Students trained at GAYLA fight to protect and advance the rights of LGBTQ students and allies. GAYLA culminates in Queer Youth Advocacy Day, where students use their new skills to educate and engage lawmakers at the State Capitol in Sacramento.
Applications have closed for GAYLA 2012.
GSA Advocacy & Youth Leadership Academy (GAYLA) and Queer Youth Advocacy Day (QYAD) 2012 is here! GAYLA was held on Friday, April 27th through Monday, April 30th, 2012.
To attend GAYLA, students must apply and be accepted.
Who should apply?




California Teachers Association
Kaiser Permanente
After being a leader at GAYLA, students are encouraged to continue advocating for LGBTQ youth in schools by:
Read the blog from QYAD/GAYLA 2011.
Read the blog from QYAD/GAYLA 2010.
See quotes and photos from previous years below.
"I think the most valuable part was learning how to tell my story in a way that people outside the LGBTQ community could understand."
"The most valuable part was meeting all of the other LGBTQ youth. They really inspired me and reminded me of why I'm a straight ally."
--2009 GAYLA Participants
GAYLA Participants receive intensive training and skills for their meetings with legislators.
Student activists also gain media skills at GAYLA. Here Kyle Bodolay discusses LGBT youth issues with the local NBC TV station in Sacramento.
