Letter from the director:

We've got a lot of exciting opportunities coming up. We're planning two leadership trainings for February and March. We're encouraging every GSA to get involved with activism on the state level through Youth Lobby Day and on their own school campus through the Day of Silence. We're also helping plan the Overcoming Homophobia Meeting for Youth (OHMY!).

I'm committed to supporting the work of all the amazing youth activists who are fighting homophobia and other oppressions. Please call me if you want me to come to your GSA meeting or need support, new ideas, or resources.

Enclosed are some resources we developed on improving your GSA (there are more to come in this series) and a flyer about getting involved in planning the OHMY! Conference. I hope you find this newsletter useful -- please pass it on to everyone involved in the GSA at your school.

- Carolyn

_____________________________________________

Mission Statement:

The Bay Area Gay-Straight Alliance Network is a youth-led organization that connects school-based Gay-Straight Alliances to each other and to community resources. Through peer support, leadership development, and training, the Network supports young people in starting, strengthening, and sustaining Gay-Straight Alliances and builds the capacity of Gay-Straight Alliances 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.

The Bay Area GSA Network ADVISORY BOARD:

Mario Balcita

Kevin Groves

Taj James

Julie Lienert

Mazdak Mazarei

Zak Sinclair

_____________________________________________

The Bay Area GSA Network Youth Council is a diverse group of youth leaders from GSA's all over the Bay Area. The Youth Council makes decisions about the programs of the Bay Area GSA Network. Youth Council members represent the needs of GSA's and youth activists from their geographic region of the Bay Area. Youth Council members are also going to help put on the leadership trainings and conferences sponsored by the Bay Area GSA Network this year.

Introducing the Youth Council Members:

Haley Ausserer -- Menlo-Atherton H.S.

Katy Caragol -- Las Lomas H.S.

Adam Colton -- San Marin H.S

Scott Kepford -- Drake H.S.

Chelsea Stayton -- Palo Alto H.S.

Elisa Wang -- Miramonte H.S

Matt Wolf -- Menlo School

Kaiya Wertheim -- Skyline H.S.

The Youth Council Needs You!!

We are looking for more youth leaders from every region of the Bay Area to be on the Youth Council.If you're interested in being a leader in this new organization, consider applying to be on the Youth Council.

E-mail Carolyn at cmlaub@aol.com or call 415/643-4850 to get an application.

_____________________________________________

Malachi: Hey, I just wanted to introduce myself to you all. My name is Malachi, I'm a 19 year old tranny boy of mixed blood, from the East Bay. I started doing campus organizing in '97 when I founded a GSA at Clayton Valley High School. I then graduated from Olympic High School with the class of '98 after starting a GSA on that campus that year. I have been on speaker's bureaus and developed teacher sensitivity trainings geared toward high school and college students and faculty for several years. With this organization I hope to continue to provide support and advocacy for GSA's as well as provide youth with tools to empower themselves.

Emilie: Hi y'all, I'm Emilie the intern, and I've been working with Carolyn and Malachi on the Bay Area GSA Network since last October. I'm currently a sophomore urban studies/community organizing major at Stanford University, where I'm a part of the speaker's bureau and a staff member at the Lesbian/Gay/ Bisexual Community Center on campus. I'm originally from Lincoln, Nebraska, and was active in the GSA at my high school as well as with the GSA network (believe it or not) in my town. I'm dedicated to youth empowerment, and I'm very psyched to be a part of this project.

_____________________________________________

Web Resources

ACTIVIST SPOTLIGHT

Raven Perlstein is a 17 year old lesbian who is starting a GSA at School of the Arts, a San Francisco public school she attends. Ryan Meek is a 21 year old gay male who attended Lowell H.S. and now goes to City College in San Francisco. They are both youth activists who are part of LYRIC's Queer Youth Leadership Project, a peer-led project where youth learn community organizing and activism skills and then put them into practice by developing a campaign. I interviewed them to find out what they're doing to make schools safer for LGBTQ youth and what it's like to be a youth activist. - Carolyn Laub

Carolyn: What is the project you're working on?

Raven Perlstein (RP): The school board of San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) passed a resolution that is supposed to make schools in San Francisco safer for LGBTQ youth. They're supposed to do sensitivity trainings for all teachers, designate a gay-sensitive adult for all middle schools and high schools, and develop curriculum about LGBTQ issues and gender identity issues. It's a really ideal plan. The problem is they're not implementing all of the recommendations from the resolution.

