On April 20, student activists descended upon Sacramento to voice the concerns of LGBT teens at Queer Youth Advocacy Day, an annual event organized by Gay-Straight Alliance Network, Equality California, Bienestar, the Transgender Law Center, the Trevor Project, and the California chapter of the National Association of Social Workers. Some 65 students arrived three days early to attend leadership trainings. Two student leaders shared their stories with the Bay Area Reporter.
JT Mendoza, 17, Simi Valley:
Harvey Milk once said, "It takes no compromising to give people their rights. It takes no money to respect an individual. It takes no survey to remove repression."
Upon arriving in Sacramento for Queer Youth Advocacy Day, I didn't know I would accomplish as much as I did. I gained a new perspective on what it means to be an activist. Being an activist in the dictionary means "to support or denounce a cause"; I can personally vouch that it means more than that. Being an activist is about the journey and self-discovery.
Queer Youth Advocacy Day gave me the opportunity to meet the most driven LGBT youth. Their stories gave me new perspectives on the value of human life, as well as new thought-provoking ideas. Every single one of these stories made me want to fight harder for the two bills we were there to support, the Mental Health Services for At-Risk Youth bill (SB 543) and the Harvey Milk Day bill (SB 572).
The mental health bill offers teens access to therapy without parental consent and the Harvey Milk Day bill proposes that the slain civil rights leader and former San Francisco supervisor be honored through a special day of recognition. These two bills prove to be very beneficial to not only the LGBT community, but to all California citizens. The mental health bill could save the lives of youth who are suicidal and increase access to professional support for all at-risk teens. Harvey Milk Day would be a (non-paid) holiday to celebrate diversity and honor the contributions of LGBT Californians to our state's history.
The journey to Sacramento was a learning experience that helped define what I want to do in life. I found my passion and my niche in activism. Even though activism is about passion and understanding, it's also about the journey and the people who you meet along the way. One of the most inspiring people I met was Trenton.
Trenton Rodriguez, 17, Murrieta:
Descending the escalator, I found myself caught in the wonderment of actually being in Sacramento. Every expectation I had and more was already fulfilled. It was as if each individual I met along the way to the shuttle already knew who I was, and immediately, I felt accepted. Arriving at the hostel to meet the other youth, an immense weight of oppression lifted, simply because of the relaxed and open atmosphere that sheltered all within. That atmosphere, that feeling of complete peace, was my reason, my own personal drive, for traveling 500 miles. Inside the hostel, I met the future leaders of the movement. I met student activists of every race from gay-straight alliance clubs across California. We came together so that we could dedicate ourselves to creating, and one day, securing an atmosphere where all are welcomed unconditionally.
As the weekend progressed I learned how to tell my story to lawmakers, and I gained valuable knowledge about the legislative system. Promoting the Mental Health Services for At-Risk Youth bill was not only personally enriching, but it gave me hope. Today, there are so many youth that verge on suicide and have no one to confide in.
If the bill passes, transgender youth like me would not have to feel so alone.
Due to this weekend full of workshops, a newfound confidence has been instilled within me. After watching the passion and determination of other youth, no longer shall my voice stay on low; as of Monday April 20, 2009, the volume is now set to max.
If spending the weekend with 65-plus other youth has taught me anything, it's this: Every student has the right to a safe and caring environment, and while this is not yet the case, there will always be people who are wholly and selflessly raising their voices and fists for those who cannot. Together, all my peers stood, and we did as Julius Caesar once said, "Venimus, Vidimus, Vicimus." We came, we saw, we conquered. The war is still raging, but we will never give up or give in to the intolerance.
JT Mendoza and Trenton Rodriguez are student leaders with Gay-Straight Alliance Network. You can learn more about them at www.gsanetwork.org.