Our Annual Queer Youth Activism Camp is here y'all! The Texas GSA Network is super excited to work with a number of powerful young LGBTQ and allied folks from around Texas. We're looking forward to engaging in transformational anti-oppression workshops and to developing a strong empowered and educated community. If you were not able to apply for camp this year, you are in luck because we are live streaming workshops via the internet! At our USTREAM LINK BELOW you will be able to access live footage of Camp spanning over all five days (July 26th to July 31st). 2012 is truly a great year for youth leadership so tune in, get comfy, and get ready for radical queerness! 
Detailed Live Stream Schedule Coming Soon.

Live Stream LINK: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/texas-gsa-network

If you have questions or concerns please email Gabi Padilla at gabriel@texasgsa.org

The Texas GSA Network mourns the tragic loss of Mollie Judith Olgin, and our thoughts are with her girlfriend Mary Kristene Chapa, who is recovering now in the hospital.  The young couple was shot on Saturday in Portland, TX near Corpus Christi.  Police have not yet said whether the attack was motivated by the couple's sexuality, but are saying that the attack does not appear random.

This is a moment for young LGBTQQ folks in Texas to come together in solidarity & community with the families and friends of Mollie & Kristene, to affirm our strength, and to remember that our lives are incredibly valuable and beautiful.  We must continue  in our schools and communities the fight to end violence on the basis of sexual orientation, gender expression, race, class, national origin, and ability.

Vigils are being held in Portland, Corpus Christi, Houston, Dallas, Austin, and San Antonio in memory of Mollie and in support of Mary Kristene.  A fundraising page has also been put up to raise money for Mary Kristene Chapa's hospital bills: http://www.gofundme.com/kristene

You can find more information about the attack here: http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/06/27/12439387-texas-rangers-investigate-shooting-of-teen-lesbian-couple

Apply to Queer Youth Activism Camp! Queer Youth Activism Camp will be held this summer, July 26th - 30th, in Kerrville, Texas.  Will you be there?  We've extended the application deadline to May 30th, so there is still time to apply!  Click here for more information and an application.

Students at Flour Bluff High School outside of Corpus Christi have been rallying this week for change at their school.  Last year, Flour Bluff students fought and won the right to form a GSA, despite opposition from their district.  This year, the administration has continued to create obstacles for the GSA, requiring members to have parents sign consent forms in order to participate in the club.

A tragedy occured last week that highlighted the need for safe spaces at Flour Bluff High School. This tragedy occured as a result of bullying, bullying which the administration at Flour Bluff ignored while continuing to perpetuate an unsupportive climate.

Flour Bluff students have identified these recent events as symptoms of larger problems, and have proposed a list of changes the administration can make to create an environment that is welcoming for all students.  The petition recognizes that increasing disciplinary measures and punishing student bullies doesn't fix the roots of the problem. So often school districts hide behind 'zero tolerance policies' and heightened disciplinary measures which negatively impact all students, rather than preventative measures that really have the power to shift climates.  Help students at Flour Bluff push for real, lasting change on their campus!

Support Flour Bluff Students, sign their petition!

Follow this link to read more, and to sign on:  http://www.change.org/petitions/flour-bluff-independent-school-district-change-flour-bluff

Your votes have been tallied and the results are in! Our statewide project will be a..... *drum roll*

Texas Queer Youth Zine

Now accepting your submissions for this statewide queer (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, allied, intersex, pansexual, label-less, etc.) youth zine.

Email zine@texasgsa.org.

For more information, go to www.texasqueeryouthzine.weebly.com the Texas Queer Youth Zine website!

Missing Camp? No worries! The Texas QSA Network staff will be reporting back on the activities through out the Queer Youth Activism Camp each day! That means every evening, between tonight (Saturday) and Monday, we will be posting blogs on the workshops lead by our fabulous trainers and experiences of our bad ass campers. Also, we will be live streaming workshops through out each day. To watch the live stream visit the following link: http://www.ustream.tv/user/txgsan/shows

*Photos and footage to be posted soon

*For more information on workshop material or if you have any additional queeries, email Gabi Padilla (Programs Director): gabriel@texasgsa.org

DAY 3 - Queer Youth Activism Camp

Today was a dynamic and exciting time to be a queer youth activist. Today our campers and facilitators spent time diving into topics such as class inequality, queer people of color, coalition building and more. Each workshop provided campers with the history, resources, and strategy building that will help equip their clubs and transform their schools (and world)!!! From Audre Lorde to club goals to the awful realities of capitalism, these incredible queer and allied youth engaged in critical thinking and identity theory dialogue in a (rather successful) effort to recognize the intersections of identities among queer folk and fight the multiple systems of power and oppression that face us all.

We were graced with the presence of the Transgender Education Network of Texas for our final workshop. Each session brought fruitful discussion and dialogue about intersections of oppression and how to organize our communities to challenge systemic injustice. Our evening was spent enjoying the talents of our campers and facilitators during fabulous queer talent show! Campers were treated with covers of Frank Sinatra, Cher, and Secondhand Serenade as well first class stand up comedy!

Tomorrow is our last day of camp and we will not be hosting live web streaming :(

Thanks for tuning in and please email us if you have questions on camp! Again, we're happy to share all of our resources and/or info about the amazing things Texas QSA Network is involving in this coming semester!

much love from san marcos (hi mom),

Texas GSA Network Staff and Campers

Missing Camp? No worries! The Texas QSA Network staff will be reporting back on the activities through out the Queer Youth Activism Camp each day! That means every evening, between tonight (Saturday) and Monday, we will be posting blogs on the workshops lead by our fabulous trainers and experiences of our bad ass campers. Also, we will be live streaming workshops through out each day. To watch the live stream visit the following link: http://www.ustream.tv/user/txgsan/shows

*Photos and footage to be posted soon

*For more information on workshop material or if you have any additional queeries, email Gabi Padilla (Programs Director): gabriel@texasgsa.or

DAY 2 - Queer Youth Activism Camp

Campers were BUSY today. First thing in the morning, we went over How to Have a Kick Ass GSA, and talked about conflict resolution and facilitation skills. Right after that, campers got a crash course in social justice activism through introduction to power & oppression, understanding white supremacy & racism, and discussion on beginning to transform themselves and communities. Campers had too many awesome conversations to recount here - it was inspiring!! Congratulations to all campers for participating in these intense and challenging workshops! Applause to yall for facilitating wonderful dialogue and building the stepping stones toward (queer and allied) liberation!

After the long day of workshops, campers let loose with a dance workshop, dance party & game night. Thanks to Griffin Yu for helping us out with sound. It was a lot of fun practicing how to dougie, whipping our hair, and doing the cupid shuffle for social justice....well, not specificially for social justice...mostly to have fun.

TOMORROW is a day dedicated to home-viewing-campers. We'll be live web streaming 3 workshops - Intro to Organizing, Queer People of Color History, and Ally 101.

Tune in for times - http://www.ustream.tv/user/txgsan

SEE YOU TOMORROW!!!!! 

much love from san marcos (hi mom),

Texas GSA Network Staff