674 Allard Avenue
Eureka, CA 95503
District I
(707) 441-2467 (707) 441-0299
Dave Orphal

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After the attack of one of the Zoe Barnum students in 1997, a group of students formed Y.E.A.H. (Youth Educating Against Homophobia). The group make-up included gay, lesbian, bisexual and supportive straight students. The students created and delivered a workshop for teachers that would provide them the tools they needed to interrupt homophobic behavior and language at school. A variety of resources were used and a skit was created resulting in Homophobia 101. Y.E.A.H. Has provided these workshops for AmeriCorps, a local teen theatre group, the district’s junior high school, traveled to Los Angeles to give this presentation to the California Association of Peer Programs Conference, provided a student version to the McKinleyville Youth Summit and designed and advanced workshop for the CCEA District I mini conference. Although they started with no money and only the support of the school, they students wrote and received a grant from the California Department of Education for $5,000. This money has helped to cover travel costs for the group. In October 2000 a student was sent to Chicago to attend the National GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network) Conference on “Teaching Respect for All 2000.” The results have shown a marked decrease of gay bashing among students. Teachers report feeling comfortable interrupting homophobic language and behavior and the campus is much safer for students today.