Ryan Meek (RM): We did some research and found out that there is still a lot of violence and verbal harassment at SF schools. It's clear that the promises the school district has made aren't being kept. A lot of LGBTQ youth deal with a lot of harassment in schools and nothing is done about it. In one case I know about, a kid was experiencing physical violence from students and harassment from teachers -- and they're the ones who are supposed to help you.

C: What happens if a school doesn't follow the recommendations?

RP: Right now nothing.

C: So what is the Youth Leadership Project doing to get the school board to follow the resolution?

RM: We're going to be letting them know that there is a group of young people out there and we want to make sure they don't forget about us.

C: How are you doing it?

RM: First we gathered information about SFUSD's take on LGBTQ youth, the resolution, and their timeline. Then we did research to find out what parts of the resolution they were implementing and what they weren't. Next we defined our allies -- people who could support us like PFLAG and community-based organizations like LYRIC. Right now we're networking with GSA's in the city.

RP: We also want to talk to the school board. We will tell them what recommendations are not being followed, ask for an explanation about why they're lagging behind, and demand that they implement the resolution.

C: What else have you done to make the school board aware of the problem of violence in SF schools?

RM: Because of what happened to Matthew Shepard, our group decided to write a letter to the SFUSD school board members and Superintendent Rojas. We told them that what happened to Matthew Shepard could happen here in our city. Verbal and physical violence happens to LGBTQ youth everywhere. We urged them to take action.

C: Why did each of you want to become a youth activist?

RM: When I was in high school, I knew I was gay. But I didn't come out. I didn't want to deal with it. I became a youth activist because I remember what that was like and if I can help someone not have to go through what I did, that would be great.

RP: I've always been interested in any chance for activism. I feel strongly about this issue. Even though I haven't experienced a lot of harassment at my school (it's a small arts school), I know that so many others go through so much worse. No one should have to.

RM: This is an important issue that must be brought to the public's attention. The problem in SFUSD is just one. Other problems for LGBTQ youth are the fears of coming out, the high suicide rate, and drug use.

C: What is the hardest part about being a youth activist?

RP: People don't always take us seriously -- from friends to teachers at school to the people we're trying to call up and say "hey, this is going on." People aren't always willing to help us and, in fact, sometimes make it harder for us to make change. They don't want us to succeed.

C: Why do you think that is?

RP: They're afraid of change.

RM: It's a continual uphill battle.

C: What would your advice be to another young person who wants to fight homophobia in their school and may feel isolated?

RM: Get people to work with you. There's power in numbers.

RP: Have an organized, clear vision of what you want to do. And know that whatever you're going through, you're not the first. There is always someone out there who can relate. Do whatever you can to find people who can support you.

C: What keeps you going?

RM: Knowing that when we're done, we'll have accomplished something that means a lot to so many LGBTQ youth.

If you want to participate in LYRIC's Youth Leadership Institute, contact Zak at (415) 703-6150 x 21.

_____________________________________________

GSA Leadership Training

Wanna meet other youth fighting homophobia?

Wanna learn how to improve your GSA?

Wanna become a leader?

Come to a GSA Leadership training! The Bay Area GSA Network is sponsoring leadership trainings in two locations this spring:

East Bay:

February 21, 10-4 p.m. at 2350 Pacheco, Concord

Peninsula:

March 13, 10-4 p.m. at the Redwood City Youth Health Center,

609 Price Ave., rm 107, Redwood City

Call Carolyn at 415/643-4850 to register and if you need info on transportation.

_____________________________________________

DAY OF SILENCE 1999

LGBTQ people are silenced by the hate and intolerance they face in schools. How do we combat this silencing?

There are many high schools and colleges across the country (over 200 last year) organizing Day of Silence Projects on their campuses. The Day of Silence Project -- held this year on April 7, 1999 -- is a day when participants remain silent from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. to make people aware of the silence that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people face. Instead of speaking, participants -- LGBTQ and straight -- wear stickers and pass out cards reading:

"Please understand my reasons for not speaking today. I support lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender rights. People who are silent today believe that laws and attitudes should be inclusive of people of all sexual orientations. The Day of Silence exists to draw attention to those who have been silenced by hatred, oppression, and prejudice. Think about the voices you are not hearing. What can you do to end the silence?"

After the Day of Silence, many schools organize educational events -- ranging from panels on LGBTQ issues in schools to the opening of a resource corner in the library -- to focus on ending the silence.

This Project works in ways others might not because of the sheer visibility of the event. Participants will be passing out cards and stickers everywhere -- in science class, in lunch rooms, on the way to their lockers. Your whole school will know about the depth and breadth of people who support LGBTQ issues. The Day of Silence will open the gateways for more effective activism in the future. The Day of Silence will make some serious noise.

