Finding Belonging Under the Rainbow - Growing Up in Santa Cruz

A Place Of Belonging And Hope

By MJ Reynoso

The Queer, Trans, and Allied Student Summit, part of the Rainbow Conference, encapsulates so many aspects of what queer youth need right now. It offers community, a chance to meet like-minded people, expand your knowledge or even learn something new. This is my fourth year attending the Summit, third year hosting a workshop with my sibling, and my first time being on the planning committee.

The first time I went to the Summit I was blown away by everything that was offered and how much hope it gave me. There was a quiet space for people to relax if they were nervous, the keynote speaker spoke so proudly of the queer community, and the workshops taught me about queer joy and love. The Summit is so special to me because it gave me connection and love at a time when I felt it was impossible to find. I was introduced to organizations and people who I now consider family. It is thought out so meticulously and it brings me great joy that I now get to be part of making it even more special for new and returning students.

If there was one thing I could tell kids and parents who were considering coming to the Queer, Trans, and Allied Student Summit, it would be to please come. Even if you’re scared, shy, alone, or new to the area, come. There is so much euphoria and love at the Summit that cannot be captured with words. And I hope that everyone will find a home here at the Summit because I know I did.

MJ Reynoso is a proud queer, Mexican teen who attends Anzar High School as a sophomore. They love music, theater, and dance.

Recognizing The Beauty

By Evelyn Roberts

When I have breaks during my night classes at Cabrillo College, I often take walks around campus. During the day, the corridors and walkways are simply those places I hurry through to another class while thinking of work, alongside so many other students. The halls are nothing more than clear and efficient lines to follow from A to B.

At night, however, that urge for efficiency is gone, and those lines grow fuzzy in the dim light. Under the stars, the campus becomes a new place, and I see that the flowers are in bloom. I lie on the concrete retaining wall that surrounds the amphitheater and stare up at the sky through a maze of branches. The wind blows, and some fallen evergreen needles get tangled in my hair. It’s a beautiful night, isn’t it?

When the Rainbow Conference is held at Watsonville, its often hastily walked halls will be transformed and given new life much the same. We would like to invite you all to gather with friends new and old, to enjoy yourself, to let the wind make a mess of your hair, to laugh, to relax, and to have a fun day. So please do join us, and take the time to stop and smell the flowers. It’s a beautiful day today.

Evelyn Roberts is a sixteen-year-old trans woman who is a sophomore at Cabrillo College. She is studying mathematics and is also an aspiring writer.

The Rainbow Conference

The Rainbow Conference includes three opportunities:

For teens: Queer, Trans, & Allied Student Summit of the Central Coast
For adults: Parents/Guardians, Educators, and Adult Allies “Understanding Gender” Conference
For elementary students and their families: Rainbow Glitter Kids

The Fall 2026 Queer, Trans, and Allied Student Summit is part of the annual Rainbow Conference, on Saturday, Sept. 26 at Watsonville High School from 9:30 am to 2 pm. Breakfast and lunch will be provided. There will also be goodie bags, a resource fair, workshops, and more.

To register, visit: safeschoolsproject.org/conference

The Fall 2026 Rainbow Conference – a day of celebration, community, and learning for LGBTQIA2S+ students, their allies, and the adults who support them in Monterey, San Benito, & Santa Cruz Counties – is produced by the Safe Schools Project, a program of the Queer Youth Task Force. For more information, contact us at (831) 427-4004 or [email protected]

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A Place Of Belonging And Hope

Recognizing The Beauty

The Rainbow Conference

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