, youth-led groups, and GSAs, empowering them to educate their school communities, advocate for just policies that protect lgbtq youth from harassment and violence, and organize in coalition with other youth groups across identity lines to address broader issues of oppression. Our organization is led by youth because we believe that youth have the power to create solutions and lead the fight against homophobia and transphobia. Representatives from GSAs around California serve on the organization's Youth Councils in Northern California, the Central Valley, and Southern California. Youth Council members make decisions about GSA Network's programs, plan and present at conferences, and lead trainings such as our regional GSA Leadership Trainings and summer GSA Activist Camps. Representatives from each Youth Council serve on the GSA Network Governing Board.  In October 1998, the Gay-Straight Alliance Network became a fiscally sponsored project of The Tides Center which gave us status as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization and allows us to receive tax-deductible donations from individuals and organizations. In 2008, GSA Network became incorporated as its own 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Carolyn Laub is the founder and director of the Gay-Straight Alliance Network. She writes, "I wanted to start this organization, not only because I understand from personal experience how empowering it is to fight back against homophobia and transphobia, but also because I believe that LGBTQ and straight ally youth are leading an emerging youth movement--community-driven with multi-issue political organizing happening across the lines of race, socio-economic status, gender, and sexual orientation, which have been obstacles in other social justice movements." Top of Page GSA Network Staff Danielle Askini, National Program Manager Danielle Askini hails from all over. European born and raised, Danielle transitioned from male to female while in high school in Southern Maine. She worked tirelessly as a youth educator and activist to change school climate through GSAs and particularly focused on educating both the straight and LGB communities about the needs of Transgender youth. She is a former foster youth, who worked for a number of years with other foster youth to change state and federal policies affecting young people in the child welfare system. She is a successful graduate of a pilot program in Maine to waive in-sate tuition for youth-in-foster care, a law she helped pass. She obtained her MSW from the University of Southern Maine where she also went for her undergraduate education in social work and gender studies. Her work in University and out has focused on ending discrimination against LGBT young people, rights for youth-in-care, ending hate crimes, immigration rights, and HIV education within the Transgender community. Before coming to GSA Network Danielle worked in Seattle at Verbena Health as a Transgender Health Coordinator, a nationally unique position. Danielle spends her spare time writing, surfing, and traveling to and from Sweden and Netherlands to visit her partner Simon and extended family. She loves the color light blue, studying foreign languages, and queer/trans theory. You are most likely to find her at H&M or IKEA on the weekends soaking up every last bit of Sweden she can. T. Aaron Hans, Advocacy Program Manager T. Aaron Hans joins the GSA Network after 6 years of teaching at California State University Monterey Bay. An FTM genderqueer activist who hails from the East coast, T. Aaron has previously served as Program Director of the Billy DeFrank LGBT Community Center (San Jose, CA) and Youth Director of the Sexual Minority Youth Assistance League (SMYAL; Washington DC). T. Aaron has a long history of education and advocacy for LGBTQ communities having worked with anti-violence groups, emergency personnel (Fire, Police, and EMS), HIV/AIDS organizations, colleges and universities to ensure inclusion, recognition, and safety of LGBT people. T. Aaron has degrees in Human Development and Family Studies from Pennsylvania State University and Social Justice Education from the University of Massachusetts and enjoys using that training to lead the advocacy programs of the GSA Network. An avid sea kayaker,   sci-fi enthusiast, and self-described  Mac addict,  T. Aaron lives in the bay area with partner Tania Mitchell. Kiely Hosmon, Northern California Program Coordinator Kiely is extremely excited to be back at the GSA Network and to work with all the fabulous youth leaders. She has previous experience in anti-racist, feminist, and queer organizing from her high school and college days. In fact, Kiely, in 2001, founded her GSA at Santa Teresa High School in San Jose, CA. Kiely received her BA from UC Santa Barbara in Womyn's Studies and LGBTQ Studies and her MA from SFSU in Womyn Studies. Her MA thesis was titled "That Doesn't Happen Here": Addressing Racism in California Gay-Straight Alliances. Kiely has no desire to go back to grad school (ever!) and is perfectly happy working with LGBTQA youth on a daily basis. In her spare time she plays middle line-backer in the SF Women's Football League and will take you down. Carolyn Laub, Executive Director Carolyn Laub is the Founder and Executive Director of Gay-Straight Alliance Network. Carolyn received a 4-year fellowship from the Echoing Green Foundation in 