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Queer Youth, Allies to Be Honored as Role Models
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Queer Youth, Allies to Be Honored as Role Models
By Linda Fridy
Queer youth leaders and their supporters will be celebrated May 19, and several Mid-County students and organizations are among the nominees at the 10th annual event.
While some of the nominees have been active in furthering gay rights, others are simply traditional role models, well-respected by their communities, who happen to be openly comfortable with their sexuality.
“We’re bringing visibility to these stories of young people who are respected and loved by their families and their communities,” said task force chair Stuart Rosenstein. “They show that coming out is not going to prevent success.”
Harbor High senior Ronnie Childers, a nominee for the queer youth leadership award, would have been a likely choice for his work as president of Harbor’s student body and dance instruction at local schools. Then he became a national cause celebre when the Red Cross refused to allow him to donate blood simply because he is gay.
“I’ve always been the one to stand up,” he said matter-of-factly. “My mom has always been the one to say going for it is the way to be.”
Other Mid-County youth nominees are Michael Hogan of Aptos High and Mike Rempillo, a former Renaissance student who now attends Cabrillo College. Temple Beth-El is nominated in the organizational ally category, and Susy Zepeda, a Live Oak resident and board member of Triangle Speakers, got a nod as a queer youth ally.
While nominee Childers is heading to Arizona State as a dance and theater production major, others are continuing their work here in Mid-County. When contacted to discuss his nomination, Mike Rempillo was meeting with Assemblyman John Laird.
Harbor High to Host Event
Harbor High is hosting and co-sponsoring the event, and Rosenstein said the campus is a perfect choice for the 10th anniversary celebration be-cause of its active efforts at building tolerance.
“Some school districts in the Mid-County area are hesitant to visibly work to make their schools safer for gay youth and actively address anti-gay bullying on their campuses,” he noted. “We still have a lot of work to do in this community to make queer youth feel safe in middle school.”
That said, Rosenstein happily noted that last year a Shoreline Middle School student was nominated and won for the first time, and other winners have been straight. In the 10 years the task force has held awards, the student nominees have shifted from college age to younger kids, he added.
“What I’ve noticed in Santa Cruz County is that many organizations from non-profit and religious institutions to law enforcement, parent groups and schools are working very hard to ensure that youth feel safe,” he said.
Childers has his own theory about building tolerance.
“The way to make an open campus is to be friendly, whether you’re gay or straight or a different race,” he said.
The Queer Youth Awards will be held at Harbor May 19, with a buffet at 6 p.m., awards at 8 p.m. and a community dance following. Call 831-427-4004 for tickets or information.
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