GLBT Youth Awardees
Mireya Gomez
Watsonville High School Student
A very kind, approcachable, open-minded latina lesbian tenn who many gay youth at Watsonville High felt comfortable coming out to. She has worked on many community projects including Gang Alternatives North and South (GANAS) AIDS?HIV Peer Counseling and the Teen Women’s Conference to name a few.
Monica Morales
University of California, Santa Cruz Student
Monica is a powerful and outspoken latina, lesbian role model who has earned the respect of many diverse parts of her community. monic has volunteered for the Brown Berets, Gan Prevention activities, teen women’s Conference, and Gay and lesbian Task orce to name a few. Monica helped start Watsonville High School’s first gay and lesbian support group. Currently at UCSC, She is working on getting a support group for Lesbians of color going.
Zephyr Pfotenhauer
Santa Cruz High School Student
Zephyr is a natural leader who youth turn to in times of need. She co-founded the Rainbow Alliance at Santa Cruz High and is active in a wide variety of community and college project including Q&A Project, Young Loud and Proud and Youth Lobby Day.
Michael Stevens
Santa Cruz AIDS Project
Michael has been speaking out n gay youth issues since high school. He has been a volunteer trainer and an employee of SCAP, and has served as a volunteer HIV?queer youth speaker for SC city schools, KUSP,and the Child Abuse Pevention Council before starting at UCSC two years ago. He continues to be a natural leader, educator and advocate for under-represented populations.
GLBT Youth Leaders Nominees
Randy Bunnao
UCSC HIV Prevention Program
Randy is a highly motivated and committed young man who is active with the UCSC HIV prevention program. Randy is very committed to mentoring young gay men especially Asian Pacific Islanders.
Brendon Constans
“Pulp-Non-Fiction”
Brendon is a 15 year old tirelessly dedicated worker who started a queer youth TV program called “Pulp-Non-Fuction”
Mike Douglass
“Pulp-Non-Fiction”
Mike is one of the hosts for Pulp-Non-Fiction. He recently told his coming out story on the program, also inviting his mother to share her experiences.
Michael Jaurequi
“Pure Pride” Q Youth Group
Michael started a Q youth group called “Pure Pride” and he currently co-facilitates “Young Men’s Night Out.” Queer youth see him as a ommitted consistent resource and seek him out often.
Andrew Haddock
UCSC Student
Andrew is very active in safe-sex and HIV programs at UCSC. He speaks out in class in support of queer youth issues.
Diana Hay
Soquel High School Student
Diana is a 16 year old Soquel High student who works tirelessly to make life better for gay students there. She helped create and present an inservice to the entire staff on gay oppression in the classroom.
Taylor Peck
Businessman, LGBTCC volunteer
Taylor is an out role model and businessman who volunteers at the LGBTCC and gives generously to the queer community. He created a queer Resource Guide for his Alma mater, San Marino High.
Brian Rodriquez
Cabrillo College Student
Brian is proud of his gay identity and fearlessly communicates it. He spoke out at Watsonville High in front of 100 teachers to tell f his experience at the school. he founded “Queers United” at Cabrillo College and has spoken at numerous community workshops.
Michaela Weeks
Santa Cruz High School Student
Michaela helped start the Rainbow Alliance at Santa Cruz High. She spoke at harbor High School on the importane of support systems or gay and lesbian youth.
Allies Awardees
Jason Dimick
Equinox Program Coordinator
Coordinates the Equinox program. He is constantly initiating new activities, e.g., Queer Youth Night, Queer Skate Night, Connections Dinners, etc. to provide safe and fun social opportunities for gay youth. Jason regularly provides a role model for younger LGBTQ in constructively confronting both covert and overt homophobia.
Vivian Fenner-Evans
Healthy Start Program
Is a visible friend of the gay community. She works with the Healthy Start program in Watsonville and helps high school students face the issues of their identity. She help spearhead the gay youth group in Watsonville which now has a consistent membership of 13 people.
Cece Pinheiro
Queer Youth Television
Is a world wind of achievement. Her support for queer youth is outstanding. She has initiated training sessions for educators, parents and youth on affective handling of harassment and bias. She found it QYTV and wrote grants to fund it. She has provided a voice for gay youth, making gay a badge of pride. She has create safe spaces for queer youth in both local and the community environments. Her life and her work is to create Homophobia-free Zones with respect for all individuals.
Kristin Sharp
Santa Cruz High School Teacher
Is the first teacher at Santa Cruz High School to invite the Triangle Speakers to her class. Kristen also is the co-founder of the Gay and Lesbian Task Force of the Santa Cruz City Schools. She is well-respected and visible advocate for gay youth. She counsels other staff members, parents and students, both straight and gay. She consistently speaks out against homophobia and every other kind of prejudice.
Allies Nominees
Nick Duguid
Q & A Volunteer
Volunteers for the Q & A program. He always speaks up on slurs and even though he’s straight he doesn’t correct people if they think he’s gay.
Kaleo Kaluhiwa
Equinox
Is a long-time advocate of queer youth, working at Equinox, the Q & A Project and the County AIDS Consortium. His own integrity and openness has inspired countless youth to honor their own identity.
Kate Kaufman
Author, Free Your Mind: The Book for Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Youth – and their Allies
Is a long-term activist in the queer community. She co-authored Free Your Mind: The Book for Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Youth — And their Allies with Ellen Bass. Kate is also one of the founders of the Santa Cruz P-FLAG, Triangle Speakers, Project Visibility and the Santa Cruz Gay and Lesbian Chorus.
Mary Jane Nee
Santa Cruz High School Student
Is a student at Santa Cruz High School and has been active in the Rainbow Alliance since its beginning. She is part of the Q & A group that provides peer education and has been a spokesperson for gay issues at student assemblies.
Leslie Paiva
Soquel High School Student
Is a student at Soquel High School high school and helped organize the in-service for teachers on gay youth issues. She is also a long-time volunteer at the Downtown Drop-in Clinic offering HIV screening for youth.
Sharon Papo
UCSC Student
Is a charismatic and skilled communicator who works with the UCSC HIV Prevention Program. She speaks up in classes and meetings to support and defend the queer community. She has been particularly skillful in providing safe sex information for queer women.
Jasmine Schlafke
California Employment Development Department
Is a consistent advocate for gay youth. She conducted regular workshops for a gay youth, promoting proud attitudes of self-acceptance, and practical information about safe sex. Currently Jasmine is an ally for gay youth for the California Employment Development Department.
Noreen Winkler
Santa Cruz High School Student
Is an out lesbian and teacher at Santa Cruz High and faculty advisor for the Rainbow Alliance. Noreen Winkler is committed to honor the identity of all her students, educating them to confront prejudice and other negative attitudes. She promotes peaceful and respectful interactions between all students.