Gay film fest returns Gay film fest returns (February 25, 2005)

LAHS group continues new traditions

By Allison Gerard

The Gay-Straight Alliance at Los Altos High School is hosting its second annual Gay Film Festival at noon on March 5 in the Eagle Theatre on campus.

The festival is being held to raise money to educate the public on gay issues, said club adviser Ruth Gibbs.

"This is important because it's educating young people on campus, and they are going to become adults shortly," said Gibbs. "And education is a big part of the fight against homophobia."

Last year, the club asked the Los Altos City Council to make June 7 to be Gay Pride Day. The petition was voted down but council members said they would allow a "day of tolerance."

The council later reversed its decision and accepted June 7 as Gay Pride Day.

"Los Altos is conservative, and I think that's why they were not willing to (allow Gay Pride Day) at first because they did not realize how many people were gay in the city," Gibbs said.

The Mountain View City Council also voted to recognize June as Gay Pride Month last year.

Gibbs said the Gay-Straight Alliance will petition the Los Altos council in May for another day of recognition in June.

The festival is open to the public and will feature four films, which Gibbs did not name. The suggested donation at the door is $5 per movie or $15 for an all-day pass to all four movies.

"Last year, we did not have a great turn-out, but a lot of people sent donations and someone walked up and wrote us a check for $500," Gibbs said.

The money is used to educate the students and the public about gay youth issues.

E-mail Allison Gerard at agerard@mv-voice.com

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