read my new blog post at&nbsp;<a href="http://blog.dayofsilence.org/2010/04/day-of-silence-student-voices-emmy-new.html">http://blog.dayofsilence.org/2010/04/day-of-silence-student-voices-emmy-new.html</a>
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LGBT Activism at it's Best!

I took a break for a few days but now i am back. During the time I was gone I met some amazing people and did some amazing things. At a screening for a documentary screening called bullicides (about LGBT kids who are bullied so badly they commit suicide) I met Daryl Presgraves who is the communications director for GLSEN and Dr. Eliza Bayard the executive director of GLSEN. Daryl recognized me from my tweets asking me if i was rememberandhope on twitter. When I replied that I was he told me that he loves my tweets and reccomended that I apply for the GLSEN ambassadors program, which connects LGBT youth with social media. I also met, through her website and a confrence call Laura who is the executive director of NMB and who is organizing for harvey milk day in may. Day of silence is on friday and I am so pumped! I am so excited to participate, organize and get active for this most wonderful event. I have been planning ever since last years DOS and now my plans are finally coming true. Now I am just trying to get the word out and do the right thing. Also, I started a conversation with Ryan Cassata a 16 year old FTM transgender. He is so nice and so smart and inspiring. I think that he can help me alot and we can eventually partner to do something great together. I love meeting new people, being an LGBT activist and just making the world a better place.

Passover and Activism

Passover is a day where we celebrate freedom and commemorate the Jews "coming out" of Egypt. I think that Passover is the Jewish holiday that has the strongest connection to activism that I know of. Freedom is something that we in the LGBT community do not have yet. We cannot come out openly into our metaphorical Egypt and we have no guiding force like Moshe to lead us out. Which is why even the people in the back can do their part to help start the journey. Even in the passover story every action has a reaction. Moshe's mom did not want to let her baby die and put herself in danger to protect him, it was a small action that produced a huge reaction. Just remember all of the things you can do, no matter how small they seem to make a difference. You can organize Day of Silence at your school which could lead to huge numbers of people joining your GSA and then you guys organizing a rally, and so on. Its like that Disney song. The "Friends for Change" http://tv.disney.go.com/disneychannel/friendsforchange/ program is focused on the environment and helping kids to do their part in helping to save the planet. Their main message is that kids can do something to change the world even if it is that one little thing. The Jewish people all worked together to get out of Egypt and do something great. The Friends for Change program seeks to work with kids, just as Moshe worked with the Jewish people. This lesson about passover something that I think should be shared at every Seder and included in every Hagaddah because it is something that everyone needs to know.

"With one little action the chain reaction
We'll help it start
Make it strong
Shine a light and send it on" - Disney's Friends for Change, Send it On

Thank you and have a Happy Passover

Constant Dilligance

If you want to do something you have to be constant and diligent about it. I really want this blog and my website to take off so I put alot of work into it. I take time away from things that other kids my age do so that I can be the real activist I want to be. I love what I am doing and I would never want to do anything else. This is my passion, I am diligent, professional, loving and very persistent in what I do. My activism spans across all the areas of my life, from hanging out with my friends, to school project and it is my weekends, it even is in my religion. I work with an organization called keshet which connects Judaism with LGBT activism. I have such a love for the youth that I work with and that I am. I know that one day my work will impact many many kids out there. I know that even if it just impacts one, I can feel good about what I'm doing. Before the internet kids didnt have a place to go when no one else was there and they were feeling alone about their sexuality. Now, there are many places like that, but I want to create a place where kids can help other kids help themselves. I would really appreciate your help to do that because I know that by working together we can make the LGBT world a better place. 

Sacrifice

If you really want something you have to be willing to sacrifice for it. I want so badly to be in, run and organize in my GSA but I cannot do that right now due to parental restrictions ( and let me make this absolutely clear it has nothing to do with me being gay) but I am willing to sacrifice that right now so that I can do it next year. I can still go to my group but I wanted to be active in the school and I still do. But there are things you have to be willing to put on hold to do what is right. I will probably have to wait until break to volunteer for the organization medwiser but I know that once I do I will have a great feeling that will make it worth the wait. I know that everyone needs to make priorites and that its important to do what you love, but there is a right time for everything and maybe now just isnt the right time.

"I want some happily ever after to happen to me"- Happily Ever After, Once Upon a Mattress

P.S Please 1. Nominate me for student advocate of the year on GLSEN
2. sponsor me for the NYC AIDS walk

Stress

Stress is something that happens to everyone, wether you happen to be an LGBT activist who on top of her "job" also has school work and a dramatic production, or a regular hardworking guy who has to provide for his family everyday stress will eat you alive if you dont deal with it right. I know that with Day of Silence coming up we all feel the stress to put on our best for what most likely is the biggest LGBT student activist day of the year. We are all putting our heads together trying to figure out why and how we can make 2010 the best DOS ever and how our school can grow and show solidarity.  The truth is you just have to really believe in what your doing, be intrested and be pumped. Make priorities, lists whatever it takes to get the job done right. Remember that balance is important and that you cant let your schoolwork take a back seat to your extracurriculars (trust me it happens). Remember that there are people there to help you no matter what, so don't be afraid to step back for a little bit and let others take the wheel. Its the ability to step back that makes you a real leader. Try your hardest and that will be the best you can do, dont worry too much but have fun!

"Were like 3 different people with only 1 (heart) the king and the minstrel and I" The King and The minstrel and I, Once Upon a Mattress

P. S on a personal note , it would be really awesome if you guys voted for me for student advocate of the year for GLSEN, email me or comment for more info.

Gov 2.0, Technology and LGBT Activisim

Gov 2.0 is all about the transparency of our government right? It's the ability to be able to show the people exactly what the government and what it's officials are doing. Technology is the only answer because its environmentally friendly, can be accessed almost anywhere and is available to a wide variety of people. Technology and Government sound like they should go hand and hand right? But some people in government don't want transparency and technology because they don't want to be held accountable for their actions. If people could see all the wrong doings in government, employees might become more efficient. Corruption might decrease. What a shame that would be for people who mess around in government.  People might recognize that the government is denying people what they need because of corrupt politicians who only want what's best for them and don't have the peoples best interests at heart. What does this have to do with LGBT Activism? There are 2 bills in the house right now called the Safe Schools Improvement Act and the Student Non Discrimination Act. The politicians who vote no on this are the same ones who who don't want this transparency. This is on both sides of the isle. It needs to stop. Gov 2.0 needs to happen and stay in place because people need to know the truth about their government and their interests in politics.

Thanks to Adriel Hampton (@adrielhampton on twitter) for getting me interested in Gov 2.0 and The Engadget team for helping me connect LGBT Activism and Technology!