Quote of the Day: Eliza Byard

"The single most important line of defense for young people in crisis is a network of visibly supportive adults, in their own community, in school, at home." - Eliza Byard, executive director of GLSEN, as quoted by The Associated Press

Vote GLSEN, Matthew Shepard Foundation, and The Trevor Project for Chase Community Giving $1 million dollar award

GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network), the Matthew Shepard Foundation and The Trevor Project – three organizations that work to improve the lives of LGBT youth – are among 100 finalists in Chase Community Giving, a campaign by Chase and Facebook to award $5 million to charities voted on by Facebook users.

In order to ensure that the organizations' lifesaving work receives as much support as possible, the only three LGBT-focused organizations among the 100 finalists are pleased to announce that they will pool resources and offer each other support in hopes that all three will be among the final six vote-getters. The top vote-getter receives $1 million. Five runners-up receive $100,000 each.

Voting runs until Jan. 22 and each Facebook user is eligible to vote for up to five charities.

Stars come out to GLSN's pre-Respect Awards party

Last Friday, GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network) held their pre-awards event at the luxury apartment complex, blu in Beverly Hills. The event was sponsored by blu and was a precursor to GLSEN’s fifth annual “Respect Awards”. GLSEN members, Respect Award honorees and guests were treated to specialty cocktails provided by Crater Lake Vodka. Some of the celebrities in attendance included Ginnifer Goodwin of HBO’s hit show Big Love, Sara Ramirez & Shonda Rhimes of Grey’s Anatomy and Wilson Cruz.

GLSEN’s Respect Awards, held annually in Los Angeles and New York, recognize individual and corporate leaders who have helped propel GLSEN’s efforts to ensure safe schools for all of America’s students, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression. This year GLSEN will honor HBO, Shonda Rhimes, David Bohnett and the Student Advocate of the Year at the Respect Awards on October 9th in Los Angeles.

Join the Gay and Lesbian Sierrans

Are you a Sierra Club and a GLS member yet? If not, consider becoming both a Sierra Club member and a member of GLS. Your Sierra Club membership support allows the Club to continue its important work in battling the barrage of threats to the environment that have been coming from Washington. By becoming a GLS member, you will allow our group to fund its conservation work projects (such as Capitol Peak). Once you become both a Sierra Club and GLS member, you will be able to vote on GLS' leadership.

To become a Sierra Club member, please go to the Sierra Club web site http://www.sierraclub.org/ and select the "Join" button on the right.

The GLS is a special interest section with in the Sierra Club and you can get more information about us, including the event list and pictures, at http://www.rmc.sierraclub.org/gls/

To sign up for GLS, please print and mail in this form with your check: http://www.rmc.sierraclub.org/gls/supportform/GLS-MembershipForm.pdf

Have you heard about GLSEN?

GLSEN Colorado's mission is to strive to assure that each member of every school community is valued and respected regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression. GLSEN focuses on three main areas: in-school programming, advocacy, and community organizing. What GLSEN does to maintain this focus includes a variety of activities. One program is their Speakers Bureau. GLSEN also holds monthly meetings to actively work on their various programs. They also maintain a list serve to keep members informed and keep statistical information about the GLSEN Colorado website,
here.