YOUTH TO DEMAND SAFETY IN CALIFORNIA SCHOOLS
by: Ali Bay, Equality California Institute, OIA Newswire
http://www.outinfresno.com/home/news.asp?articleid=32025SACRAMENTO – Student advocates from across California will meet at the state Capitol next week to speak with legislators and the California Superintendent of Public Instruction about the harassment of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) students in California schools. The youth are participating in Queer Youth Advocacy Day 2008, a three-day youth leadership summit co-sponsored by the Gay-Straight Alliance Network, Equality California Institute, Transgender Law Center and BIENESTAR.
LGBT youth leaders and their allies will hold a press conference at the Capitol on May 5, nearly three months after the tragic death of Lawrence "Larry" King, who was shot in the head by a classmate at his Oxnard middle school. Youth will call for the end of violence and discrimination against LGBT students like Larry, whose murder is believed to be motivated by the 15-year-old's gender expression. The student who is charged with Larry's murder is accused of committing a hate crime.