1999 that helped launch GSA Network. In 2000, she was honored as one of the first U.S. recipients of the international Ashoka Fellowship, a 3-year fellowship that supports her work as a social entrepreneur. Carolyn was a leader of the grassroots youth effort to pass the California Student Safety and Violence Prevention Act of 2000 (AB 537), an historic law that prohibits discrimination based on actual and perceived sexual orientation and gender identity in California schools. She co-founded the Make It Real Project, a youth-led statewide initiative to implement AB 537. In 2001, Carolyn served on the California Department of Education's AB 537 Advisory Task Force. In 2002, she co-founded the California Safe Schools Coalition, which is dedicated to the full implementation of AB 537. Carolyn has co-led the coalition since its inception and helped author the coalition's groundbreaking report, Safe Place to Learn: Consequences of Harassment Based on Actual or Perceived Sexual Orientation and Gender Non-Conformity and Steps for Making Schools Safer. Prior to starting GSA Network, in 1997, Carolyn created Outlet, a support program for LGBTQQ youth living on the San Francisco peninsula. Additionally, Carolyn was the Director of the AIDS Prevention Program at the Mid-Peninsula YWCA where she developed innovative HIV prevention curriculum and published her research documenting the link between gender ideologies and adolescent sexual risk-taking behavior. She currently serves on the Board of the Transgender Law Center. Previously, she has served on the Board of Directors of Bay Area Young Positives, KQED's Community Advisory Panel, and Stanford Pride, the Stanford University LGBTQQI alumni club. Carolyn graduated from Stanford University in 1995 with a BA in Cultural Anthropology with a focus on the social construction of race, gender, and sexual orientation in the U.S. Robin McGehee, Central Valley Program Coordinator Robin McGehee, a transplant from Jackson, Mississippi, has focused her activism around issues of religious persecution. Ms. McGehee received her M.A. in Speech Communication from California State University, Fresno. She is an instructor at College of the Sequoias and believes strongly that "When we Speak, We Shape the World!" At COS, one of her duties include, serving as Pride Club advisor for a student group which focuses on mentoring students to "Speak Out" and shape the world in a positive way. In 2001, McGehee was honored with the Martin Luther King, Jr. award for her work with Youth Empowerment. She has served as Outreach Director for Fresno REEL Pride for two years and now works as their Development Director handling sponsorships and grant proposals. As Outreach Director she helped raise funds for community outreach projects, including REEL Pride in the Arts -- a student film contest. She is the chair of the Committee on Reconciliation at Wesley United Methodist Church and is currently working on a community activist project, "Love Welcomes All" to address the debate around sexuality and spirituality. In her free time she enjoys traveling and spending time with her partner, 3 year old son, Sebastian and newley arrived daughter Jackson. Daniel Solis , Southern California Program Coordinator Daniel E. Solis is a native of Los Angeles, California. As the gay son of Salvadorena/o immigrants, Daniel has long been aware of the complicated nature of struggles for justice. Coming out in high school, Daniel helped to co-found the first Gay Straight Alliance at his school and successfully worked to reduce homophobia in teachers, administrators and students. Building on these early experiences in organizing, Daniel became active in anti-war and anti-racism organizing during college. Using a creative mix of protests, negotiations, and theater, Daniel led a coalition of students and faculty to force Antioch College to adopt a comprehensive Racial Discrimination Prevention Policy, the first step in successfully creating an anti-racist institution. Upon his return to Los Angeles from Ohio, Daniel has focused his work on supporting youth of color in their educational development and empowerment. He has worked with Central American high school students at Belmont and Polytechnic High Schools in preparing them for successful lives after high school, as well as providing enriching educational experiences to Latina/o middle school students in the northeast San Fernando Valley. Recently, Daniel worked to increase youth participation in electoral politics by organizing voter registration drives and voter education campaigns in the Inland Empire region of Southern California. Daniel is excited to be working with the GSA Network in strengthening and expanding the diverse activism of queer youth in Southern California. Daniel received his B.A. in Cultural and Interdisciplinary Studies from Antioch College in 2006. He is currently completing his M.A. in History with a concentration in American Studies from Claremont Graduate University. Geoffrey Winder , Administrative Manager Geoffrey is an activist returning to CA (with his family of 2 cats 2 humans) from NYC. An experienced GSA activist Geoffrey re-started his high school GSA in Davis CA in late 90s. Working with GSA Network and the GSA/queer youth movement at the turn of the century was the catalyst for the development of his academic studies. He studied Globalization and Change Theory at NYU's Gallatin School for Individualized study. As an activist he worked in the anti-war, global and social justice movements in NYC. He has served in three other administrative management positions, both in the private and non-profit sectors; however, the struggle, hegemony and counter-hegemonic narratives are never far from his thoughts. He's particularly interested in the developing counter-capitalist and post-Empire narratives that are emerging in the global 21st century social justice movements. He's elated to be able to offer his organizational and management experience to continuing the work of a movement that inspired him, and more over to an organization that has and is working towards a broader vision of justice and equality for the future. 