Apply to be a Leader at GAYLA! GAYLA Overview GAYLA (GSA Advocacy & Youth Leadership Academy) is a four-day intensive training in the legislative process, policy advocacy, media activism, & other important skills. GAYLA will take place in Sacramento from May 2nd-May 5th, 2008. Please note the change of date. GAYLA has been moved from April 18-21 to May 2-5 because of a conflict with Passover. The application deadline has been extended to March 19. GSA Network is proud to announce our sponsors for GAYLA and QYAD are Bienestar, Equality California, and Transgender Law Center. GAYLA and Queer Youth Advocacy Day Last year hundreds of young people from every corner of the state rallied on the Capitol steps in Sacramento and educated lawmakers on what they needed to do to make California schools safer for LGBTQ and straight ally students. We succeeded in advocating for the passage of two bills: The Safe Place to Learn Act (AB 394) and The Student Civil Rights Act (SB 777). Queer Youth Advocacy Day (QYAD) 2008 will have a different focus and will be smaller this year, because there is not any LGBTQ safe schools legislation introduced in this year’s legislative session. Additionally, GSA Network is combining GAYLA and QYAD for an intense training session that will make you a solid leader in advocacy within four days! In order to be a part of GAYLA or QYAD this year, you MUST apply and be accepted. We are accepting up to 60 youth leaders for this training. Since the focus is on intensive training with a small core group of youth leaders, we will not have a rally this year. However, GSA Network guarantees it will still be a fun AND educational time! The focus for GAYLA and QYAD 2008 is to advocate for the full implementation of gender identity non-discrimination policies in the California school system. If you have experienced discrimination based on gender identity or expression and want to do something positive to make schools safer, you should apply for GAYLA! If you are an ally to transgender and gender non-conforming youth and want to help make schools safer, you should apply for GAYLA! We need committed GSA activists (that’s you!) to fight for better implementation of existing state law to protect transgender and gender non-conforming students. Although there isn’t legislation to rally around like last year, this is still an important part of advocacy and GAYLA leaders will be at the forefront of a campaign that runs through 2008. GAYLA leaders will take a leadership role in policy advocacy with key state level policy makers and in mobilizing their peers throughout California. Goals As a GAYLA leader, you will: • Understand what your legal rights are & how to educate others about them • Learn how laws like AB 537 (California Student Safety and Violence Prevention Act) are made & how you can become an active participant in the process • Build relationships with key people in the California Department of Education (CDE), the State’s Superintendent’s office, and the Gender Equity Office • Target specific groups who will be influential in following through on AB537’s gender identity protections • Gain key media activism skills to help you spread your message everywhere. • Break down barriers & help to ensure more youth voices are part of the statewide fight for LGBTQ equality • Transform yourself into a public speaker who changes the hearts & minds of everyone around you • Be involved in a campaign process that will run through 2008 • Meet, make friends, & share resources with youth activists from across the state GAYLA Leaders Youth (age 18 and under) in California high school and middle school Gay-Straight Alliance clubs who are strongly interested in making change at their schools and across the state should apply. If you are an activist who is interested in learning more about lobbying, policy advocacy, and community organizing, we strongly encourage you to apply. We are especially looking for high school juniors and younger, since GAYLA youth will work on a campaign that will continue into next school year. Middle school students can also apply. We strongly encourage youth of color, low-income youth, and transgender and gender non-conforming youth to apply. All Leaders must participate fully in the training and be able to be in Sacramento from the evening of Friday, May 2 through the evening of Monday, May 5. Arrangements will be made for leaders who need assistance with housing and travel to Sacramento. This means, yes, we will pay for you to get to Sacramento if you can’t get there yourself! We will also pay for your meals and housing. After GAYLA After being a leader at GAYLA, you will be encouraged to continue working with GSA Network and advocating for LGBTQ youth in schools by: • Organizing & participating in a campaign to advocate for full implementation of the gender identity non-discrimination law in California schools, which may include visits with lawmakers and education officials, rallies, letter-writing campaigns, and speak-outs in your area • Training members of your GSA in advocacy skills • Serving as a media spokesperson in your region on GSA, safer schools, and LGBTQ youth issues • Coordinating district lobbying visits to lawmaker offices in your area Apply to GAYLA Please complete the GAYLA leader application form below. The application deadline has been extended to March 19. All applications will be reviewed and everyone will be notified of the final selection by end of March. Please note that priority will be given to students who will be staying in California through 2008. We will not be accepting high school seniors who will be leaving the state for college. First Name Last Name Street Address City State Zip Home Phone Cell Phone Email Check here if we need to be discreet/confidential when contacting you. School you attend: Your Age Your Grade in the 2007-2008 School Year: Will you be staying in California through 2008?: What is your gender? What is your sexual orientation? What is your race/ethnicity? Anything else you'd like us to know about you? Emergency Contact NOTE: If you are under age 18, please provide guardian/parent information in this section. If you are over 18, please provide emergency contact information. Emergency Contact Name Relationship to You Phone Email Please answer the following questions. Only applications with answers to all of the questions will be considered. 1. Why are you interested in participating in GAYLA? 2. Please describe your previous experience with advocacy, lobbying, and/or public speaking. 3. If you can, please describe how you have worked to change policy or otherwise worked for change on a large scale in your school or community. 4. Please describe the different ways your GSA has made a positive impact at your school. 5. Please describe what, if any, harassment or discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity you've experienced or witnessed at school. 6. What motivates you to be an activist? 7. Share some ways that racism, classism, sexism, and other oppressions have affected you and your activism. 8. How do you hope to continue your advocacy work for LGBTQ and ally students with GSA Network (see list under “After GAYLA” for some possible ways)? Got questions? Call 415-552-4229 or send an email.