Safe Schools Project

Resources for Queer Youth and Educators in Santa Cruz County

2020 Summer Youth COVID Resources

Photo Courtesy of the Santa Cruz MAH. 1918 Santa Cruz Influenza Epidemic.

What to know about COVID19

Where are Santa Cruz LGBTQ youth hanging out?

People to Check out on Social Media

@nicolemaines, @pinkmantaray,  @jvn (Jonathan Van Ness), @pattiegonia

What if I’m feeling depressed or anxious or overwhelmed?

What can I stream or watch or read?

What to watch:

Santa Cruz County:

Outside of Santa Cruz County:

  • Don’t Erase My History (2015): A group of Bay Area youth takes us on a quest for the very history that has “no name” in their schools. 
  • In my Shoes (2005): In a time when LGBT families are debated and attacked in the media, courts and Congress, from school houses to state houses across the country, five young people who are children of LGBT parents give you a chance to walk in their shoes. 

Gender Matters Collection

  • Eddie (2007): “Eddie” tells the story of a young Latina girl who is forced to deal with her sexuality as a result of an embarrassing mishap during a summer afternoon kickball game. 
  • Just Call Me Kade (2012):  Kade Farlow Collins is a sixteen year old FTM (female to male transgender person) residing in Tucson, Arizona. Kade’s parents maintain a supportive and nurturing relationship to Kade regarding the many challenges facing their teenage child. However, it hasn’t always been easy. 
  • The Bond (2007): “How could you raise a transsexual child and not know it?” In this honest and compassionate documentary, the father of a transsexual child shares his family’s story – what it was like when his child came out. U
  • Two Spirit People (1991):  An overview of historical and contemporary Native American concepts of gender, sexuality and sexual orientation. 
  • Now We Can Dance (2011): The Story of the Hayward Gay Prom
    The gay prom is the brainchild of the Lambda Youth Project, an LGBT (Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender) support group. Yearly, hundreds of youth from the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond, come to the prom. 

What to read:

Children’s Books

Tween’s and Teen’s Books

Podcasts:

  • Trans Youth Podcast Library –  each one has a transcript version as well. ourtranstruth.org/truthpodcastlibrary
  • QT: Queer Teen Podcast – The reason I started Queer Teen Podcast was to give our Queer Youth a voice and to speak on behalf of the LGBTQ+ community.  queerteenpodcast.podbean.com
  • Making Gay History – Bringing the voices of queer history to life through intimate conversations with LGBTQ champions, heroes, and witnesses to history. Makinggayhistory.com
  • Story Corps – LGBTQ Stories

Want to learn some LGBTQ History?

Many of the above resources in a pdf – on the Queer Youth Task Force website.

These resources organized for you by the Santa Cruz Safe Schools Project, Queer Youth Task Force, and The Diversity Center Youth Programs.
Updated: June 23, 2020.