2008 Interns Michael Aiyar , Intern, San Francisco Michael is excited to be working at GSA Network this summer. A native of Oakland, California, he currently attends high school at Marin Academy, where he will be a senior in the fall. Michael became interested in social justice in his freshman year, and as a sophomore he co-founded a group for multiracial students called Exploring Mixed Ethnicity. This year he helped organize a Bay Area wide conference for students about equity in schools, called "Uncensored: Conversations We're Not Having." In his free time Michael enjoys photography, reading and mocha frappuccinos. Nicole Carothers, Intern, Los Angeles Nicole Carothers would describe herself as a Californian; growing up in all parts of the Golden State. She is a recent John Burroughs High School alumnus where she actively took part in her Gay Straight Alliance. Nicole was elected president of the club during her sophomore, junior and senior years of high school. With her GSA, she organized events such as a clothing drive for the Jeff Griffith Youth Center, a fundraiser for AIDS Project Los Angeles, and the production of a controversial play in her community, The Laramie Project by Moises Kaufman and the Tectonic Theatre Company. In the fall, Nicole will be attending UC Santa Cruz where she will be majoring in Peace and Securities and minoring in Theatre Arts. During her internship with GSA Network, she hopes to gain insightful knowledge, experience and friendships that will help her become a better leader and make a stronger impact against oppression in her community, her city, her state and her country. Luis Roman, Intern, Los Angeles Luis, a Mexican immigrant, identifies as a proud Joto and Xicanista fom el este (East Los Angeles). As a child, Luis wondered why his family didn't travel to Hawaii during the summers like many families did in the media. This early questioning was the beginning of Luis' desire to undo all of the inequalities and privileges that exist in society. Understanding the systems that control power in our world - classism, racism, patriarchy and homophobia - has driven Luis in his GSA work both during and after high school. Luis revived the GSA club at Bravo Medical Magnet High School and rallied along side many queer-fabulous Bravo Knights to create a Pride Week on Campus as well as advocating for gender-neutral restrooms. With the aid of other groups on campus he was able to create a powerful culture of student activism that motivated his peers to walk-out, sit-in or use other non-violence tactics to advance social justice at school. Luis got involved with GSA Network after his school administrators threatened to censor his pro- LGBT equality articles in Bravo's student newspaper. Luis, realizing that much of homophobia and transphobia is a result of lack of awareness, decided to work with other youth in Southern California to educate people. He will be transferring to UC San Diego where he will double major in Ethnic Studies and Gender Studies. He aspires to one day be a college professor and continue preaching against American tyranny and bring to light the heterosexist, male-oriented, Eurocentric educational system that has failed many students. He also yearns to visit the ruins of imperialism in Africa and Latin America and continue educating people, because he believes that education is the key to freedom. As an Intern and a Board Member, he hopes to empower youth in the fight against all systems of oppression. In his ideal world, all the youth would be able to think for themselves, explore for themselves, and be themselves. S(arah B)eth Weintraub, Intern, San Francisco Seth is finding her way back to California. After being uprooted from her birth-town of Santa Monica at only five months old, she spent her formative years in Nashville, TN. From the very beginning of her freshman year of high school, she was actively involved in the Gay-Straight Alliance there, eventually serving as president for her junior and senior years. Last summer she served as a founding member of a Nashville-based coalition, Support Student Safety, which is working to implement a more inclusive non-discrimination policy for her old school system. Seth is now a Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies major at Yale University, where she enjoys hanging out with her rugby teammates, tinkering in the theater, and drinking copious amounts of hot chocolate. Governing Board Allan Acevedo Barak Ben-Gal John Campbell Nik Castillo Lyla Foley Lea Gee-Tong Wendy Hill Lisa Hurwitz Whitney Kessell Alex Liu Ariel Lupton Michael Mahoney Chelsey Ramirez Luis Roman Scott Sansone Juliana Spector Top of Page Youth Council The Youth Council is responsible for making decisions about and guiding the program activities of the GSA Network. They set goals and establish priorities for the work of our organization. Youth Council members also represent the needs of GSAs and youth activists from the geographic region of California they represent.  