Lawrence King Pre-Trial Postponed Again...

Ventura County Superior Court Judge James Cloninger Monday set the preliminary hearing for 15-year-old murder suspect Brandon McInerney to July 8.

Brandon is accused of fatally shooting classmate Lawrence King on Feb. 12, 2008. You may remember Brandon's father was found dead of an accidental death back in March.

• Judge sets preliminary hearing for McInerney (Ventura County Star)
  

Junior High GSA Member Given Award in Santa Cruz

Maddie Smith, 14, will be given the Queer Youth Leadership Award this Saturday at the Santa Cruz County Task Force awards ceremony.

Smith, who is an out bisexual eighth-grader, is an outspoken member of her school's Gay Straight Alliance and has worked to educate teachers and staff about bullying of queer youth. Before the November election, she wore anti-Proposition 8 T-shirts to school every day.

Congrats Maddie!

• Students, allies heralded for raising awareness of gay youth (The Mercury News: Central Coast)
  

The Homorazzi on ThinkB4YouSpeak PSAs: They're 'playful and humorous'

Not only do they try to get people to stop using ‘gay’ as a synonym for anything that sucks, but they do it in a playful and humourous way...I think it’s great that a superstar actress like (as far as we know) heterosexual Hilary Duff, who has a lot of admiration and respect amongst the youth of today, to contribute her celebrity to be a part of this.

We agree. If you haven't seen the ads yet. Check them out at www.thinkb4youspeak.com.

• That's So Gay (Homorazzi)
  

Safe Schools Improvement Act Introduced May 5th

GLSEN is excited to announce that a federal anti-bullying bill – the Safe Schools Improvement Act – was introduced in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, May 5 by California Rep. Linda Sanchez.

The Safe Schools Improvement Act will require schools that receive funding from the Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act to implement an anti-bullying policy that protects students from bullying and harassment and includes protections based on sexual orientation and gender identity, among other categories.

Now the hard work begins and we need your help. The bill had 35 cosponsors upon introductioin, and we’d like to see that number increase.

Please consider reaching out to your Representative and ask her or him to become a cosponsor of the Safe Schools Improvement Act. For more information about how to contact your Representative and a list of current and past cosponsors, CLICK HERE.

The bill’s introduction came less than a month after the tragic suicides of a fifth and sixth grader in part because of anti-LGBT bullying. Bullying of all kinds has to stop, and the Safe Schools Improvement Act is a crucial step in making schools safer for all students.

Thank you for your support!

Supportive Board Member Working to Help LGBT Students

Students at Kennewick High School in Washington have asked to get a GSA in place, but were told it wouldn't be well received. A supportive school board member however, is working to get over that hurdle.

"Kids are experiencing rejection for no good reason and I think we have work to do to fix that," said Wendy London, a member of the Kennewick School Board...

London has committed to have monthly meetings with the Vista Youth Center. She says hopefully some work on training and education on Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) related issues for school district staff can be done.

• Anti-Gay Bullying At Some Kennewick Schools. School Leaders Working on Changes (NBC KNDU News) VIDEO clip.