Megan Hodge, Texas GSA Network Intern: My name is Megan and I am a punk rock/dorky/queer/lovable/[insert stereotypical label here if you wish] kind of gal. I love my Nikon, my Doberman Simon, my music, quotes, people (alive and famous dead ones), and a quiet nook with a good book (preferably by David Sedaris). My mom calls me “audacious” and my friends just say that I’m “indie”. Who knows who I really am, though what I do know is that I hate onions, love activism, and am of two minds with this war. I joined the Texas GSA Network in 2006 when we were just a simple website design, and have enjoyed every moment since then. I am now a senior where I am managing my last year as co-facilitator of the Anderson High School GSA. Life will be very different once out of school but I know that by continuing my work with the Texas GSA Network I will be able to influence and help other GSAs around the state. If I had to choose one quote to leave you with it would be one of an anonymous author, "Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways - Chardonnay in one hand - chocolate in the other - body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming, 'WOO HOO, What a Ride!"

Ginger Yachinich, Texas GSA Network Intern: I’m a high school student born and raised in San Antonio Texas. When I’m not working on projects for the Texas GSA network, I can be found in the theatre or the art studio. My hobbies include writing, painting, acting, make-up design, reading, cooking, and swimming. I came across the Texas Gay Straight Alliance Network in the summer of 2008 and have been on board ever since. I believe love is not limited by gender, biology, or our “sexualities”. Love and passion are fluid and can flow anywhere and everywhere as long as you’re open to them. My future will hopefully take me to college in California after I graduate high school, where I hope to major in Creative Writing and Theatre. My true loves are my many cats, the arts, music and my twin sister Kat who has always been my biggest and bestest supporter and ally.

Melissa Demand, Texas GSA Network Intern: I have been with the Texas GSA Network since March of 2008. I have my Master of Science in Social Work from the University of Texas. I currently work for the Care Communities as a Care Team Associate. I am interested in fighting the injustices for the homeless, LGBT youth, and women!  In my spare time, I hang out with my dog, Pee Wee, who is in the picture. I also love to read (especially Twilight) when I am not in school. I also enjoy sewing and listen to live music here in Austin!

Andi Gentile, Texas GSA Network Intern: A brand new New York City-to-Austin convert, Andi couldn't be happier with her decision to put on her cowboy boots and leave the big city for the better one. Andi graduated from Wesleyan University with a BA in Feminist, Gender & Sexuality Studies and Psychology. During her high school years, she was an activist and leader in her school's GSA. Since, Andi's focused her academic pursuits on feminist and queer theory, and has striven to find innovative ways to put theory into action. Andi has continued to be drawn to LGBTQ activism, and particularly youth organizing and activism. Outside of working with the Network, she fancies herself a cook, writer, globetrotter, and poker hustler, but she's always looking for new things to add to the list. 

Jesus Motelongo, Texas GSA Network Intern: Jesus Motelongo is a Freshman at the University Of Texas at Austin where he is pursuing a degree in social work and documentary photography. His ambitions include working in a non-profit organization, offering support and guidance to youth troubled by life's obstacle and traveling the world offering his aid in underdeveloped nations, while capturing his experience through his photography and bringing it back to society's attention.

Lena Melinger, Texas GSA Network Intern: I'm currently sixteen, and el presidente of the Gay-Straight Alliance at my school. I've been working on LGBTQXYZ and other causes for as long as I can remember, and I'm going to continue for the rest of my life.In additon to raising awareness, working for social change and fighting for equality for everyone, I enjoy knitting, eating pasta, colorguard, reading webcomics, Dr. Pepper and sunbathing at Barton Springs.

Caroline Duble, Texas GSA Network Regional Intern: Caroline Duble is a high school senior at St. Agnes Academy. Her father came out to her when she was in the 7th grade and ince then, she has become as active as possible in the fight to heal prejudices of all kinds. She works for The Center for Healing Racism and the Texas Gay-Straight Alliance and volunteers for Impact Houston. At school, Caroline serves as president of the St. Agnes Diversity Club and Students Against Modern Slavery and participates in days of service. She has been awarded the Frederick Douglass and Susan B. Anthony Award by the University of Rochester for addressing the social issues of our time. She loves all colors of the sunrise and describes her clothing style as "constantly covered in cardigans." She aspires to one day own her own nonprofit organization, and to change the world one conversation at a time.