The requirements for joining the Youth Council include: 1. Involved in a GSA or LGBTQ-youth related group in your school. 2. Willing to commit to serve on the Youth Council for one year. 3. Interested in developing and suggesting ideas to strengthen GSAs and the GSA Network. 4. Committed to creating change for LGBTQ youth and fighting homophobia in schools.  The GSA Network is accepting applications for new Youth Council members. Apply Online!   Northern California Youth Council Megan Becker, Prospects HS Bit Bowden, Berkeley HS Shane Conover-Robertson, Westmont HS Janessa Cooks, San Lorenzo HS Dwyn Davis, Notre Dame Belmont HS Alli De Hoog, Wesmont HS Eden Foley, Albany HS Maggie Gorelick, Tamalpais HS Jacob Graham Jr., Concord HS Daniel Hadley, Merril F. West HS Raul Hernandez, Ida B. Wells HS Jeremy Huston, Bishop O'Dowd HS Geraldine Jointer, Encinal HS Withney Kessell, Davinci HS Andrew Landecho, Watsonville HS Connor Morrison, Antioch HS D Sladen, Newark HS Emma Sutton, Benicia HS and Diablo Valley College Mike Vogel, Alahambra HS Rose Cohen Westbrooke, Albany HS Del'Risha White, Middle College HS Central California Youth Council Matt Allen, West Park Charter HS Thalia Arenas, Madera HS Martha Caballero, Madera HS Randy Good, Central West HS Andrea Helmns, Sierra HS Jorge Hernandez, Central West HS Karen Juarez, Parlier HS Alisia Lopez, Madera HS Chris Martinez, Central Valley Christian Academy Jimmy Perez, Parlier HS Miranda Quintana, Parlier HS Jesse Rosales, Sunnyside HS Blayke Smith, Clovis HS Claudia Villapando, Madera HS Clint Wells, Bullard HS Southern California Youth Council Allan Acevedo, Hilltop HS Sarah Kukuchek, Scripps Ranch HS Kai Lopes, Culver City HS Lisa Hurwitz, Milken Community HS TJ Meyer, Mission Viejo HS Alex Possner, South Pasadena HS Jocelyn Miller, Mira Costa HS Tina Yang, Arcadia HS Courtney Knight, Marina HS Mattias Lehman, Brentwood HS Kevin Park, Fairfax HS Desiree Trevino, Garfield HS Michelle Kim, Rancho Bernardo HS Daniel McIntrye, Cortez Hill Academy Emily Jira, Mira Costa HS Phillip Knight, El Segundo HS Albert Gomez, Garfield HS Jennifer Ehrenreich, Pacific HS Cindy Salcedo, Bakersfield HS   Top of Page Job and Internship Openings GSA Network currently has the following job and internship openings: Program Director: GSA Network seeks to hire a Program Director to manage its growing program portfolio. We are looking for someone with demonstrated program leadership experience who can manage a team of organizers and project staff. The Program Director should have the ability to lead a team to achieve program goals with creativity and resourcefulness. The Program Director will be responsible for planning, coordinating, implementing, staffing and evaluating GSA Network’s programs. The Program Director will supervise staff, volunteers, and interns; manage campaign development; represent GSA Network in coalitions and in other the community settings; develop strategic collaborations; manage grant objectives; and assist with fund raising by writing portions of grants and relevant reports. Download the job description. Development and Communications Manager: GSA Network seeks a Development & Communications Manager to build existing individual fundraising and communications programs in partnership with the Executive Director. This will be our first Development/Communications staff position. Candidates must have at least two years’ experience in a nonprofit development office with an individual donor program and strong writing and organizational skills and experience. Opportunities for mentoring from experienced fundraising consultants. Download the job description. Interns: GSA Network is looking for interns, which are non-paid positions. As an intern, you will gain hands-on experience working for California's most dynamic LGBTQ youth-driven organization. You will gain invaluable insight about a mid-sized non-profit as well as GSA Network's particular organizational and organizing model. You will also learn a broad range of skills while providing program and/or administrative support. This is a great way to gain hands-on experience, build up your resume, and possibly get college credits. You may do a variety of tasks including outreach and technical assistance to high school and middle school GSAs, curriculum development, resource sheets and program material development, working on media or press work lobbying and policy support, event planning, individual donor fundraising, database systems and and many other exciting activities. Interns also have the option to participate in staff meetings thus ensuring their voices are heard and their opinions are valued. Each intern will have a supervisor who will be responsible for providing support, an evaluation, and a letter of recommendation upon the conclusion of the internship. For more information contact carolyn@gsanetwork.org or call Carolyn @ 415-552-4229. Top of Page HOME If you have any questions about Gay-Straight Alliances or need support organizing against homophobia and transphobia in your school, contact Gay-Straight Alliance Network