Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 13, 2007

CONTACTS:

Ali Bay, Communications Manager, Equality California
PHONE: (916) 284-9187 EMAIL: ali@eqca.org

Coral Lopez, Communications Manager, BIENESTAR
PHONE: (323) 387-1533 EMAIL: clopez@bienestar.org

Carolyn Laub, Executive Director, GSA Network
PHONE: (415) 235-4556 EMAIL: carolyn@gsanetwork.org

Youth to Rally at Capitol, Advocate For Safe Schools

Sacramento - Youth from across California will encourage lawmakers to provide safe schools for all students as they gather at the Capitol for Queer Youth Advocacy Day later this month. More than 400 lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) and ally youth advocates will spend the day in Sacramento participating in leadership training activities before they rally at the state Capitol and meet with legislators.

QYAD is a youth-led event designed to educate and empower young leaders who are concerned about harassment and discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation in their local schools and communities. In a rally on the Capitol lawn at noon, the youth will speak out about their daily experiences and raise their voices to end bias against young LGBT people.

In addition to asking legislators to vote for various bills that support LGBT youth, advocates will network with peers and supporters to help build on the statewide movement pushing for safe schools for every California student.

What:
Queer Youth Advocacy Day 2007
"Safe Schools for All"

When:
Monday, March 26
9:30 a.m. Welcome
12 noon Rally at Capitol
1 p.m. Youth meet with lawmakers
3:30 p.m. Closing ceremonies

Youth leadership training activities also take place at the Capitol on Sunday, March 25.

Where:
Crest Theatre and State Capitol
Sacramento

The event is sponsored by the Gay-Straight Alliance Network, Equality California (EQCA) and BIENESTAR. For more information, contact GSA Network at 415.552.4229 or advocacy@gsanetwork.org. To register, visit www.eqca.org/qyad/2007.

Equality California is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, grassroots-based, statewide advocacy organization whose mission is to achieve equality and civil rights of all lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Californians. Please visit our website at www.eqca.org.
GSA Network is a nonprofit organization, governed by youth and adults, that empowers youth activists to fight homophobia and transphobia in schools through Gay-Straight Alliance clubs. www.gsanetwork.org

BIENESTAR is committed to enhancing the health and well-being of the Latino community and other underserved communities. BIENESTAR accomplishes this through community education, prevention, mobilization, advocacy and the provision of direct social services. www.bienestar.org.

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