Mission of QYLA Legacy Project
The intention of the QYLA Legacy Project is to document a unique organization that has continued for 29 years—an organization that honors, inspires and provides a platform for queer youth and their allies. We hope to include former awardees and nominees in the project, highlighting their experience with the QYLA’s and where they are now. We also hope that this project can be used to educate the general public about the resiliency, heart, and activism of the queer youth of Santa Cruz County and their allies.
Be Part of it!
So much has changed in 29 years but there is still so much work to be done. The Project will honor the progress QYLA awardees and nominees have made, while at the same time bringing attention to what’s next. There are many ways to help preserve this important community event and ensure its continuation in the future.
- This coming Spring 2026 will commemorate the 29th Annual QYLA’s — 1998-2026!
- QYLA has preserved all of the original bio’s and video footage from most years of the awards, including news articles, video interviews with awardees and nominees in the three categories (Queer Youth Leadership Award, Ally to Queer Youth Award, and the Organizational Ally to Queer Youth Award), photographs and QYLA programs — documenting the over 600 nominees in the history of QYLA,
- If you would like to be part of the QYLA Legacy Project, please contact us at QYLA Legacy Project or Stuart Rosenstein, QYLA Ally honoree 2001.
Special thank you to Zachary Davenport, QYLA honoree 2001, and George A. Camany, QYLA honoree 2003, for pioneering the QYLA Legacy Project.
Celebrating Queer Youth & Allies since 1998
Since 1998 the Queer Youth Leadership Awards has been recognizing queer youth across Santa Cruz County for being leaders within their communities. This annual gala event brings many intersecting identities together in celebration of queer youth, their allies, and all of their achievements. QYLA has been hosted in communities throughout Santa Cruz County, starting at a modest restaurant in 1998.
- 1998: Hobes Restuarant, Santa Cruz
- 1999: YWCA Watsonville, Watsonville
- 2000: Cocoanut Grove, Santa Cruz
- 2001: Cocoanut Grove, Santa Cruz
- 2002: Louden Nelson Community Center, Santa Cruz
- 2003: Mello Center/Watsonville High School, Watsonville
- 2004: Harbor High School, Santa Cruz
- 2005: Santa Cruz High School, Santa Cruz
- 2006: Mello Center/Watsonville High School, Watsonville
- 2007: Harbor High School, Santa Cruz
- 2008: New Brighton Middle School, Capitola
- 2009: Scotts Valley High School, Scotts Valley
- 2010: New Brighton Middle School, Capitola
- 2011: San Lorenzo Valley High School, Felton
- 2012: Shoreline Middle School, Santa Cruz
- 2013: Pajaro Valley High School, Watsonville
- 2014: New Brighton Middle School, Capitola
- 2015: San Lorenzo Valley High School, Felton
- 2016: Aptos High School, Aptos
- 2017: Pajaro Valley High School, Watsonville
- 2018: Soquel High School, Soquel
- 2019: San Lorenzo Valley High School, Felton
- 2020: via Live Streaming
- 2021: via Live Streaming
- 2022: Watsonville High School, Watsonville
- 2023: New Brighton Middle School, Capitola
- 2024: Scotts Valley High School, Scotts Valley
- 2025: Soquel High School, Soquel
- 2026: Pajaro Valley High School, Watsonville
Stay Tuned for Updates!
We will be posting updates on the QYLA Legacy Project, such as “Where they are now?” and photo’s of the former honoree’s of the last 29 years.
- Mónica Morales is now the Director at the Santa Cruz County Health Service Agency
- Zephyr Wilshusen Pfotenhauer went on to become a graphic artist and illustrator
- Mireya Gomez-Contreras is now a mother and the Deputy Director at Arts Council Santa Cruz County
- Michael W. Stevens, who went on to become a partner at Seyfarth Shaw LLP law firm.
Co-Grand Marshal for 2022 Santa Cruz Pride “25 Years of Queer Youth Leadership Awards (QYLA) Awardees 1998-2022”
In honor of the 25th anniversary of QYLA, Santa Cruz Pride honored QYLA as co-grand marshals in 2022. Former awardees from various years were part of the contingent — each holding a sign the year they received their award. Terry Cavanagh, founder of QYLA in 1998, was asked to say a few words before the Pride March.
For more information, contact us!
QYLA Legacy Project
(831) 427-4004