Windy City Media Group Frontpage News

THE VOICE OF CHICAGO'S GAY, LESBIAN, BI, TRANS AND QUEER COMMUNITY SINCE 1985

home search facebook twitter join
Gay News Sponsor Windy City Times 2023-12-13
DOWNLOAD ISSUE
Donate

Sponsor
Sponsor
Sponsor

  EN LA VIDA

GLSEN Youth Awards
by LORI WEINER
2003-05-01

This article shared 7759 times since Thu May 1, 2003
facebook twitter pin it google +1 reddit email


The Chicago chapter of the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network hosted its 8th annual Youth Scholarships event April 22 at the Sulzer Library. The youth were selected from a wide pool of applicants based on their demonstration of outstanding commitment to advancing LGBT equality and visibility in elementary and secondary schools. The six girls and one boy receiving scholarships boast a dizzying array of accomplishments and talents.

Catlyn Origitano, recipient of the GLSEN Chicago Erika & Mala Youth Scholarship, is graduating from Timothy Christian High School in Elmhurst. Origitano, whose mother nominated her for the award, challenged classmates and teachers in her conservative Christian school when she presented a research report debunking the Bible's alleged condemnation of homosexuality. Origitano plans to major in communications in college, and says she's very proud of the discussion her research project engendered. 'Lots of people asked to see the paper,' she told the audience, 'even those who weren't in my class. It stimulated a lot of debate.' Origitano also said that she was gratified to have helped her classmates and teachers 'conquer some of their fear of the unknown.'

Joel Navarro, recipient of the Barajas-Reese Latino Youth Scholarship, graduates this year from Morton East High School in Cicero. As an openly gay youth, Joel has demonstrated tremendous courage throughout his high school career. In addition to ongoing involvement with his school's GSA, Joel also received certificates of highest achievement in English for 2001 and 2002; received his school's Student of the Month award numerous times, represented Morton East at Cicero Town Hall meetings, and was praised by one of his teachers as 'one of the bravest youths I have ever known.'

Elizabeth Castenada and Stephanie Gentry-Fernandez were co-recipients of the Aixa Diaz Latina Youth Scholarship.

Elizabeth is a graduating senior at Morton East High School in Cicero, while Stephanie is a student at the University of Illinois-Chicago.

Elizabeth is the president of the Morton East GSA, and organized a successful Day of Silence protest at the predominantly Latino school. She also served as youth coordinator for the Day of Silence/Night of Noise demonstration at the Thompson Center, and worked as a student organizer for the national chapter of GLSEN.

Stephanie is an undergraduate at UIC and plans to pursue a Master's degree in Latina-Chicana Studies.

Cathy Gould received the inaugural Barbara Gittings Legacy Award. Gould, a senior at Maine East High School in Park Ridge, is a straight ally who joined the school's GSA in her freshman year with a gay male friend and took a leadership role almost immediately.

Receiving the GLSEN Chicago Pathfinder award was pioneering educator Toni Armstrong Jr. Toni, founder and former coordinator of GLSEN Chicago's Youth Leadership Development program, entered teaching immediately after college and has dedicated her career to mentoring and coaching young people. Armstrong, who was praised by presenter Betty Lark Ross as 'brilliant, passionate, determined and strong,' joined GLSEN in March of 1995 and quickly took a leadership role, spearheading not only youth leadership summits and symposiums but the scholarship program itself. Armstrong's support and mentoring of LGBT students played a crucial role in the eventual establishment of more than 50 GSA's in the Chicagoland area. After presenting Armstrong with the award, Betty Lark Ross announced that the Pathfinder award would hereafter be known as the Toni Armstrong Jr. Pathfinder Award.

Several school GSA's shared the Bonnie Larson PFLAG Youth Scholarship to further the ongoing work of educating their high school communities around LGBT issues. The Glenbard West PRISM Club in Glen Ellyn, the Morton East MEGASA Club in Cicero, the Niles West GSA in Skokie, and the Stevenson GSA Committee of the Diversity Club in Lincolnshire received the award.

The BARAJAS-REESE LATINO YOUTH SCHOLARSHIP, established 1999, is recognizes and honors the anti-homophobia work of a local young man of Latino descent.

The AIXA DIAZ LATINA YOUTH SCHOLARSHIP, was established in 1999 in memory of founding Amigas Latinas mother Aixa Diaz, who brought vision and commitment to the Latina LBQ community through her organizing efforts, as well as knowledge and encouragement to Latino children through her dedication as a teacher. The scholarship provides financial assistance to young lesbian/bisexual women of Latina heritage who fight homophobia in their schools/communities and are actively pursuing a college education, and financial support to high school gay-straight alliances in schools with large Latino student populations.


This article shared 7759 times since Thu May 1, 2003
facebook twitter pin it google +1 reddit email

Out and Aging
Presented By

  ARTICLES YOU MIGHT LIKE

Gay News

2024 'Nike Basketball Camps with the Chicago Sky' announced
2024-03-28
The Chicago Sky officially announced, in a debut collaboration with Nike Sports Camps, 2024 summer basketball camps for Chicagoland youth. Two camps for boys and girls ages 7-15 will take place June 17-21 and July 8-12 ...


Gay News

Nex Benedict's autopsy report released
2024-03-27
The full autopsy report for Nex Benedict (he/they)—a 16-year-old transgender and Indigenous student from Oklahoma's Owasso High School who died in February a day after a school fight—has been released. The Oklahoma Office of the Chie ...


