The Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network’s (GLSEN) San Diego County Chapter will be holding its second annual Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) Awards Night May 31, from 6-9 p.m., at The San Diego LGBT Community Center.
“The GSA Awards Night is a night to recognize GSAs for their work in their schools and gives them a chance to network with other GSAs,” said Arianna Segla, who is the student coordinator of the chapter’s Jump-Start program, a training program for GSA leaders. Segla is also helping organize the event.
Last year about a 100 students and advisors attended the event, said David Lyons, who is the chapter’s Jump-Start adult coordinator. This year, Lyons expects an even larger turn out.
William Kowba, superintendent of the San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD); Kevin Beiser, vice president of the SDUSD board; and Kristy Salazar, host from Out of the Closet, an online radio show, will be speaking at the event.
“I am thrilled that we have so many youth making a difference through their involvement in GSAs in our public schools,” Beiser said.
Local students will be providing entertainment to the ceremony’s attendees.
“One of the high school youth will be performing on the piano and singing and another student will be performing a musical piece,” said Lyons, adding that another host from Out of the Closet Radio will round out the entertainment with a Tahitian fire dance. LEDs will be used instead of fire.
“We’d prefer not to burn down The Center,” Lyons said.
Unlike other award ceremonies, the GSA Awards Night will not be recognizing specific GSAs or individuals; rather each GSA will be acknowledged equally.
“We are recognizing all GSAs for doing their part to provide a safe and supportive environment for LGBT students and their allies,” Lyons said. “All GSAs will be awarded.”
Each GSA that is represented (with three to five of its members) at the awards ceremony will receive a $150 donation from GLSEN. If their advisor attends, they will receive a $50 credit to the GLSEN Web site store where they can purchase T-shirts, buttons and books.
Many GSA attendees attend the event for the money said Segla.
“It’s an easy way to bring money into your GSA and be able to do things in your school,” Segla said. “You want to make T-shirts, you want to make posters and you want to buy Day of Silence gear.”
The GLSEN chapter started the event last year to recognize the Southern half of San Diego County’s GSAs. The North County LGBT Coalition has been hosting a similar GSA awards ceremony for North County GSAs for a number of years.
“The Coalition used the event to recognize GSAs, help them to network with other GSAs and encourage them to continue their hard work in making their schools safe for all students,” said GLSEN San Diego County Chapter Co-Chair Chet Sewell. “With the coalition’s permission, we began a similar event.”
PFLAG, LGBT Pride, Hillcrest Youth Center, SDG&E, Trevor Project, Out of the Closet, The Trend and Cash Closet are sponsoring the event, including several that will be offering a resource table.
Ceremony attendance is limited to GSA club members and their advisors.
For more information or to register, visit http://bit.ly/14zgYa0
