29th Annual Queer Youth Leadership Awards

Join us in celebrating and honoring queer youth and allies on Saturday, May 9, 2026 from 5:30-8:30 pm at Pajaro Valley High School for the 29th Annual Queer Youth Leadership Awards.

• 5:30-6:00 pm Community Resource Fair
• 6:00-7:00 pm Catered Buffet Dinner
• 7:00-8:30 pm Awards Ceremony

Simultaneous Spanish Translation provided

There are three award categories honoring today's queer youth leaders and their allies:

The Queer Youth Leadership Award

The Ally to Queer Youth Award

The Organizational Ally to Queer Youth

Ticket Prices includes supporting the QYLA program and the programs of the Queer Youth Task Force, including the Safe Schools Project, TransTeen Project, Leadership Development Program and more.

Eventbrite charges a Service Fee of 3.5% + $1.59 per sold ticket and a Payment Processing Fee of 2.5% per order. Thank you in advance for absorbing these fees to support The QYLA Program.

$25 - $225 (sliding scale)

To ensure an equitable event, we offer sliding scale ticket prices. Please support the Queer Youth Leadership Awards by selecting a ticket or table price that works for you.

Join us for the 29th Annual Queer Youth Leadership Awards as we honor LGBTQIA2S+ students and their allies throughout the county! We can’t wait to host you for a night of celebration and fun indoors at Pajaro Valley High School. Come early for the resource fair at 5:30pm, then enjoy a delicious catered buffet dinner by D'La Colmena Catering at 6:00pm.

This year we will recognize our brave LGBTQIA2S+ youth for their activism and authenticity while we reflect on the progress and milestones of our youth over the past 29 years. Our 90-minute awards show starts at 7:00pm and includes live music, dance, and inspiring videos from our nominees. We look forward to you joining us in celebrating our LGBTQIA2S+ youth and allies in our in-person event.

QYLA is sponsored by the Queer Youth Task Force of Santa Cruz County (QYTF).

QYLA.org

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Host or Publisher Stuart Rosenstein