First Annual Santa Cruz County Gay Youth Leadership
Banquet and Awards Ceremony
Monday, Aril 27th 1998
6:30 P.M. – 9:00 P.M.
Hobee’s Restaurant
740 Front Street, Santa Cruz
Masters of Ceremony
Rebecca Adams and Breck Vandenberghe
Guest Speakers Mario Balsita and Ellen McCormic
The First Annual Youth Awards Celebration and Banquet is a function of the recently formed Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans-Gendered County Wide youth Task Force (LGBT Task Force)
The task force was formed in September of 1997 to serve the needs of all Gay Youth and their Allies in Santa Cruz County towards the goal of improving and celebrating the lives and accomplishments of our most precious community resource, our youth. Of equal importance to the Task Force is the support and improvement of Lesbian and Gay parents, brothers and sisters who raise non-gay children in Gay Households.
Queer Youth Leadership Awards
Ally to Queer Youth Award
The Judges for the 1998 Gay Youth Leadership Banquet and Awards Ceremony were:
Raul Bonilla
A Health Educator at Salud Para La Gente. He has addressed a variety of health issues pertinent to the Latino community, including raising awareness around gay issues in Santa Cruz County.
Ana Maria Guevara
A family counselor and chair of the Annual Teen Women’s Conference Consortium in Watsonville. Ana works closely with youth in creating inclusive community.
John Laird
Chair of the Board of Trustees at Cabrillo College and Co-founder of gay beach volleyball.
Gail Levine
Assistant principal at Santa Cruz High who works to create a safe space for all students. She serves on the Santa Cruz School District Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered task force.
Mary Ellen Martinelli
One of the charter members of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays of Santa Cruz County and Monterey County and of Triangle Speakers.
Lt. Patty Sapone
The Community Services lieutenant of the Santa Cruz Police Department and is a committed ally and is especially concerned about hate crimes and people being victimized in the gay and lesbian community.
All the judges were honored to be included on this panel. They say it is a tribute to the richness of the glbtcc community and allies that we had 25 exceptional, stellar and courageous nominees. The following criterion was used to try and be as inclusive as possible while also honoring the excellence of gay youth leaders and allies to gay youth:
Representing all of the county
Ethnic Diversity
Age Diversity
Diversity of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people
Gender balance
For the gay youth, a balance of those who have had personal victories (overcoming obstacles) and those who have had the positive public impact on the community.
QYLA is a Santa Cruz County wide annual award ceremony that recognizes, honors, and celebrates our Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer youth as well as their Allies. For more information, contact us at email or (831) 427-4004.