Gay News

An interstate trans healthcare crisis: Illinois prepares for influx of people seeking gender-affirming care
2024-03-26
With hard-won rights, such as access to hormone replacement therapy or permission to use one's chosen pronouns in school, breaking down in states across the country, trans residents of all ages are left with a choice: ...


Gay News

No charges filed in Nex Benedict fight; campaigns call for Walters' removal
2024-03-22
In Oklahoma, Tulsa County District Attorney Stephen Kunzweiler announced that no charges will be filed in connection with the fight that happened the day before transgender, nonbinary high school student Nex Benedict died by suicide, NBC ...


Gay News

Former Chicago Girl Scouts CEO Brooke Wiseman to receive Luminary Award
2024-03-22
Brooke Wiseman, a now-retired nonprofit leader in the Chicago area, spent most of her career creating leadership development opportunities for girls and women—and making sure that hungry children could be fed. While leading Girl Scouts of ...


Gay News

Windy City Times seeks nominations for 30 Under 30 Awards
2024-03-18
--From a press release - CHICAGO—After a four-year hiatus, Windy City Times has revived its 30 Under 30 Awards. Windy City Times is seeking to recognize 30 more outstanding LGBTQ+ individuals (and allies). Nominees should be 30 years or younger as ...


Gay News

NATIONAL Missouri measure, HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, judge, Texas schools
2024-03-15
In Missouri, a newly proposed law could charge teachers and counselors with a felony and require them to register as sex offenders if they're found guilty of supporting transgender students who are socially transitioning, CNN noted. ...


Gay News

One Roof Chicago launches youth-focused workforce development program
2024-03-14
One Roof Chicago (ORC) is set to launch its first training, education and job placement program for LGBTQ+ young adults in late spring. This Community Health Workers and Elder Care program is a part of ORC's ...


Gay News

PASSAGES Bryan Dean Wilson
2024-03-14
Bryan Dean Wilson, 64, of Chicago, passed away March 11. Born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Bryan graduated from Washington High school in Cedar Rapids before earning his B.S. in Biology from Mount Mercy University, also in ...


Gay News

UPDATE: Nex Benedict's death ruled a suicide; family responds
2024-03-13
A medical examiner's report concluded that the cause of death of Oklahoma student Nex Benedict (he/they) was suicide, media reports confirmed. Benedict—a 16-year-old transgender student—died Feb. 8, a day after ...


Gay News

Florida settles 'Don't Say Gay' lawsuit
2024-03-11
On March 11, the state of Florida settled a multi-year lawsuit against the so-called "Don't Say Gay" law, which limits how LGBTQ+ topics can be discussed and presented in schools, The Hill reported. The settlement agreement ...


Gay News

Center on Halsted hosts 6th Annual Intergenerational Talent Show
2024-03-03
On the evening of Feb. 29, Center on Halsted held its 6th Annual Intergenerational Talent Show in front of a packed audience at the Hoover-Leppen Theater. The event brought together participants of the Center's youth and senior ...


Gay News

Federal investigation initiated in Nex Benedict case
2024-03-02
The U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights has started an investigation into the Oklahoma school district where Nex Benedict, a transgender 16-year-old sophomore, went to school and was bullied before his death, The Advocate ...


Gay News

Court blocks Texas attorney general's demand for PFLAG data
2024-03-01
From a press release: AUSTIN, Texas—Travis County District Court Judge Maria Cantú Hexel on March 1 blocked the latest effort by the Texas Attorney General's Office to persecute Texas families with transgender youth, temporarily haltin ...


Gay News

NATIONAL School items, HIV/AIDS activist dies, Nex Benedict, inclusive parade
2024-03-01
In a new survey, the Pew Research Center asked public K-12 teachers, teens and the U.S. public about the ongoing scrutiny placed on classroom curricula, mainly regarding race and LGBTQ+ identities, ABC News noted. Among other ...


 


Copyright © 2024 Windy City Media Group. All rights reserved.
Reprint by permission only. PDFs for back issues are downloadable from
our online archives.

Return postage must accompany all manuscripts, drawings, and
photographs submitted if they are to be returned, and no
responsibility may be assumed for unsolicited materials.

All rights to letters, art and photos sent to Nightspots
(Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago
Gay and Lesbian News and Feature Publication) will be treated
as unconditionally assigned for publication purposes and as such,
subject to editing and comment. The opinions expressed by the
columnists, cartoonists, letter writers, and commentators are
their own and do not necessarily reflect the position of Nightspots
(Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago Gay,
Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender News and Feature Publication).

The appearance of a name, image or photo of a person or group in
Nightspots (Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times
(a Chicago Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender News and Feature
Publication) does not indicate the sexual orientation of such
individuals or groups. While we encourage readers to support the
advertisers who make this newspaper possible, Nightspots (Chicago
GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago Gay, Lesbian
News and Feature Publication) cannot accept responsibility for
any advertising claims or promotions.

 
 

TRENDINGBREAKINGPHOTOS







Sponsor


 



Donate


About WCMG      Contact Us      Online Front  Page      Windy City  Times      Nightspots
Identity      BLACKlines      En La Vida      Archives      Advanced Search     
Windy City Queercast      Queercast Archives     
Press  Releases      Join WCMG  Email List      Email Blast      Blogs     
Upcoming Events      Todays Events      Ongoing Events      Bar Guide      Community Groups      In Memoriam     
Privacy Policy     

Windy City Media Group publishes Windy City Times,
The Bi-Weekly Voice of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Trans Community.
5315 N. Clark St. #192, Chicago, IL 60640-2113 • PH (773) 871-7610 • FAX (773) 871-7609.