Tips for a GREAT project:

-- Inform all teachers and administrators of the event ahead of time so they are prepared. You can put brochures in teachers' boxes. List the event in your newspaper and daily bulletin.

-- Create a display case of information about how LGBTQ people are silenced and display it in a central location.

Youth Leadership Opportunity:

This year, 40 young activists (25 and under) will help take the lead at Youth Lobby Day on March 22, 1999. Youth Lobby Day Leaders will help teach and lead a small group of young people in lobby action plans and legislative visits and gain the experience of helping other young people learn about political activism. Youth Lobby Day Leaders will receive an intensive half-day course on facilitation, legislative advocacy, handling the media, and bill analysis on March 21 in Sacramento.

If you or someone you know is 25 or under and has experience or interest in the areas of community organizing, lobbying, and/or facilitating then you should consider applying to be a Youth Lobby Day Leader. To apply or for more information contact:

Justin G. Louie

Q Action

(415) 575-0150, ext. 255

(415) 575-0166 - fax

justin@qaction.org

Get Networked!

Thank you to the following schools for filling out the GSA Needs Assessment Survey sent out earlier this fall. These surveys help us know what you need from us. Then, we can send you the specific information you need to improve your GSA. We can also arrange to come out to your GSA meeting. By sending in your survey, you also become a member of the Bay Area GSA Network and will be listed in our directory (coming soon).

If you need another copy of the survey, contact Carolyn at cmlaub@aol.com or 415/643-4850.

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

Palo Alto High School Holds Homophobia Workshop For Teachers

by Brie Finegold and Chelsea Stayton, Palo Alto H.S.

We don't remember exactly when we decided to lead a workshop on homophobia for the teachers at our school. All we know is that somehow three of us from our GSA ended up in the principal's office, trying to convince her that yes, homophobia is a problem at our school, and that we need to do something about it.

Finally, after a lengthy speech, an interminable speech, a speech that seemed to last forever, a speech that will live in infamy (okay, you probably get the idea... she babbled for a long time about how supportive she was of our cause), she agreed to let us have time for two 90 minute workshops on a staff development day last February.

In the months before the workshop, Brie had been thinking of ideas for activities and compiling a handout instead of doing her homework, and by February, finally had everything together. Both of the workshops were standing-room-only, and the activities all ran smoothly.

After everyone introduced themselves, we passed around cards that said "homophobia is...." and asked the teachers to complete the sentence. When they had written their answers, we redistributed the cards and made other teachers read them aloud. The answers ranged from simple definitions ("Homophobia is the irrational hatred of gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgendered people") to value judgements ("Homophobia is stupid.").

We split the teachers up into three groups, and gave each group a situation to deal with. For instance, one group was asked how they would handle a group of students in their class who were harassing another student about his perceived sexual orientation. Another was asked how they would deal with a teacher who had found out that two of his female students were a couple and did everything he could do draw attention to that fact.

Each group presented their answers to everyone, then we opened it up to questions, and the teachers asked us for advice on how to deal with situations they had encountered. We ended the workshop by making all the teachers tell us what, specifically, they were gonna do to make our school more gay-friendly, and by passing out Brie's ten page handout.

We think it worked really well. After that, the head of the math department went out and bought sparkly rainbow stickers for the math classrooms, and all the administrators have stickers outside their offices. Our advice to you is to feel free to use our ideas or try out your own.

_____________________________________________

Youth Voices

This poem was compiled by 26 students at a GSA in Contra Costa County reflecting their thoughts on sexuality in high school. This poem has been read to numerous faculties and has been implemented into sensitivity trainings throughout California.

- Who can live without love?

- I love someone and I can't sleep at night because of it.

- Over months I have shed countless tears.

- My hope is to find somewhere I can be comfortable, not perfect, just supportive.

- As soon as someone says something about anything queer, 99% of high school kids freak, I thought knowledge was power, where is it?

- Why is it that I can be called a dyke in front of my class and all that is done by the teacher is she covers up her laugh with her hands?

- My sister is a lesbian, my support is with her, at least she has me.

- There is a fear of freedom.

- I have struggled down this path, but I have met myself -- though I have scars wrapped around my heart that continue to bleed.

- Hello, I am not a real valid person because I am bisexual. Everyone has the right to talk about me, "she's a lesbo," they laugh, "she's a fag," they whisper.

- Unconditional love becomes very conditional.

