INVISIBLE MINORITY WORKSHOPS

Since 1996 GLSEN SF-EB, supported by grants from The United Way of Alameda County, The Horizons Foundation and most recently, The United Way of the Bay Area has conducted over 300 workshops for teachers, administrators and support staff in public and private schools throughout the area. Additional presentations have been made to church and community groups, agencies and professional organizations at local and state conferences.

The workshops stress developing strategies for making schools safe places for sexual minority youth, articulating issues of concern to gay and lesbian parents and their children, and identifying areas where equal access to educational opportunities is denied to students who are perceived as not fitting the commonly accepted gender stereotypes. The workshops all stress the damaging effects on straight students when verbal and physical abuse of lgbtq students is ignored. Advanced workshops for educators interested in implementing inclusive curriculum on lgbtq issues from kindergarten through college are also available.

The workshops are tailored for the audience being served. Post workshop evaluations consistently exceed 95% favorable responses.

SCHOLARSHIP PROJECT

During the past ten years, GLSEN SF-EB in co-operation with PG's LGBT Employee Organization, as well as Kaiser Pride has sponsored a scholarship project that recognizes high school seniors continuing their education. Now in its eleventh year, the project, awarding scholarships for both academic excellence and volunteer activities, has been expanded to all of Northern California. Most competitors for the scholarships have been involved at their high schools and in their communities in activities designed to promote greater understanding of the lgbtq community.

The program which began in 1990 when a single student was awarded a $500 scholarship by a handful of teachers at a small restaurant expanded in 1999 to include nine student scholarships of $1250 awarded at a dinner attended by over 200 at a major San Francisco restaurant. Most scholarship recipients are accompanied by their parents and introduced by their teachers. One scholarship awarded each year is the coveted Bobby Griffith Memorial Scholarship honoring the memory of a young, gay Walnut Creek man who took his life.

In addition, GLSEN SF-EB sponsors an annual essay contest on lgbtq issues open to any high school student in the area. This contest awards prizes up to a total of $600 to the top three students selected.

GSA SUPPORT SERVICES

In collaboration with GLSEN National Student Pride and the Bay Area GSA Network, GLSEN SF-EB is currently focusing on providing support to Gay/Straight Alliances, clubs that focus on addressing homophobia on high school campuses. GLSEN SF-EB is available to meet with GSA leaders at their school sites and seeks to provide support and information both to existing GSAªs and to those in the formative stages.

A very recent project is being developed in collaboration with The PRIDE Collaborative. GSA and corporate lgbtq groups who wish to participate will be matched and begin partnership relationships that will strengthen existing GSA's and support GSA's that are currently forming.

GLSEN SF-EB promotes local annual conferences (WOAH and OHMY) which offer valuable informational and social opportunities for youth. We are also available for consultation support and are interested in a team approach with GSA members to provide sensitivity training for educators. Spread throughout the Bay Area and across the country, GLSEN members can be wonderful support allies for your GSA.

© 2000 GLSEN SFEB