iWomhof 19. 2003 ■
nTiTîTTTÏÏTnTïnewsbrie/s
L ake O swego S chools
R ewrite R ules for GSA
shops can cover any youth-empowering topic:
lobbying, networking, juggling, zine making, start
ing and running a Gay Straight Alliance, how to
participate in the Day of Silence and Night of
Noise, activism through art, having queer parents,
surviving as a queer youth in a rural area.
The proposal deadline is Jan. 9. BRO ’s youth
planning team will review all submissions and
notify those selected by Jan. 20.
Conference organizers will assist kids in
arranging carpools from their homes to Catlin
Gable. They also will help youth who are com
ing from out of town find somewhere safe to
sleep Friday and Saturday nights.
L
ake Oswego School Board members decided
Dec. 8 to revise administrative guidelines
that recently prohibited the formation of a
queer-friendly club for kids.
W hen students at Lake Oswego High last
year tried to form a Tolerance Club similar to a
Gay Straight Alliance, principal Bruce Plato
rejected the request because district guidelines
mandated that all clubs be associated with
school curriculum, such as the French Club or
the Math Club. The new policy, which now is
consistent with the city’s other high school,
allows any kind of club provided that it follows
district guidelines, has a faculty adviser and
receives approval from student body officers.
According to The Lake Oswego Review, an -
unusually large number of adults and students
attended the board meeting to show support of
the administrations decision, calling it a step
forward for tolerance and inclusion. But several
parents and former students disagreed.
“1 don’t think a club for gay and lesbian youth
will change very many attitudes,” Scott Steven
son said. “I feel very strongly that moral issues
and social issues should be erected by families.”
Superintendent Bill Korach, however, noted
that the board’s action wasn’t specific to estab
lishing a Gay Straight Alliance, but rather a pol
icy change that would allow clubs of all sorts
that were previously barred. “W e’re being more
inclusive about student interests," he said.
School board chairwoman Linda Brown
added that the board simply modified the man
ner in which a club is established. “W e’re not
approving a Gay Straight Alliance. If that’s
what kids want, they can form one,” she said.
Queer youth (seen here at the Night of Noise rally April 9 in Pioneer Courthouse Square) will
come together next month for a conference in Southwest Portland
Q ueer Y outh C onfab
P lanned
B
asic Rights Oregon will bring together more
than 100 sexual minority kids and their
allies next month for the Oregon Queer Youth
Conference.
The gathering will be held from 9:30 a.m. to
6:30 p.m. Jan. 31 at Catlin Gabel School,
8825 S.W. Barnes Road, with registration begin
ning at 9. Lunch will be provided, and a fun
evening event is being planned.
The conference will focus on high school stu
dents younger than 18, with some workshops rel
evant to older youth and college students. Adult
allies are welcome to attend and give their sup
port through volunteering, leading workshops
and learning to work better with youth.
Conference organizers say activists will get
together with queer kids and allies from
throughout Oregon to talk about what they are
doing, what they want to do and how they can
get there. The ultimate goal is to make schools
safer and communities more accepting by
encouraging youth to support each other.
BRO is accepting proposals from people who
want to moderate a discussion, give a presenta
tion, perform a skit or lead an art session. Work-
For more mforrmatum contact Melissa Shepherd at
503-222-6/51 ormelisscieibasicrigjhts.org. To
download registratum and workshop leader proposal
form s, visit www.basicnghts.org. Send tax-deductible
amtributions to Basic Rights Education Fund,
P.O. Box 40625, Portland, OR 97240. Donors
should designate on the check that it is for the
conference.
A vailable
Q ueer S tudents
$ 1 5 0 ,0 0 0
for
pplications are now available for two
scholarships that are open to residents of
Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana and
Alaska who demonstrate a commitment to
human and civil rights for all people.
The programs, which are financed by the
Greater Seattle Business Association and the
Pride Foundation, fix:us on building leadership
and promoting diversity in the Pacific Northwest
A
Continued on Page 9
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