- I am confused (repeated 14 times). Thank God for this club (repeated 6 times).

- People knew me and thought I was nice, now I'm disgusting.

- You ignore my pain, everyone's disdain, does God love everyone?

- It makes me sick how people treat my gay friends, "His daddy touched him wrong," the jocks yell... I bet you they want him.

- Sexuality is not a characteristic that one should be judged by, but it is.

- Please don't freak, do something instead.

- Ouch, it hurts so much.

- As a straight effeminate man, people look at me so weird, I look gay. That's so funny, my girlfriend thinks it's cute.

- Who is the privileged one that can put a label on love?

- Approach others with a loving and open mind.

- I'm happy, swallow that.

- There is no comparison to losing your family, the church, your friends and your pride.

- There is just too much to say, too many youth who remain voiceless, too many youth who feel like.... well, like I do. I hope this generation will make a difference.

_____________________________________________

YOUTH LOBBY DAY 1999 IS HAPPENING!!

The presence of hundreds of LGBTQ youth in California's State Capitol can move mountains. Youth who have participated in Youth Lobby Days past have gone back to their home towns and begun organizing their peers. State officials have learned about LGBTQ youth lives, and some have become more supportive. With the political shifts in Sacramento, 1999 could be our breakthrough year -- but only if our legislators understand the urgency of these issues in the lives of youth in their district.

The event is timed to be a part of the national "Equality Begins at Home," a project sponsored by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. During the week of March 21-28, LGBTQ people will be holding events at State Capitols across the Country to promote LGBTQ issues.

In addition to receiving political training and rallying on the capitol's steps, youth will visit legislators and members of Governor Davis's staff to promote civil rights legislation for LGBTQ youth and to raise visibility of LGBTQ youth issues in Sacramento and throughout the state. Sheila Kuehl's bill, "Dignity for All Students," which adds sexual orientation to the education code as a protected category, will be one of the main focuses of the day.

To register for Youth Lobby Day or get more info about transportation from your area contact your regional coordinator:

East Bay:
Carla Goad
Center for Human Development
(925) 687-8844 x 228

Ken Levin
Rainbow Community Center
(925) 210-0563
EastBayYLD@hotmail.com

Peninsula & South Bay:
Name Suppressed
Outlet/YWCA of the Mid Peninsula
(650) 494-0972

North Bay:
Liz Kalmanson
Spectrum
(415) 457-1115 x 201
spectrumQY@aol.com

San Francisco:
Oren Slozberg
LYRIC
(415) 703-6150 x 15
orslozberg@lyric.com

_____________________________________________

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

WHAT?	WHEN?	WHERE?	FOR MORE INFO...
OHMY! Steering Committee	Sat, Feb. 6, 12 - 4 p.m.	LYRIC, 123 Collingwood, San Francisco	Call Oren @ 415/703-6150 x 15
WOAH Planning Meeting	Mon, Feb. 8, 5 p.m	TBA	Call Melanie @ 925/687-8844
GSA Leadership Training (lunch provided)	Sun, Feb. 21, 10-4 p.m.	2350 Pacheco, Concord,	Call Carolyn @ 415/643-4850
GSA Leadership Training (lunch provided)	Sat, Mar. 13, 10-4 p.m.	Redwood City Youth Health Center-- 609 Price Ave., rm 107	Call Carolyn @ 415/643-4850
Youth Lobby Day	Mon, Mar. 22 Sacramento, all day	See Article re: YLD
Day of Silence	at your school	See Article re: DOS
OHMY! (Overcoming Homophobia Meeting For Youth)	April 17th, all day	Urban School, 1536 Page St., San Francisco	Call Oren @ 415/703-6150 x 15
WOAH (Worskops Organized Against Homophobia)	Sat, May 8th, all day	Pinole Valley H.S., Pinole	Call Melanie @ 925/687-8844

_____________________________________________

THANK YOU TO OUR DONORS!!!

Thanks also to the following organizations for their in-kind contributions:

GLSEN - San Francisco/East Bay

In and Out Printing Services of San Leandro

LYRIC

Youth Leadership Institute

YWCA of the Mid-Peninsula

To make a donation, make a check out to

"The Tides Center/Bay Area GSA Network" and send to:

_____________________________________________

Thanks to all the folks who have volunteered their time and hard work towards making the Bay Area Gay-Straight Alliance Network a success. These volunteers have worked on everything from helping set up the organization to computer help to designing the GSA Needs Assessment Survey. Many of them have also provided invaluable moral support along the way. Thanks!!