*info courtesy of GSA network.

What was GSA Advocacy & Youth Leadership Academy?

GAYLA was a four-day intensive training in the legislative process, policy advocacy, media activism, & other important skills. GAYLA took place in Sacramento from May 2nd-May 5th, 2008.


What was Queer Youth Advocacy Day?

Queer Youth Advocacy Day was a youth-led day of lobbying, advocacy training, and educational workshops that took place at the Capitol in Sacramento on May 5, 2008. It was a super opportunity for hundreds of CA youth activists just like you to unite and educate lawmakers on the needs of LGBTQ youth and what is needed to end harassment and discrimination in school. This event is co-sponsored by GSA Network, BIENESTAR, and Equality California Institute.


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 had a different focus and was smaller this year, because there was not any LGBTQ safe schools legislation introduced in this year’s legislative session. Additionally, GSA Network combined GAYLA and QYAD for an intense training session that made each youth a solid leader in advocacy within four days! In order to be a part of GAYLA or QYAD this year, youth had to apply and be accepted. We accepted up to 60 youth leaders for this training. Since the focus is on intensive training with a small core group of youth leaders, we did not have a rally this year. However, GSA Network guaranteed it would still be a fun AND educational time!

The focus for GAYLA and QYAD 2008 was to advocate for the full implementation of gender identity non-discrimination policies in the California school system. If you had experienced discrimination based on gender identity or expression and wanted to do something positive to make schools safer, you should have apply for GAYLA! If you were an ally to transgender and gender non-conforming youth and wanted to help make schools safer, you should have apply for GAYLA!

We needed 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 wasn’t legislation to rally around like last year, this was still an important part of advocacy and GAYLA leaders will be at the forefront of a campaign that runs through 2008.

GAYLA leaders took 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


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