GSA Network hosts several conferences across California every year for GSA activists. Our conferences educate, empower, and unite LGBTQ youth, straight allies, and GSA advisors.

GSA Network's conferences are planned by youth.  The workshops we present are conducted by youth. 

Expression Not Suppression (ENS), Central Valley

ENS is a free, annual conference in the Fresno area for LGBTQQI and straight ally youth, ages 13-21, who are dedicated to creating safer schools and building the GSA movement in the Central Valley.

ENS is open to middle and high school students, teachers, and GSA advisors, as well as the larger community. ENS includes free workshops on topics related to queer youth activism and safe schools. ENS also includes a free dinner, a dance and a drag show.

The 2010 ENS Conference will take place March 20th. Register Now!

ENS 2009 with Cleve Jones

Youth Empowerment Summit (YES), San Francisco

YES is a free, annual conference for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, and intersex (LGBTQQI) youth activists and allies who are dedicated to defeating homophobia and transphobia and creating safe, supportive schools for everyone. YES is youth-planned and youth-led.

YES is open to middle and high school students, teachers, and GSA advisors, as well as the larger community. YES allows participants to network while enjoying free workshops on topics related to queer youth activism and safe schools. YES also includes a dance party and drag show.

The 2009 Youth Empowerment Summit took place on December 5th, 2009.  Learn More

YES Steering Committee 2008

Models of Pride and Rainbow Youth Festival, Southern California

Every fall, GSA Network helps plan Models of Pride, the largest LGBTQ youth conference in Southern California.  GSA Network conducts workshops on GSA organizing at Models of Pride, and we can be found tabling at the outreach fair.  The next Models of Pride conference will take place in fall 2010. Check back for details.

Every summer, GSA Network co-hosts the Rainbow Youth Festival, an exciting outreach and resource fair providing a safe and healthy place for LGBTQ youth and their allies, ages 15-24, to learn about community resources and build the safe schools movement in Southern California.

The Rainbow Youth Festival includes resource tables, live performances, a dance party, a youth talent show, and more. The 2008 festival hosted over 25 organizations and 300 youth from across the state.

The next Rainbow Youth Festival will take place in summer 2010. Check back for details.

Youth-Led Workshops At Conferences

In addition to hosting our annual conferences, GSA Network also trains youth leaders to facilitate workshops at conferences hosted by other LGBTQ organizations across the state. Our youth trainers lead effective and engaging workshops on topics ranging from fighting slurs to students’ legal rights to starting and running successful GSA clubs.

If you would like to invite a youth trainer to lead a workshop at your next conference, please contact the program coordinator in your region. Contact us now.