Gabriel Padilla, Texas GSA Network Intern: Juan Gabriel Padilla is active in queer youth leadership and advocacy in Austin, Texas. He is an intern with the Texas Gay/Straight Alliance (GSA) and a member of the Youth Advisory Council for Out Youth, an organization providing a safe place for queer youth. Gabriel is also a member of his high school's GSA, Spectrum. Most recently, he participated in a summer queer youth media project , which involved the production of a film featured at the 2009 Austin Gay and Lesbian International Film Festival. Gabriel has worked with a number of activist organizations on various community issues related to education and environmental and economic justice, including PODER's (People Organized in Defense of Earth and Her Resources) Youth Scholars for Justice and Austin Voices for Education and Youth.

Alex Barksdale, Texas GSA Network Regional Intern: I am an Austin native (or at least I consider myself to be) who is currently a junior at Rice University in Houston studying anthropology and the study of women, gender and sexuality. I have an interest in feminist and queer scholarship and how it does and can inform activism. I am also interested in the intersections of identities and systems of oppression (race, class, gender, sexuality, colonialism, capitalism, etc.). When I'm not doing work for classes I can be found mostly at my computer finding good timewasters as well as good music. I am a vegetarian and love learning to cook new dishes. I also love spoken word performances and all different forms of art in general and exploring the art/music scene in Houston and Austin. I hope to find a way in which activism can become a large part of my life and also how to make my scholarship a useful tool in that pursuit.

Kristen Van De Walle, Texas GSA Network Regional Intern: Kristen Van De Walle is a freshman at the University of North Texas where she is studying social work and education.  In high school, Kristen started a Gay-Straight Alliance club and ran track for three years.  She attended the first annual Youth Activism Camp in the summer of 2008, and helped lead the 2nd annual camp before becoming a regional intern for the Dallas area.  She hopes to continue her studies and find a career path in which she can further her activism when she finishes college.  Kristen's favorite thing to do is Karaoke Friday at the only gay bar in Denton and she is an LGBTQ activist because it sometimes gives her a glimpse of how much potential the world has.

Heather Lenox, Texas GSA Network Director: Heather brings over ten years of experience working with youth and helping young people to envision and build their ideal futures. Having adapted to working in many parts of the country, both urban and rural, Heather looks forward to learning what it means to live and work in Texas. In addition to her background in LGBTQ organizing, Heather is a certificated public school teacher with degrees in education and performing arts. She welcomes advice on hats for the newly arrived Texan, as well as requests for quick tap dance lessons at the office.

Special thanks to our interns who have moved on in the last year:

Justin Jacobson, Texas GSA Network Intern: Justin is a 17 year old Austin native through in through. He is currently completing his junior year of high school at Leander High as an International Baccalaureate student. Activism, however, is not new to his life. He has always striven to correct the injustices around him, mainly through addressing educational problems in his own school district of Leander. Most recently he participated in a focus group to improve the quality to advanced programming at his school. Justin has big dreams for future, hoping to enroll at the University of Texas at Austin. There he hopes to major in Economics, French, and Art History. Beyond that he wishes to take part in state and national politics, once again effecting and changing the lives of millions.

Justin will graduate this year and begin to put those big dreams into action.  We will miss Justin very much and hope to network with him in the future!

Armando Sanchez, Texas GSA Network Intern: I am an intern at Out Youth and working with Texas GSA Network. I am a first year graduate student at The School of Social Work at The University of Texas at Austin. I am currently on the exec board for Queer People of Color and Allies (QPOCA) and the treasurer for Delta Lambda Phi, the only gay/bi/progressive men's fraternity at UT. On my now limited spare time I love to play volleyball, read romance novels about vampires and werewolves, watching films and documentaries, and learning more about queer culture as well as race and race relations.

In May, the Texas GSA Network is saying goodbye to Armando.  In his tenure with us, Armando contributed significantly to the direction and vision of the program in addition to helping us develop practical outreach tools and strategies.  We will miss you, Armando!